Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

What homeland security regulations? You mean having to check-in
in person? Big deal. That is what all our Canadian friends and anyone
else not a US citizen has always had to do. Hasn't kept them from
cruising. I've always been amazed that one could check-in by
phone.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
x-no-archive:yes


"Jerry" wrote:

Steve - what boycott are you talking about? The "I'm too cheap to pay
$300"
boycott?

There are a lot of non-mega boats over here. Can't say that any of my
favorite anchorages are that much thinner in population. I was hoping
that
the $300 would keep out a few more.

We aren't going this year but it isn't even mostly about the $300. My
SIL isn't going either and he has only a 26.5 foot boat and he can
certainly afford $150. The main reason we are not going is the
homeland security regulations when we come back. That's even stupider
than the Bahamas increase in fees. I like the Bahamas, but not enough
to jump through all those hoops.


"Steve" wrote in message
...
I guess, what I'm saying is, find an alternative until they come to
their
senses. I doubt that it would take more than one season to get their
attention..

I'm sure there will still be some Mega Boat with Mega Buck owners who
would
still 'cross the boycott line' and that hurts. They probably welcome
our
boycott since that means few boats in the anchorages and butts in the
bars.

Me? I'm on the west coast and haven't been to the Bahamas since 1971.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions




grandma Rosalie

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 10:54:47 -0500, G. Richard Stidger
wrote:

I think the point is- If we just pay the $300 fee, what next? $400,
600? Where will it end? If the Bahamas can get away with it, maybe
other countries will try it too?


it happened on Everest simply because they realized they could charge as
much as they wanted and somebody would pay.Fees went from $5 to$25
to....$65,000USD to vist and climb and the numbers of people have risen
exponentially!
Same revenue and less paperwork. Unfortunately people of moderate income
don't count when fees are assessed.

I don't understand why marinas, suppliers, and now countries think
that boaters have UNLIMITED deep pockets.

step outside of 'our' world for a moment. The majority of people in the
world are struggling to make ends meet and feed a family, not struggling
to sail their recreational sailboat into someboy elses waters at the hosts
expense.
Your naive view is unfortunately very prominant in the USA and many parts
of Europe, "let them eat cake". We are all very wealthy cf the people that
inhabit the cruising grounds. Unfortunately the 'graft' never gets to the
needy, but still, if we can afford a boat and have the time to recreate in
tropical waters we are rich!

There are probably some,
but it certainly isn't me.

yes, it is you...and me. We aren't Bill Gates but we are in the 90
Percentile on a worldwide basis. Have you traveled and, more importantly,
have you _noticed_ how most people live in these 'playgrounds'? If you
noticed. did you care?


I would never consider going to Bahamas with this BS fee. I would
find another place to go.

Come to Canada, if you fall off your boat drunk we will send search and
rescue to pick you up, dry you off and tow your boat back to port. All at
taxpayers expense. Hell, even if you are balooning around the world and
fall inbto aframers field we will dispatch a hercules and a fleet of
helicopters to deliver your champaign and drag your ballon back home for
you...while there are real emergencies happening to fishermen at the same
time. We have set a presidence that cannot be met by most other
countries...we get spoiled!


Send them a message. Vote with your pocketbook.

Rich

the irony of your name is too sweet and Rich!
rick

"Jerry" wrote:

Steve - what boycott are you talking about? The "I'm too cheap to pay
$300"
boycott?

There are a lot of non-mega boats over here. Can't say that any of my
favorite anchorages are that much thinner in population. I was hoping
that
the $300 would keep out a few more.


"Steve" wrote in message
...
I guess, what I'm saying is, find an alternative until they come to
their
senses. I doubt that it would take more than one season to get their
attention..

I'm sure there will still be some Mega Boat with Mega Buck owners who
would
still 'cross the boycott line' and that hurts. They probably welcome
our
boycott since that means few boats in the anchorages and butts in the
bars.

Me? I'm on the west coast and haven't been to the Bahamas since 1971.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions







--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

On Sun, 15 Feb 2004 10:54:47 -0500, G. Richard Stidger
wrote:

I think the point is- If we just pay the $300 fee, what next? $400,
600? Where will it end? If the Bahamas can get away with it, maybe
other countries will try it too?


it happened on Everest simply because they realized they could charge as
much as they wanted and somebody would pay.Fees went from $5 to$25
to....$65,000USD to vist and climb and the numbers of people have risen
exponentially!
Same revenue and less paperwork. Unfortunately people of moderate income
don't count when fees are assessed.

