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23-02-2012, 03:39
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Boat: 2001 Beneteau 411
Posts: 319
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Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
We are expecting guests for a duration of 1 week. They land and depart from Nassau. We would like recommendations for a cruising ground for this period. We have a Beneteau 411. Thanks
Pete
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23-02-2012, 04:41
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Heathsville, VA
Boat: Gemini 105Mc 34'
Posts: 1,457
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Hi Pete,Northern Exumas would be my choice: Allens, Highbourne, Normans are close and have some fun features, including the iguanas, and it's all on the banks so weather won't likely delay you. Rose Island is a nice anchorage close to Nassau. Depends on what you want to do, and the conditions.
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23-02-2012, 04:48
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Boat: 2001 Beneteau 411
Posts: 319
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Quote:
Originally Posted by Waterway Guide
Hi Pete,Northern Exumas would be my choice: Allens, Highbourne, Normans are close and have some fun features, including the iguanas, and it's all on the banks so weather won't likely delay you. Rose Island is a nice anchorage close to Nassau. Depends on what you want to do, and the conditions.
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Thanks a lot. Sounds like a plan. Are all the islands you mention uninhabited? It's been quite a few years since we cruised the Exumas down to Georgetown. Are we correct that getting to Georgetown would be too far for just a one week time frame? Can you elaborate on the fun features?
Pete
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23-02-2012, 05:37
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SE Florida
Boat: Hunter 430
Posts: 158
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
If you want less inhabited, the Berry islands just north of Nassau are very nice....some beautiful, tranquil anchorages.
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23-02-2012, 05:42
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Boat: 2001 Beneteau 411
Posts: 319
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Quote:
Originally Posted by hogfighter
If you want less inhabited, the Berry islands just north of Nassau are very nice....some beautiful, tranquil anchorages.
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Thanks. We have two separate groups coming, each for about a week. One group may prefer less inhabited whereas the other may prefer inhabited. Therefore, it may be worth having recommendations for both cases. In any case, we can give them their choice once we understand the pros and cons of each
Pete
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23-02-2012, 06:15
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Beaufort, SC
Boat: 2004 Hunter 41 AC
Posts: 310
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Allens and Highbourne are only about a half day, but you need good light since there are some coral heads in the area. You can easily make it to the Land and Sea Park. Warderick Wells is not too much of a stretch and worth it if you have the time.
Scott
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23-02-2012, 06:20
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 20
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Istead of hitting the northern exumas, consider the middle exumas where you can access shroud cay and staniel cay.
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23-02-2012, 06:23
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Boat: 2001 Beneteau 411
Posts: 319
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Quote:
Originally Posted by lake norman 285
Istead of hitting the northern exumas, consider the middle exumas where you can access shroud cay and staniel cay.
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Thanks. Why do you recommend them?
Pete
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23-02-2012, 06:29
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Heathsville, VA
Boat: Gemini 105Mc 34'
Posts: 1,457
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Allens: I think they are all uninhabited, and the anchorage is very nice with a few beaches and, of course, the huge iguanas (watch out, they bite). Sometimes there are a lot of boats, and a tour boat comes screaming in occasionally for a short stop to feed the iguanas. Highbourne has a marina and a new restaurant (just opened). Roberts is privately owned. Ships Channel is pretty exposed to swell. Shroud's very cool as it has great anchorages and you can dinghy all the way through the creek to a nice beach on the Exuma Sound. Warderick Wells and the Land & Sea Park is very nice with trails and such (you can't fish, though, and you pretty much have to take a mooring). I don't think you'd try to get much further and back in a week, certainly not to George Town.
As per the other comments, the Berrys are nice too, less boats, but more privately owned islands.
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23-02-2012, 06:34
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#10
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: 29° 49.16’ N 82° 25.82’ W
Boat: Pearson 422
Posts: 16,306
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Might also consider Andros Island. Very uninhabited and, if you are a diver or snorkeler, some of the best, most unspoiled reefs in the northern Bahamas. Also close and easy to reach. All deep water across the Tongue of the Ocean.
__________________
The water is always bluer on the other side of the ocean.
Sometimes it's necessary to state the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious.
Rust is the poor man's Loctite.
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23-02-2012, 08:08
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Beaufort, SC
Boat: 2004 Hunter 41 AC
Posts: 310
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Staniel Cay is nice -- Thunderball grotto, the pigs at Big Majors, SCYC has a nice bar/restaurant. We really liked the Sea Aquarium north of Cambridge. One of the better snorkeling spots. You can anchor at Warderick near Emerald Rock (or take a mooring), but it's more exposed than the north anchorage in a westerly. There's a lot to do in the middle Exumas, as long as the weather is settled.
Scott
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23-02-2012, 10:15
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Fernandina Beach, FL
Boat: Island Packet 380 - Delta Blues
Posts: 353
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
I second Warderick Wells and the Land & Sea Park. The most beautiful place I've visited in the Bahamas. We're headed there again next Saturday.
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23-02-2012, 10:15
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,489
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
+1 on all the suggestions above.
The Exumas, regardless of which area, are a great cruising ground. Although some of the more popular stops, like Allens Keys, can get quite crowed with cruising boats. The marina at Highborne Key does not really want the average cruiser there, but they will sometimes begrudgingly accomodate you. The Exumas Sea & Land Park is a great location -- especially for cruising with guests.
Andros is a great suggestion, it so weirdly different than any other island in the Bahamas, but be sure you have a dinghy adequate to haul you and your guests around because the parts of Andros you can access in sailboat are relatively limited. Beware of the Chiccharneys!
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23-02-2012, 16:03
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bahamas/Florida
Boat: Solaris Sunstar 36' catamaran
Posts: 2,686
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
Lots of info in Steve Pavilidis' various Bahama cruising guides.
__________________
Sail Fast Live Slow
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25-02-2012, 07:25
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Boat: 2001 Beneteau 411
Posts: 319
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Re: Bahamas Cruising Areas - Recommendations Please
I have two questions related to cruising in Bahamas:
- Where can water tanks be refilled and what is cost? We have no water maker and our guests are likely to use lots of fresh water
- Where is best place to clear customs? We'll be departing Lake Worth and passing through NW Providence channel and onto Nassau. We'll be wanting the maximum available time.
Thanks
Pete
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