Where would you leave your boat in the Bahamas for a week?

[Want to sail]

We are planning to leave in the next couple of weeks to spend the winter cruising the Bahamas. This will be our first real cruise. We are want to fly home for Christmas since neither of us can stand to miss the holiday with our family. Anyone know a safe place to leave our catamaran with nearby flights to North Florida?
Thanks,
Deby

[casual]

Easiest connections are from the Abaco's.Marsh Harbor Treasure Cay.Marina's in Greenturtle Hope Town Treasure Marsh Harbor.

[skipmac]

Also flights to Nassau, Freeport, Georgetown, I think some of the other Exuma islands.

[Hudson Force]

Originally Posted by casual

Easiest connections are from the Abaco's.Marsh Harbor Treasure Cay.Marina's in Greenturtle Hope Town Treasure Marsh Harbor.

This is an excellent choice from Casual, but I would add Man-0-War as among he best. All these selections are within easy transportion by quick and frequent ferry to the taxi connections to the airport at Treasue Cay or Marsh Harbor.

[Want to sail]

Thanks Guys. Really helps to have recommendations based on experience. Now I just need to get the boat work done and wait for Sandy to clear out. We are excited for the adventure to begin!
Deby

[BouyCall]

Awesome idea. Dont forget to post ur pics of ur cruise

[Waterway Guide]

Some of those areas were hit pretty hard by Sandy (George Town, Marsh Harbour, Cat, Long), so be sure to plan reasonably ahead for a spot to leave the boat. Have a great cruise!

[Vasco]

The Bahamas is a bigger place than most folks think. From north to south about 400 miles. The question is where will you be at Christmas. If in Abaco Marsh Harbour or Treasure Cay would be ok if you're going to leave the boat in a marina.

If in Nassau I would leave it at Nassau Harbour Club marina. If in The Exumas, Sampson Cay is a safe spot, again in the marina there. Further south Georgetown is your best bet. The safest spot there would be in Hole #3, either on a mooring or in a slip there.

Flights to the US are available in all those spots. At Sampson you can get a ride to Staniel Cay for the flight but at the other spots flights are right there. Most go to Ft. Lauderdale, Miami or Palm Beach.

[Want to sail]

Thanks everyone. We have no plans right now except to get there. Looking at flights to Jax or Orlando and rent a car to drive home, Orlando flights seem to be cheaper, enough so to cover the car rental for the week. I have to be back to work around the 1st of March and the Christmas break is the only other time frame I have. Actually going through my Waterway Guide now looking at all the possibilities. Since this is our first trip, every place is new and exciting.

[maxingout]

As long as I had someone available to watch the boat in the Bahamas, I would feel comfortable leaving it while I was in the USA. Otherwise, I would sail it back to Florida to a secure location while I was away.

During our circumnavigation, I was very picky about where we left the boat, and I always had someone responsible for the vessel when we were not there.

I guess that is one of the reasons I had a 70 pound Beugel anchor to keep the boat safe when we were not there.

[nautical62]

Originally Posted by Vasco

The Bahamas is a bigger place than most folks think. From north to south about 400 miles. The question is where will you be at Christmas....

I think Vasco really hits on the key point here which is: Where do you think you'll be? If you are planning to winter in Georgetown, it makes no sense to bring your boat back to the Abacos, or even Nassau especially for just a couple weeks.

However, I would add, that both the Abacos and Georgetown have good flights and are places I would personally feel comfortable leaving my boat at anchor or on a ball with someone looking after it. I've heard many people offering to do so, especially in Georgetown on the cruiser's net. Personally, I feel less comfortable with Nassau.

[FSMike]

You could always play Santa and have your family fly down to the Bahamas.

[Jane.Joy]

The Treasure Cay airport has fewer flights these days and always more expensive than Marsh Harbour. MH is a very safe place to leave a boat, either at anchor or in a marina.