Northern Abacos Destinations

[Exhale]

We're going to be heading to the Northern Abacos shortly. Does anybody have any suggestions/comments/must-see's/don't-bother's about anything that is North of Allans-Pensacola Cay. We have already decided that we're definitely visiting Double-Breasted and then kind of working our way South. We're looking to see if anybody has any recomendations for any of the other cays between Double-Breasted and Allans-Pensacola, that would also offer a relatively safe anchorage for over-nighting. By the time one stops for 'exploring" for say, 2-3 hrs at any given "day-only" anchorage, it has taken away 4-5 hrs of a full day available for "safe" daylight travel.
Thoughts??...Comments??...Suggestions??

[Sailndive345]

If you like scuba/snorkeling, you'd enjoy the Fish Cays/Moraine Cay area - also, there is always the cracked conch at Rosie's @ Grand Cay Both offer overnight anchoring possibilities depending your vessel & her draft.

If you like spearfishing (w/legal gear, of course) - outside (south-east) of D-Breasted offers great opportunities.

Have fun!

Sailndive

[Intentional Drifter]

Double-Breasted can't be missed. Stop in at Spanish Cay, too. Great marina that we had all to ourselves in May. The restaurant manager told us we would have the best shrimp bisque we've ever had -- and it was! The rest of the meal was superb, as was the sunset.

ID

[seafarer31569]

We enjoyed Foxtown which is near Allens-Pensacola Key. There is a little bar/restaurant/fuel dock/grocery store/motel in town. The folks there were really great people and the food was good. Do not try to get to the fuel dock before scouting in the dinghy. Too many rock formations just underwater. The anchorage is not well protected but usable.

Cooperstown has a restaurant run by a local Bahamian woman. No menu, great food and cheap prices. Also a medical clinic in town if you need one. This anchorage is WIDE open. Good weather only.

We enjoy the places run by the locals instead of the yachting areas. Nippers is a nice place to chill out but you will not be going far enough. Great reef right off the beach to snorkel. Has two salt water pools and a live band on certain occasions.

port Lucaya is one of our favorite stops. If you are there on the weekend they have a great show (free) in count Basey Square. There is a water taxi to get you back and forth to the marina. Local bus will get you into Freeport where the International Bazaar and large grocery stores are located.

Depending on your route you might skip West End and go directly to port Lucaya to check in. We have a trawler so we used the canal that bisects the island. This route is unavailable to sailboats but a great short cut if you can use it.

[Hudson Force]

We've enjoyed anchoring inside Tom Brown's Cay; spending some time at Grand Cays & Double Breasted,- One of our favorites is to tuck into the small anchorage area available just east of the tide rip between Big & Little Carter (our draft 4'3"). A short dinghy ride out past the sand bore leads to some great reefs. Moraine and Allans-Pensacola are also high on our list. 'take care and joy Aythya crew

[nautical62]

Just finished a week up that way.

Not many cruisers stop by the Grand Cays. Provisions there are very limited, but it's a nice off the beaten track stop. The main anchorage at Double Breasted is very pretty. Strangers offers the possibility of having an island to yourself.

Our stop at Carter's was very erie. 8 or so almost derelict boats with nobody on board any of them and a vacant fish camp. There are still many remains from the missel tracking station to see. If you have shallow draft there is some great gunkholing in the NW part of the chain - Joe's Key, etc. I spent a few wonderful days there a few years ago.

The Paw Paw Cays were small, but one island had a small beach. There is currently a home begin constructed on the northernmost Fish Cay, but you can still enjoy the lower cays and likely not see anyone. Moraine is private, and has a home, but many cruiser's stop to enjoy the beach. Umbrealla has a few beaches as well.

South of Allan's, the Hog Cays offer an interesting place to tuck yourself away. You need to enter from the SE to avoid the shallows. Manjack (a.k.a Munjanck or Nunjack) with beautiful beaches and trails is one of my favorites and where I am now.

[Exhale]

Thanks to ALL! We'll pull out all the charts and have a look.