I don't understand why marinas, suppliers, and now countries think
that boaters have UNLIMITED deep pockets.

step outside of 'our' world for a moment. The majority of people in the
world are struggling to make ends meet and feed a family, not struggling
to sail their recreational sailboat into someboy elses waters at the hosts
expense.
Your naive view is unfortunately very prominant in the USA and many parts
of Europe, "let them eat cake". We are all very wealthy cf the people that
inhabit the cruising grounds. Unfortunately the 'graft' never gets to the
needy, but still, if we can afford a boat and have the time to recreate in
tropical waters we are rich!

There are probably some,
but it certainly isn't me.

yes, it is you...and me. We aren't Bill Gates but we are in the 90
Percentile on a worldwide basis. Have you traveled and, more importantly,
have you _noticed_ how most people live in these 'playgrounds'? If you
noticed. did you care?


I would never consider going to Bahamas with this BS fee. I would
find another place to go.

Come to Canada, if you fall off your boat drunk we will send search and
rescue to pick you up, dry you off and tow your boat back to port. All at
taxpayers expense. Hell, even if you are balooning around the world and
fall inbto aframers field we will dispatch a hercules and a fleet of
helicopters to deliver your champaign and drag your ballon back home for
you...while there are real emergencies happening to fishermen at the same
time. We have set a presidence that cannot be met by most other
countries...we get spoiled!


Send them a message. Vote with your pocketbook.

Rich

the irony of your name is too sweet and Rich!
rick

"Jerry" wrote:

Steve - what boycott are you talking about? The "I'm too cheap to pay
$300"
boycott?

There are a lot of non-mega boats over here. Can't say that any of my
favorite anchorages are that much thinner in population. I was hoping
that
the $300 would keep out a few more.


"Steve" wrote in message
...
I guess, what I'm saying is, find an alternative until they come to
their
senses. I doubt that it would take more than one season to get their
attention..

I'm sure there will still be some Mega Boat with Mega Buck owners who
would
still 'cross the boycott line' and that hurts. They probably welcome
our
boycott since that means few boats in the anchorages and butts in the
bars.

Me? I'm on the west coast and haven't been to the Bahamas since 1971.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions







--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

The problem with you is that you are reasonable and rational.

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
x-no-archive:yes


"Jerry" wrote:

snip

I didn't call you stupid, and I've talked to other people and
questioned them about their reasons for going.

There were some prior posters that said anyone not participating in some
boycott is stupid. I know you would never say that.

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

The problem with you is that you are reasonable and rational.

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
...
x-no-archive:yes


"Jerry" wrote:

snip

I didn't call you stupid, and I've talked to other people and
questioned them about their reasons for going.

There were some prior posters that said anyone not participating in some
boycott is stupid. I know you would never say that.

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

x-no-archive:yes


"Doug Dotson" wrote:

What homeland security regulations? You mean having to check-in
in person? Big deal. That is what all our Canadian friends and anyone
else not a US citizen has always had to do. Hasn't kept them from
cruising. I've always been amazed that one could check-in by
phone.

Doug
s/v Callista

Yes I do mean that. I would expect that someone who is not a citizen
would have to do that, and I would expect to do that if I was checking
in at a foreign country. Although usually in a foreign country not
everyone on the boat has to come and check in - you just send one
representative. In some places, no one is allowed off the boat until
the captain has checked in.

What is stupid is that they require everyone on the boat to come in
person to the airport or some such place. That's not always easy to
do from a boat and may involve an expensive cab ride. Plus if the
immigration chaps are tied up with a cruise ship (and for that they
come to the boat), then they may not have time to check you in.

If I had an illegal aboard, I'm not going to bring them with me to
check in so what good does it do?

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
.. .
x-no-archive:yes


"Jerry" wrote:

Steve - what boycott are you talking about? The "I'm too cheap to pay
$300"
boycott?

There are a lot of non-mega boats over here. Can't say that any of my
favorite anchorages are that much thinner in population. I was hoping
that
the $300 would keep out a few more.

We aren't going this year but it isn't even mostly about the $300. My
SIL isn't going either and he has only a 26.5 foot boat and he can
certainly afford $150. The main reason we are not going is the
homeland security regulations when we come back. That's even stupider
than the Bahamas increase in fees. I like the Bahamas, but not enough
to jump through all those hoops.


"Steve" wrote in message
...
I guess, what I'm saying is, find an alternative until they come to
their
senses. I doubt that it would take more than one season to get their
attention..

