Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Response from Minister of Tourism Response from Minister of Tourism Posted: 10 May 2016 07:28 AM PDT One of the cruisers who responded to the Chatter correspondence regarding boat thefts in the Bahamas received this reply from Obie Wilchcombe, the Minister of Tourism:
Thank you for taking the time to write and raising the Flag on the issue that is troubling and must meet affirmative action. We are and will intensify all efforts and prevent the small few from destroying our land of friendship and hospitality Thanks for your support and your contribution to our nation.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Boat/Dinghy Thefts in the Bahamas Boat/Dinghy Thefts in the Bahamas Posted: 06 May 2016 08:54 AM PDT We are getting more frequent reports of thefts from cruising yachts and from marinas. Some vessels stolen were larger outboards; many are dinghies, some large with big outboards. Reports have come from the Abacos, Nassau and George Town. Nassau thefts have occurred from a paddleboarder sneaking into marinas.
Concern is growing among cruisers and many are expressing the possibility that they will completely avoid these areas in the future.
To make your feelings known and to press for some government action on this issue, here is some contact information for Bahamas Tourism.
Bahamas Tourism George Town Pet Hanna phanna@bahamas.com 242-336-2430 242-357-0970
Bahamas Tourism Nassau Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe owilchcombe@bahamas.com 242-302-2058 242-302-1317
Let them know the seriousness of the thefts in terms of loss of tourism in the Bahamas. Perhaps it will get some action to stop and further prevent this threat to cruising yachts and other vessels in the Bahamas.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: New fuel and dockage survey for May New fuel and dockage survey for May Posted: 03 May 2016 12:14 PM PDT Fuel prices were mixed in this month’s survey. Three marinas raised dockage prices and two marinas lower their rates. The rest remained the same.
Harbour View Marina in Marsh Harbour announced the installation of five new moorings available for $15 a night. Emerald Bay Marina now has an ATM on site.
As always, we appreciate the individual reports you send us to keep this survey updated. Send an email to monty@explorercharts.com for any new prices you find until the next survey.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Many More Boat Thefts in Georgetown Many More Boat Thefts in Georgetown Posted: 02 May 2016 03:50 AM PDT This weekend was the Family Island Regatta in Georgetown. Two dinghy with outboards were stolen off the back of cruising bots anchored off of Chat & Chill. A working skiff with outboard was also stolen off of the back of a Long Island boat that was in Georgetown for the Regatta.
These are not the only thefts in the past several months. Boats from cruising inflatable dinghy to much larger boats with dual large outboards are being stolen.
The police have done nothing about any of the thefts and do not seem interested in pursuing any of the cases. If you talk to many of the locals on the island they seem to know who is responsible so the police probably know also.
Those boats staying in Georgetown are resorting to hauling their boats out of the water at night and other methods. However at least 2 boats that were chained have had the chains cut in order to steal the boats & outboards
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Larry Dorminy- May 7, 2016 - 4:09 pm
We just left George Town and we heard about the Long Island skiff. We did not hear about the dinghies. Nothing was said about the thefts on the morning net. Why was that? Dick Anderson
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Morgans Bluff Light Morgans Bluff Light Posted: 19 Apr 2016 05:30 AM PDT Charts AN 1 and AN 1A , page 63, Explorer Chartbook Near Bahamas, Seventh Edition show a Fl 4s 4m 4M (ED) light on Morgans Bluff that no longer exists. A new light has been established close to the point of the old water barge dock on a tall utility pole near 25° 10.8′ N/78° 01.6′ W. The white light currently flashes approximately once every 30 seconds and is approximately seven meters above sea level (Fl 33s 7m 5M).
The lighted range shown on Joanne Point has been discontinued. The old metal towers still exist but can no longer be seen because of tree growth and are no longer lighted. The flashing five second red and green lights on the Commercial Harbour entrance jetties are currently working. Sixth Edition and older Chartbooks show buoys on the Morgans Bluff Channel that no longer exist. Mariners should stay well clear of the submerged and partially submerged wrecks near the south end of the old water barge dock.
