Best hurricane holes in the Bahamas

[Snowandsail]

Hello all you wonderful people. I am looking for advice/information on the best hurricane holes in the Bahamas for a 54 ft cat with a 5ft draw. Boat is in Nassau so bays close to there would be best.

Thank you!

[chubby]

Originally Posted by Snowandsail

Best hurricane holes in the Bahamas

!

imo, the nearest hurricane hole will be north shore Hispaniola...Luperon being most infamous.

[SV_FlyingTigress]

Rio Dulce Guatemala waaaay on the other side

[neilpride]

Do yourself a favor and get the hell out of the Bahamas before the end of July, there are no hurricane holes close to Nassau, even if you find a place, it will be filled with local boats, you may have protection from the sea, but not the wind, Bahamas is flat.

In any case, with time if something big comes, set course for Fl.

[Armando95623]

The only places that I would consider for hurricane hole purposes in the Bahamas would be Great Harbour Cay marina in the Berry Islands and possibly Cave Cay down in the Exumas. I went through Matthew in the fall of 2016 at GHC. At the time of its closest approach it was a Cat 4 about 10 miles offshore from the marina. 100 mph plus winds in the marina itself but fortunately minimal storm surge. GHC marina is about a mile from open water through a narrow cut, which helps somewhat from a storm surge standpoint. The marine is surrounded on 3 sides by low hills about 75 foot height. Needless to say, with the high winds, you could not safely stay on your boat - there are several storm shelters near the marina. I am not saying that GHC marina is guaranteed safe - just relating my experience there from Matthew.

I do not have direct experience with Cave Cay though I have anchored outside of it on the bank side. It is surrounded by higher hills than GHC marina but has a very short opening to the open water on the bank side so there may be more risk from storm surge.

[Snowandsail]

Thank you. Those seem to be the best options around.

[LarryDW]

Originally Posted by Armando95623

The only places that I would consider for hurricane hole purposes in the Bahamas would be Great Harbour Cay marina in the Berry Islands and possibly Cave Cay down in the Exumas. I went through Matthew in the fall of 2016 at GHC. At the time of its closest approach it was a Cat 4 about 10 miles offshore from the marina. 100 mph plus winds in the marina itself but fortunately minimal storm surge. GHC marina is about a mile from open water through a narrow cut, which helps somewhat from a storm surge standpoint. The marine is surrounded on 3 sides by low hills about 75 foot height. Needless to say, with the high winds, you could not safely stay on your boat - there are several storm shelters near the marina. I am not saying that GHC marina is guaranteed safe - just relating my experience there from Matthew.

I do not have direct experience with Cave Cay though I have anchored outside of it on the bank side. It is surrounded by higher hills than GHC marina but has a very short opening to the open water on the bank side so there may be more risk from storm surge.

I would agree, GHC marina is about the best you’ll get. I’m anchored in the Bay of Five Pirates as we speak. I stayed at the marina last year for a couple days. Very protected, great staff.

I’ve heard that cave Cay has been sold, is not an option anymore. For an upcoming storm, that might be negotiable?

I’m sure there are others. Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera comes to mind, but I’ve drug in there with a 45 lb Mantus M1, 5/16” chain, 5:1 scope, 20-25 knot winds. PS Mariah 31.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by LarryDW

... I’m sure there are others. Hatchet Bay, Eleuthera comes to mind, but I’ve drug in there with a 45 lb Mantus M1, 5/16” chain, 5:1 scope, 20-25 knot winds. PS Mariah 31.

Hatchet Bay (Eleuthera) is NOT a hurricane hole.
For instance, nearly every boat (20 - 30), in the bay, was lost, during Hurricane Andrew (1992), and then again, during Hurricane Floyd (1999).

[s/v Jedi]

Here is my tactic for the Bahamas: I move to the NW so that I keep clear of the solid colored cone (3 days away from storm), all the way to Great Sale Cay if needed, all the while hoping the storm makes a turn and goes away.

We had one that decided to turn to the Gulf of Mexico and one that hugged the Florida Atlantic coast and we stayed in the Bahamas. Another one kept coming and we did the overnight sail to Port Canaveral, past the opening bridge and the locks, into the Canaveral Barge Canal at Meritt Island, anchoring and tied to the mangroves that line the canal. We were safe and secure while Dorian mauled the Bahamas.

Alternatives are reported to be the GHC marina but also the boatyard at Freeport, but I have no direct experience with either.

[bgallinger]

Best hurricane hole in the Bahamas is Cave Cay.

[neilpride]

Some people's definition of a hurricane hole is far from a decent hurricane hole.

I am not expressly saying this because of the post pointing out Cave Cay.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by bgallinger

Best hurricane hole in the Bahamas is Cave Cay.

Is there anchoring at Cave Cay, or just the marina dockage?

[sailorboy1]

Actually the main channel in Nassau is pretty protected. Great Harbour Cay and Hatchet Bay are very protected.

But really best to be somewhere that allows options to move as the hurricane gets closer. Nothing is protected for a direct hit, but 50 miles makes a big difference.

[MicHughV]

Seriously ?...I don't think there is such a thing as a "safe" hurricane hole anywhere in the B'mas.
Seeing as that there is usually several days warning of an approaching hurricane, best option is to get out of the way.
As pointed out above, even 50 miles can make a big difference, but even this can be sketchy as proven by hurricane Iain, as one little wobble in the track makes the 50 miles disappear.

Hope Town harbor in the Abaco's has always been considered a "hurricane hole" but hurricane Dorian demolished the place, including all the boats in there. Man o' War Cay, Green Turtle Cay also have or thought to have "hurricane holes" , but these too proved to be no match for Dorian, etc, etc.

It's a throw of the dice.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

Hope Town harbor in the Abaco's has always been considered a "hurricane hole" but hurricane Dorian demolished the place, including all the boats in there. Man o' War Cay, Green Turtle Cay also have or thought to have "hurricane holes" , but these too proved to be no match for Dorian, etc, etc.

It's a throw of the dice.

It is a throw of the dice. But even 2 years ago if you cruised the Abacos you could see the difference even 20 miles made in damage Dorian did. In that case Man-o-War and Hopetown were pretty much a direct hit. And it makes big difference if you are north of south of the center.

OP asked about near Nassau. Nassau itself is pretty much as good a throw of dice as any really.