I'm sure there will still be some Mega Boat with Mega Buck owners who
would
still 'cross the boycott line' and that hurts. They probably welcome
our
boycott since that means few boats in the anchorages and butts in the
bars.

Me? I'm on the west coast and haven't been to the Bahamas since 1971.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions




grandma Rosalie


grandma Rosalie

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

x-no-archive:yes


"Doug Dotson" wrote:

What homeland security regulations? You mean having to check-in
in person? Big deal. That is what all our Canadian friends and anyone
else not a US citizen has always had to do. Hasn't kept them from
cruising. I've always been amazed that one could check-in by
phone.

Doug
s/v Callista

Yes I do mean that. I would expect that someone who is not a citizen
would have to do that, and I would expect to do that if I was checking
in at a foreign country. Although usually in a foreign country not
everyone on the boat has to come and check in - you just send one
representative. In some places, no one is allowed off the boat until
the captain has checked in.

What is stupid is that they require everyone on the boat to come in
person to the airport or some such place. That's not always easy to
do from a boat and may involve an expensive cab ride. Plus if the
immigration chaps are tied up with a cruise ship (and for that they
come to the boat), then they may not have time to check you in.

If I had an illegal aboard, I'm not going to bring them with me to
check in so what good does it do?

"Rosalie B." wrote in message
.. .
x-no-archive:yes


"Jerry" wrote:

Steve - what boycott are you talking about? The "I'm too cheap to pay
$300"
boycott?

There are a lot of non-mega boats over here. Can't say that any of my
favorite anchorages are that much thinner in population. I was hoping
that
the $300 would keep out a few more.

We aren't going this year but it isn't even mostly about the $300. My
SIL isn't going either and he has only a 26.5 foot boat and he can
certainly afford $150. The main reason we are not going is the
homeland security regulations when we come back. That's even stupider
than the Bahamas increase in fees. I like the Bahamas, but not enough
to jump through all those hoops.


"Steve" wrote in message
...
I guess, what I'm saying is, find an alternative until they come to
their
senses. I doubt that it would take more than one season to get their
attention..

I'm sure there will still be some Mega Boat with Mega Buck owners who
would
still 'cross the boycott line' and that hurts. They probably welcome
our
boycott since that means few boats in the anchorages and butts in the
bars.

Me? I'm on the west coast and haven't been to the Bahamas since 1971.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions




grandma Rosalie


grandma Rosalie

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

The US Coast Guard would do the same thing. Was the boat in danger of
sinking or hitting a rock or was some in a medical emergency, then they
would go after you. I guess falling off your boat drunk qualifies.


"WaIIy" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 13:15:55 -0400, rick
wrote:

Come to Canada, if you fall off your boat drunk we will send search and
rescue to pick you up, dry you off and tow your boat back to port.

Not really. I was coming back from Leamington about 11:30 one night in
5-6-7 footers and there was a distress call to the Canadian Coast Guard
on channel 16.

The boat in trouble was off of Pelee Island. The Canadians refuse to
come out and told them to call a commercial towing service.

My boat was too small to do any good, as I probably shouldn't have been
out there in the first place.

I was shocked at the response to a boater in trouble. It wasn't a
Mayday, but they were dead in the water.

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

The US Coast Guard would do the same thing. Was the boat in danger of
sinking or hitting a rock or was some in a medical emergency, then they
would go after you. I guess falling off your boat drunk qualifies.


"WaIIy" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 13:15:55 -0400, rick
wrote:

Come to Canada, if you fall off your boat drunk we will send search and
rescue to pick you up, dry you off and tow your boat back to port.

Not really. I was coming back from Leamington about 11:30 one night in
5-6-7 footers and there was a distress call to the Canadian Coast Guard
on channel 16.

The boat in trouble was off of Pelee Island. The Canadians refuse to
come out and told them to call a commercial towing service.

My boat was too small to do any good, as I probably shouldn't have been
out there in the first place.

I was shocked at the response to a boater in trouble. It wasn't a
Mayday, but they were dead in the water.

Shoot Your Foot -- Bahamas Entry Fee
 

The US Coast Guard would do the same thing. Was the boat in danger of
sinking or hitting a rock or was some in a medical emergency, then they
would go after you. I guess falling off your boat drunk qualifies.

Falling off the boat, drunk or sober, will always qualify as an emergency until
the MOB is recovered.

And you are right, the USCG will offer to call a commercial tow service unless
you claim there is imminent risk to persons or property. Getting sea sick in
5-footers isn't the sort of risk they'll send out a helicopter to resolve. :-)