Round the clock deck watch seems to be the only answer to such a bold thief. Nassau is the capital and largest city of the Bahamas. It lies on the island of New Providence, with neighboring Paradise Island accessible via Nassau Harbor bridges.
Boat thieves have been busy in Nassau riding paddle boards up to docked vessels and stealing everything of value. The local police and BASRA calls the perp “Spider-Man” and always seems to give the constables the slip.
In Marsh Harbour last night, boat thieves hit a large catamaran motor yacht making off with their large RIB while yacht has docked at Harbourview Marina. All yachties are advised lock their tenders and tow-behinds and keep a lookout in the dark of night. John Wampler www.yachtaide.com
The problem of thieves of boarding boats from the water, usually by the swim platform, and robbing boats at night while their owners are aboard, is a years-old, common event in Nassau. We used to regularly use the Nassau Harbor Club, which is conveniently located across from an excellent shopping center, including a Solomon’s Fresh Market. We no longer dock there, because of repeated reports of such incidents. Last year, friends of ours had their boat boarded at night, and the thief made his way through the boat, including the stateroom where they were sleeping. The thief cleaned out their wallets and purse. When our friend reported it to the police, he learned the Hatteras docked next to them had the same thing happen to them the night before! This problem is not limited to the Nassau Harbour Club, and recent reports indicate it is getting even worse throughout the harbour. The use of paddle boards is a new twist. It’s difficult not to conclude that the police and some marina owners really don’t seem all that interested in fixing the problem. After our friend woke up and chased the thief out of his boat (they did lose their money and credit cards), our friend went up to find the night watchman asleep in an alcove where he couldn’t possibly see anything – apparently a common situation during prior robberies. A reliable source told us that the police know the one particular thief, who has been arrested multiple times, jailed and released. Sometimes going to Nassau is a necessity, for provisioning, meeting guests, picking up parts or repairs. (Is there any other reason to go there?) Last year we decided to try the Bay Street Marina, and found the security to be first rate. Gates to each dock are locked at night. There were guards on duty 24/7; I observed them frequently walking the docks all through the night, which is critical since the robbers come from the water and not the land. Bay Street has brand new docks, a professional staff, a couple of good restaurants on site, and a pool. They can arrange for a shuttle to Solomon’s Market. It’s the place we recommend now. It’s more expensive than some other places, but you get……. And we do keep all the doors locked anyway. Greg Allard
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Cruisers not welcome at Little San Salvador Cruisers not welcome at Little San Salvador Posted: 15 Apr 2016 04:06 AM PDT The following letter was received from a cruiser that recently visited Little San Salvador (AKA Half Moon Cay):
My wife and I anchored our 44’ sailing catamaran just West of the Southernmost point on the island in calm conditions on the evening of April 7. On the morning of April 8, a cruise ship arrived and anchored about 1 ½ miles NW of us. Later that morning we were shocked when a 35-40’ flybridge power boat with inboard engines came zooming right at our boat, throwing a huge wake. It past our stern no more than 50’ away, then took a sharp turn along our port side as the captain let off the throttles and let his boat settle, creating an even greater wake. We were too busy grabbing items that were going to fly off of our table and countertops to signal to them. 2 Bahamian men were on the fly bridge, and they went to a mooring that was off shore from us and served as a snorkeling spot for the cruise ship guests. The purpose of the flybridge boat was to carry the guests to that spot. We thought at first that the captain simply didn’t know the “rules of the road” in boating- that he is responsible for any damage created by his wake. At the time, we didn’t take it for what it really was; a clear message that we were not welcome here. Within the hour we decided to go exploring on our dinghy, and headed East along the shoreline, then up into the creek mentioned above. The creek led to an open bay that is nearly ½ mile wide and about 2 miles long. We were idling along enjoying the scenery when the only other boat on the bay (a small boat with 2 Bahamian crew and 2 cruise ship guests) flagged us down. One of the crew let us know that this waterway was private and that we could not be here. I argued that we were not ashore, nor were we heading ashore, we are ON THE WATER. She insisted that we must leave immediately. Their guests looked as shocked over the incident as we were. We turned and left, angered and feeling that our rights were not being respected; not on the dinghy, and certainly not on our yacht. Now, I completely understand that land can be purchased and we respect that when cruising. However, I did not realize that the OCEAN and its inlets can be owned by someone. This was not an inland lake, this was an ocean inlet! It’s no different than telling me I can’t have my boat anchored off your island, which we realized was the clear message being given by the flybridge boats rude behavior. Now we were being told in no uncertain terms by the Holland America crew that our dinghy was not allowed on “their” water. As a human being, I could certainly be wrong about the Bahamian laws, so I’m open to hearing about how areas of the ocean can be purchased by individuals or businesses for private use. But if I’m correct and that is simply absurd, then I look to hear back from Mr. Kruse. Perhaps the next edition of the Explorer chartbooks should be updated to reflect this situation and the way it is responded to.
