Checking in to the Bahamas

Every time we enter a new country we are required to check in with immigration and customs and pay any entrance fees.  The process is for the captain only to go ashore and bring all the documentation, forms and fees.  After clearance, all passengers and crew are allowed to go ashore.   We arrived in Morgan's Bluff on Andros Island at 3 pm accompanied by three other boats that had not yet checked in.  All the captains went ashore to Willy’s Bar where the bartender called the immigration officer.  Immigration arrived about a half hour later and checked everyone in and granted all of us 180 days to stay in the Bahamas.  The customs officer was supposed to be on their way, but arrived three hours later.  In the meantime, all the first mates (wives and girlfriends) came ashore to Willy’s Bar for drinks and food.  By 7:30 pm everyone was completely checked in after having paid the $300 clearance fee.  We can now remove our yellow quarantine flag and fly the Bahamas courtesy flag. We are officially here in the Bahamas.