I just spent a month in the Abacos. My
boat was sunk in
Hurricane Dorian and I returned to re-float the
boat and get rid of it. The following is the latest that I both observed and heard whilst I was there. Things can change by the day but to the best of my knowledge the following is correct as of March 1 2020.
Feel free to correct me if you know better.
The eye of the storm was about 20 miles across covering from somewhere just north of Green Turtle Cay to about Lynyard Cay. Outside the eye the damage is far less than inside.
GreenTurtle Cay. The
dinghy dock is gone. The big public
dock is OK and RO
water can be obtained there. Only one boat survived in Black Sound, and even that one was damaged. White Sound took a pounding. The Green Turtle Club has
fuel and some dockage. The club itself is supposed to open soon. Bluff House Marina was pretty well wiped out. The bar etc is closed. Some moorings are available. You cannot clear in at Green Turtle. Suggest you do that at West End if coming round the top of Grand Bahama.
Power has been restored on Green Turtle.
Treasure Cay. Treasure Cay was totally trashed. Many of the
hotel rooms and condos are being ripped down, The marina is trashed. Moorings are available in the bay. There are still some sunken
boats in the marina yet to be removed. There is one very small store opening for basic
food. The supermarket is a heap of rubble. RO
water is available but you will have to use containers and lug it to the boat. The
fuel dock is open but badly damaged. Florence’s Coffee Shop and Bakery opened about a week ago. Lots of trash and rubble about the place but slow progress is being made. There is no
power on as yet..
Leisure Lee. The Morrings
boats are scattered inland and one
catamaran even made its way over the road and now lies upside down in the bush.
Marsh Harbour. A real disaster area. The Mud has been scraped clean and a fence put round it. Standard
Hardware is gone. Ace is trading but in limited fashion. There are some sunken boats in the bay and both the Conch Inn and the Gibroom exist no more. The light at the entrance to the harbour is gone. The
Bahamas Defence Force is camped by the Public Dock. The dock itself still in need of
repair.
Dinghy to the inside end and use the concrete steps. You can clear in at Marsh Harbour. Maxwells is up and running. Many other businesses are still closed. There is still no power.
Elbow Cay. Hope Town took a pounding. The lighthouse still stands. Lighthouse Marina trashed but fuel is available to small boats. The other marina also damaged but looks like
work is progressing to get it up to scratch again.
Captain Jacks trashed. The Harbour Lodge badly damaged. The bar is closed and the pool too. Not sure if Lowes is open. I was there on a Sunday. I think the coffee shop might be closed as well.
I didn’t get down to
Tahiti Beach or Lubbers Quarters but I believe Lubbers took a ponding as well.
Man o War. Lots of boats up on Dickies Cay, plus a couple of boats sunk in the anchorage. Edwins Boat Yard open for business. The ice cream shop flourishes. You can eat at the restaurant next door. The power people are working on restoring power…..but no word on when that might happen. The old wooden schooner The William H. Albury was sunk but has been re-floated. The Old Sail Shop is gone.
Great Guana. Lots of damage. Nippers gone but being rebuilt. Grabbers flattened but
work progressing to re-estabish. Both
marinas badly damaged. Fuel available at Orchid Bay. (I think) I saw Troy’s dive boat, so I guess he is in business.
Bakers Bay. Didn’t get there.
I took a road trip down to Little Harbour which seemed to have escaped major injury. Interestingly as you drive south you quite suddenly come out of the dead tree zone into green trees again. A very defined line.
The road between Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay was badly pot holed but when coming down today most of the holes have been filled in.
The Abacos badly needs patronage again, so don't be put of with a few setbacks. The water is still great, there are plenty of crayfish and the breeze makes for some great sailing!