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pat kennedy- April 22, 2016 - 9:06 pm
Welcome to south florida. New anchoring restrictions in dade and broward countys. Thank the republican legislators, just the beginning of things to come.
Our thanks to Greg Allard for this excellent report on Grand Bahama Yacht Club.
Report from the Bahamas : Update on Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Port Lucaya – April 2016
The Grand Bahama Yacht Club is to starboard after you come through the Bell Channel into Port Lucaya. It had been closed for several years, but has now reopened. It is owned by the same company which owns the Port Lucaya Marina, which is to port after you enter the harbor. This year we used Port Lucaya as a layover on our way to the outer Family Islands, and decided to try the Grand Bahama Yacht Club again. It was an excellent experience.
Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Port Lucaya
The Yacht Club is a much quieter, more refined place than the busy and touristy Port Lucaya Marina and Marketplace. The grounds are well maintained, with large lawns. Five foot long tarpon and spotted rays regularly swam under the boat. There is a beautiful pool, with a small poolside bar and restaurant; sturdy, well-fendered concrete docks; 24 hour security; washers and (a) dryer; clean but older bathrooms and showers; good power and wi-fi. Jazz night on Thursdays, with live music. The dockmasters, Fabian and Aaron, are both just excellent, as is the entire staff. They will do – or arrange for – whatever you need to make your stay a good one. The published rates are $2.20 a foot, but if you intend to stay longer than a couple of days, we urge you to discuss with the dockmaster an outstanding monthly promotional monthly rate which runs through the end of 2016. There is a mandatory $10 a day water charge, and the electricity is metered at 60 cents per KWH. They can arrange for a reasonably priced rental car. There is an excellent Solomon’s Fresh Market about two miles away, and if you schedule with the marina ahead of time, they will take you there and pick you up.
Pool area and bar, Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Port Lucaya
This marina would, in my view, qualify as a hurricane hole; there is not much fetch in any direction, the pilings are tall and the docks are solid. Much of the shoreline is natural vegetation. They run a free boat-shuttle service (a five minute trip) over to the Port Lucaya Marina and Marketplace, where you can clear through Customs and Immigration, or visit the restaurants and shops. At the Marketplace, the nice-little-Italian-restaurant “Cappuccinos” is one of our favorites, with excellent pastas and a great early-bird special. One of the highest rated restaurants in the Bahamas – and the Carribbean, is “Flying Fish”, adjacent to the Marketplace. It is very expensive, but it was the best restaurant meal we’ve had anywhere in ten years. Some local Bahamian friends go there for happy hour and their excellent appetizers, offered most evenings.
The Customs and Immigration process at Port Lucaya is generally painless and quick, as is the case at West End/Settlement Point – on Grand Bahama. When checking into the Bahamas, don’t forget to have your Cruising Permit endorsed for fishing and for spearfishing, which does not cost anything extra.
“Meander” at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club, Port Lucaya
The Bell Channel entry, according to the dockmaster carries 6.5’ at low tide, but having been through there a number of times, I think that is a conservative estimate. We came through at dead low on April 13, 2016, and never had actual depths less than 7’ from our two carefully calibrated depth finders. The general guidance is that there is more water on the east side of the channel. In a strong onshore wind, larger waves in the entrance channel could reduces depths. The channel is clearly marked, but be sure to start your approach into Bell Channel from the small offshore white buoy, to avoid the reefs.
