Sailing out of Nassau

[jakoby]

Hello, We will be sailing out of Nasssau, Bahammas around Thanksgiving with two 6 year old boys on aboard. We will be in a 47 foot monohull. Any intinerary recommendations. We will have a week and would like to spend some time enjoying beaches but don't want to spend alot of time in Nassau. How long does it typically take to sail to Eleuthera or Abaco?

[Vasco]

Your best bet out of Nassau is to go south to the Exumas. Just be aware that you will not be eating out at all, if you're down there for a week. Lots of beaches and deserted islands. Good snorkelling, spearfishing and swimming. Allens Cay, then Normans Cay then Shroud Cay to explore the creeks and dink over to the ocean side. These are all short hops. Daysails. You will not have time to get to Abaco or Eleuthera and see anything and get back to Nassau in a week.

[CSY Man]

Exumas for sure.
Bring food and booze and you will have a blast.

[jakoby]

How is the fishing between Nassau and the Exumas?

[CarstenWL]

We will have a week

Roundtrip? What is your draft?

Regards,

Carsten

[dennisjay]

Fishing is generally good throughout the Bahamas, but is not allowed in the 125 square miles of the Exumas Land & Sea Park. But don’t let that stop you from going there. It’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. Take the kids hiking on Warderick Wells up to Boo Boo Hill. It’s a two-day trip from Nassau. On the way, stop at Allens Cay to see the giant iguanas.

[Bohemian17]

Good advice.

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[Vasco]

The fishing on the Bank is lousy. When you're at Normans go out the cut to the Sound, the ocean. The fishing is great there. Have a daysail in the ocean and catch fish.

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[jakoby]

Is it worth sailing around Paradise Islnad or should we head out asap?

[roundabout]

I would skip the sail around Paradise Island and go straight to the Exumas as others suggest. Great beaches, exploring, snorkeling. Stop at Shroud Cay for sure. Moorings available there as well as at Warderick Wells. Get on the VHF and call ahead to Exuma Park (Warderick Wells) and reserve a mooring.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, jakoby.

What Vasco says.

[Joe Brown]

The draft on a 47 foot monohull concerns me. Others have given good advice about heading for the Exumas.

Be advised you will need to leave Nassau in the afternoon when the sun is behind you and post someone on the bow to watch for coral heads. It's been too long for me to remember the exact heading to Allen's Cay, but it's something close to ESE and the morning sun will cause too much glare on the water surface, even with polarized lenses.

Nonetheless, absolutely do go to the Exumas. They are beautiful.

[jreiter190]

Fifeteen miles south of Nassau are the dreaded Yellow Banks. Much has been written about them to the point that some avoid them. Some of the best diving can be found there. Look for a good sized coral head and anchor to leeward. I never in thirty plus found a head with less than six feet over it at low tide. They are lobster condominiums with grouper, sheepshead, stone crab,etc. We used to blast out there in a 22' skiff with four guys and free dive with pole guns and slings. In two hours, the box would stuffed.Back to Yacht Haven, where well heeled power boaters would pay $3
00 a pound. Everyone would make a hundred bucks or so and the remaining catch would be barbecued at Hurricane Hole and given away to passers-by. Yeah,yeah, I know. We were criminals breakin all sorts of laws.Funny how all the law abiding folks couldn't get the money out of their pockets fast enough.

[Vasco]

If you don't want to cross the Yellow Bank for a straight shot to Allen's you can head south between the White and Yellow Banks. It only adds a few miles to the trip. If you run the Yellow Bank the stretch of heads is only 2 or 3 miles. We run it regularly and have not seen less than 8 feet.

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[Cheechako]

Another vote for the Exumas. Get a guidebook. Cautiono not go ashore on the small island with the pigs.
The "dreaded" yellow banks are not a concern.