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

http://www.greatharbourcaymarina.com/

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: “Is BTC back up and running okay after Joaquin?” plus 2 more
Is BTC back up and running okay after Joaquin?

Long Island Relief…
Posted: 04 Mar 2016 04:23 AM PST

US State Department gives Bahamas a critical rating on crime
Posted: 03 Mar 2016 02:20 PM PST
Post Crime Rating: Critical

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?

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 Routes for Watermakers Air” plus 2 more
New Routes for Watermakers Air
Outboard skiffs stolen from Wild Tamarind Cay
Great Isaac and Great Stirrup Lights relit
New Routes for Watermakers Air
Posted: 29 Feb 2016 08:23 AM PST
Watermakers Air, has begun regular passenger and freight air service into Great Exuma (GGT), N. Eleuthera (ELH), and Great Harbour Cay (GHC), from Fort Lauderdale. Perfect for all crew, guest, and supply needs for boaters!

Please contact us for further information on scheduled flights, private charters, or freight services.

Phone: (954) 771-0330
General Fax: (954) 771-0499
General Email:info@watermakersair.com
Freight Fax: (954) 771-0499
Freight Email:freight@watermakersair.com
Website: www.watermakersair.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/watermakersair

Our business hours are:
Daily: 8am – 5pm
Our Address at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport:
Watermakers Air
Hangar 19
2331 NW 55th Court
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

Outboard skiffs stolen from Wild Tamarind Cay
Posted: 29 Feb 2016 06:50 AM PST
BOLO – 2 Spanish Wells Skiffs Stolen from Wild Tamarind Cay (AKA Rat Cay), Exuma, south of Compass, north of Staniel Cay.

Please be on the look out for Cocoplum and Seagrape, two Spanish Wells Skiffs stolen from Wild Tamarind Cay night of Feb 22, 2016.
Wild Tamarind Cay is next to Thomas Cay, a couple miles south of Compass Cay and a few miles north of Staniel. They are identical both with a Yamaha F150 outboard. The names are “Cocoplum II” and “Sea Grape”. Believed to be stolen at the same time so where one is also could be the next… There is a $5k reward being offered PER boat. If seen please contact Rachel at (242) 376-9935 or you can email vshippingbahamas@gmail.com.

Please call Chris Lloyd at BASRA: 242 322-7412, 242 477-2941 or Bob 242 423-3700.

Aerial searches so far have failed to locate the boats as of February 28.

Great Isaac and Great Stirrup Lights relit
Posted: 29 Feb 2016 05:07 AM PST
The Aids to Navigation Section of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force reports that as January 1, 2016 the lighthouses at Great Isaac and Great Stirrup Cays were again working. Great Isaac Light (26° 01.75′ N/79° 05.25′ W) is shown on Near Bahamas Chartbook, Charts 2 and 5, pages 9 and 15. Great Stirrup light (25° 49.42′ N/77° 54.06′ W) appears on Near Bahamas Charts 4, 6, BER 1, and BER 2, pages 12, 17, 56, and 57.

A spokesman for the RBDF advises they are making a concerted effort to get as many navigational lights working as fast as possible.

No word yet on whether the Northwest Channel light is working.

This schedule of Watermakers Air’s flights to the Bahamas comes from our friend Chris Pitney of Staniel Cay Yacht Club, A SALTY SOUTHEAST CRUISERS’ NET SPONSOR! Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a favorite destination for cruisers in the Exumas, has always been most accommodating for its guests.

Hi Larry – just wanted to let you know that our sister company, Watermakers Air, has begun regular passenger and freight air service into Great Exuma (GGT), N. Eleuthera (ELH), and Great Harbour Cay (GHC), from Fort Lauderdale. Perfect for all crew, guest, and supply needs for cruisers! I’m attaching a map of our routes here in case you can share for us.
Thanks!
Chris
SCYC

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: Turks and Caicos Radar Station
Turks and Caicos Radar Station
Posted: 26 Feb 2016 06:11 AM PST
The Turks and Caicos Government operates a radar surveillance station that monitors vessels entering and departing their territorial waters. Vessels entering or leaving the twelve mile limit can contact the station by calling “Provo Radio”. The station operates 24/7 on VHF Channels 16 and 64 and also broadcasts navigational warnings and weather forecasts.

The radar and radio transmitters are mounted on a 40 meter tower located in the South Dock area on Providenciales at 21° 44.44′ N/72° 16.26′ W. See Chart TC 3, page 78, Explorer Chartbook Far Bahamas, Sixth Edition.