The fuel dock is no longer located at the Port Lucaya marina; it was moved to the Grand Bahama Yacht Club. [See Bahamas Chatter by SALTY SOUTHEST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER Explorer Chartbooks for fuel prices. Current 4/12/2016 prices: Diesel $3.34, Gas 3.94 VAT included on both.]
We rented a car and explored the island, including the interesting Lucayan National Park with its historic upland caves, creeks and marshes full of wildlife, and beautiful beaches. You can also explore the interesting Lucayan Waterway in your dinghy. There is much more to see on Grand Bahama than we had imagined.
In our view, while they are still refurbishing and updating this facility, it is well on its way to being a five star marina.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Spanish wells to Exuma route Spanish wells to Exuma route Posted: 10 Apr 2016 02:27 PM PDT Looks like we may be heading to the Exumas from Harbor island in a week or so.
The direct route from current cay to ship channel cay is tempting, as shown in the explorer chart books but with our 6+ draft I m a little concerned about the shoals just west of Finley cay. The area of coral heads just south can be avoided with a dogleg east, but what are the actual depths crossing the shallows there? Will try to get some tide obviously, schedule permitting.
We did that route coming north this year. Ship channel to Royal island, not going through current cut. Depths are fine for you but as anywhere in Exumas there are coral heads you should watch for. kdstone
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “Two businesses closed on Man-O-War Cay” plus 1 more Two businesses closed on Man-O-War Cay Posted: 05 Apr 2016 06:30 AM PDT Albury’s Harbour Grocery and Lola Sawyer’s Home Bakery have closed on Man-O-War Cay, Abaco. This leaves Man-O-War Grocery as the only grocery store on Man-O-War Cay now.
New fuel and dockage prices for April Posted: 04 Apr 2016 02:11 PM PDT Bad news for cruisers looking for better dockage deals as thirteen marinas raised their dockage prices since last month. Albany Marina on New Providence reported a daily resort service charge of $350 plus $6 a foot dockage making it the most expensive marina in the Bahamas and maybe the world.
Diesel prices were down at a number of marinas while gasoline prices were generally up. The new monthly Explorer Fuel and Dockage survey is posted on our website www.explorercharts.com. Only a few marinas couldn’t be contacted this month. They are highlighted in red on the survey so that you will know the prices are not necessarily current.
As always, we appreciate the individual reports you send us to keep this survey updated. Send an email to monty@explorercharts.com for any new prices you find until the next survey.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “New restaurant open at Spanish Wells Yacht Haven” plus 1 more New restaurant open at Spanish Wells Yacht Haven Posted: 02 Apr 2016 06:27 AM PDT The Spanish Wells Yacht Haven restaurant (Wreckers) has just opened. It’s already apparent that they have too much landscaping and not enough parking along the road. Prices are not cheap, but not at Harbor Island rates. Food getting a good review, interesting presentation, some Greek leaning but with other offerings. A Spanish Wells pizza has all sorts of seafood on it. The restaurant is all open, but appears to have plastic curtains for inclement weather. The whole marina is quite attractive. It could be a game-changer for the Spanish Wells/Harbour Island area if it is managed well. (Information provided by a Spanish Wells resident)
Transiting the Devil’s Backbone Posted: 01 Apr 2016 02:35 PM PDT We are in Spanish Wells, waiting out the winds to head north to the Abacos. There is a north entrance that goes through the Devil’s backbone, but the guide books warn you to not do that; hire a pilot ($120) to guide you through, or go south around Egg Island, then go north to the Abacos. I’ve been looking at the charts and I’m really tempted to save the 20 miles going around to make our transit to Little Harbour easier. We are on a 36′ Grand Banks trawler with a 4.5 foot draft. Any thoughts from anyone?
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Nanci Whitley- April 8, 2016 - 6:19 pm
Just did the north passage last week. 3 boats, 5.5 and 6 ft. Follow way points on Explorer charts, no problem.
We have a 36 GB and have done both routes. Unless you have the urge to see some coral heads up close and personal (with or w/o a pilot) we would recommend repositioning at Royal Island , and sneak out Egg Island cut to the north of Little Egg Island. We left at first light and arrived Little Harbour Abaco by 1200 with little trauma. Roger Howell
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Isles General? Isles General? Posted: 25 Mar 2016 09:48 AM PDT Hi, We’re heading for SCYC soon. We’ve heard that Isles General’s hours have become unpredictable. Is there any truth to this? If true, what are the alternatives? John (Duetto)
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Gigi Leader- March 27, 2016 - 10:10 am
We have been here most of the winter and have not had any issues.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “Island Farm Produce at S. Palmetto Point” plus 1 more Island Farm Produce at S. Palmetto Point Posted: 22 Mar 2016 05:07 AM PDT Island Farm is a 20-minute walk from the anchorage. Great vegetable selection. New phone number is 332-0333 or cell #464-0992. Fresh-baked bread is sold at 9 AM Tuesday and Friday, but sells out quickly.
Hatchet Bay Laundry Posted: 22 Mar 2016 04:55 AM PDT A large clean laundromat is located ~3/4 mile north of the Front Porch restaurant on Queens Hwy. It is Miracle Wash, 335-0003. $3 per wash and $4 per dryer.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “VAT Surprise” plus 1 more VAT Surprise Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:54 AM PDT We recently had parts shipped to us in Marsh Harbour. We’ve discovered Abaco Freight in Jupiter, but that’s another blurb. Our water heater sprang a leak and needed a gasket. Parts supplier was in Boston, so we had gasket Fedex’ed Overnite to Jupiter and then Abaco Freight shipped it to MH via Cherokee Air. The parts were $52, Fedex US shipping was $70 (remember this number), Abaco Freight was $20. The invoice from the parts house showed $122. When I picked up the package the VAT was $11.41. I assumed the VAT would be on $52 + $20. Wrong! Remember that $70 US Fedex charge, that was also included. The moral of the story is try to minimize your TOTAL shipping cost, including all US shipping. John (MV Duetto)
Shipping into Marsh Harbour (Abaco) Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:53 AM PDT This is a quick note on getting packages shipped to Marsh Harbour from the US. We recently needed to have 2 steering cylinders shipped from the US. We’ve had small items sent in the past and have used Fedex with good results. The cylinders were approximately 3″x3″x36″ and weighed 7 lbs each. I priced the cylinders from 2 distributors and they were virtually the same price. The Fedex charge was vastly different, $275 vs $125. Even at the lower price I thought that I would explore alternatives. I called Aramak shippers in Marsh Harbour. They said it was too small for them but they put me in touch with Abaco Freight in Jupiter, FL. I emailed them and Kimber Mazzeo (nick@abacofreight.com), the owner, got back to me right away. She explained that based on my sizing, the shipping cost would be $40 and they take care of getting parts through customs. She also explained in detail that she needed electronic copies of the cruising permit and an electronic invoice with the boat’s name on it. So the process is the distributor ships to Abaco Freight c/o you. They put it on a Cherokee Air flight (m-w-f) and you pick it up at the Marsh Harbour airport. I have to say from the time we placed the order we had the parts within 5 business day with no drama. As an aside one of the distributors shipped for free, so the end to end shipping cost was $40. John (mv Duetto)
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Danny Fraino- March 18, 2016 - 1:18 pm
The VAT tax adds an average of 12% to the landed cost of the item. So if an item costs $100 including the freight charges the VAT will be an additional $12. This is in addition to whatever the Bahamas import duty charges are on the item.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Route from Bimini to Stirrup Cay question Route from Bimini to Stirrup Cay question Posted: 11 Mar 2016 09:51 AM PST We intend to spend some time at Great Harbor Cay this year. We are interested in the route north of Bimini to Stirrup Cay. We draw 5.5 feet. Can anyone give us information on this route and it use with our draft?
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Hazard in the Barraterre channel Hazard in the Barraterre channel Posted: 07 Mar 2016 04:14 AM PST A 20′ X 2′ X 1/2″ piece of fiberglass with one end in the mud bottom & one end at the surface has been found to exist in the channel north of Barraterre. The object is just west of the recommended route to Barraterre near 23° 42.167′ N 76°02.919′ W. See Chart EX 27, page 43, Explorer Chartbook Exumas and Ragged Islands, Seventh Edition.
As Tim and Lisa Keith-Lucas attest below, Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits. Great Harbour Cay is located mid-way between Freeport and Nassau.
I want to preface this with a statement regarding our complete lack of experience. This is our first trip to the Bahamas and we are using, besides our navigation charts, the Explorer Chartbook for the Bahamas. The book needs some updating in terms of this Marina, so here goes: We arrived February 29, with no plans to stay here and no reservation. We had anchored out and thought, “why not?” We are so happy we did. The book did not really give this place the credit it now deserves. Thanks to the “campground hosts” Christel and Gary, this is a vibrant, thriving Marina with both transient and long term residents. The place is beautifully kept and clean, the water looks like an aquarium, there are resident manatees, everything works well including the wifi, and the staff is nothing short of amazing. There are activities almost every day, from dinghy convoys to places to view wildlife, festivals with food and drink from local vendors, potlucks, wine tasting, and pizza night. The marina is quiet from early evening til 8am, and people are gracious and polite. It is refreshingly safe and there is no need to lock things up. As far as the options offered on the island, the guidebook can tell you that in a minute or two. My reason for this entry is twofold: one, these are fairly recent developments, so the guidebooks might not tell you just how amazing this place has become, and the Berry Islands are not heavily visited. Two, it is clear that reservations are going to be essential from here on, as word is getting out that this is a great place to be, so plan ahead! We are here for one more week, waiting on a spell of Easter Winds to subside, and the Marina has been full since we arrived. Tim and Lisa Keith-Lucas MV Santa Catalina de Guale
We’ve enjoyed our stay here. It occurred to me, as we are preparing to leave, that a note about the approach might be helpful. The charts indicate that the entrance to the channel that leads to Great Harbour Cay Marina is marked with a range and a set of red/green markers at the entrance. If you could add that the range is no longer there, the red marker is on a post outside the entrance (as you approach this post keeping it on your right, the channel comes into view) but more importantly, the green marker that the chart shows on the left side of the entrance is gone. To make it a bit more exciting, there is a green square sign welcoming you to Great Harbour Cay, but it is on the right side of the entrance!! If you keep this to your left and the red marker to the right, you will go right into a rock wall. If you are coming in for the first time, this will be pretty confusing. Best do it in daylight. Thanks! On to the Eleutheras. MV Santa Catalina Tim and Lisa Keith-Lucas
Tim and Lisa Many thanks for your kind note concerning this beautiful island. We first “found” this slice of heaven in 2005, and back then it was just us and one other boat in the marina for over two weeks waiting for a weather break. We had left Chub Cay headed for West End when the weather really started knocking us hard. We had to find shelter and Great Harbour was the closest to us. We now say it was “divine intervention.” During that two weeks, we met folks from France, USA, the Bahamas who had residences on the island and they all treated us as if we were family. The beach on the opposite side from the marina is one of the prettiest my bride and I have ever enjoyed. Thank you for your updates. Trust the remainder of your cruise will be safe and most enjoyable. Thanks for using “The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net”. Winston Fowler
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Explorer Chartbooks, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET PARTNER, has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: “Staniel Cay Missing Mail Boat” plus 1 more Staniel Cay Missing Mail Boat Posted: 01 Mar 2016 12:35 PM PST The Staniel Cay mail and supply boat is once again absent for want of a part. Last weeks mail boat still has not arrived. Supplies of perishable groceries are in very short supply and some of the restaurants are closed.
Duncan Town – Fresh Water Posted: 01 Mar 2016 04:02 AM PST Does anybody know if it’s possible to fill jerry cans of fresh water in Duncan Town?
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