Abacos Sailing Itinerary
Year-round tropical beauty
The Bahamas is a sailing paradise, a year-round sailing destination offering easy line-of-sight navigation, sheltered anchorages and shallow, clear water.
Snorkel in the company of turtles and tropical fish, dive sunken shipwrecks, relax on clean white sand and witness breathtaking scenery from your deck. Laid-back island culture, delicious local food, quiet paradise cays and world-class sailing are waiting for you on a Bahamas bareboat charter holiday.
The Bahamas one-week bareboat
Day 1
Great Guana Cay
Your Bahamian sailing adventure begins at our base in Marsh Harbour. Familiarise yourself with your new boat in the calm, forgiving conditions of the Bahamas, sailing northwest from Marsh Harbour towards Great Guana Cay. Known for its expansive white-sand beach on the Atlantic side, Great Guana Cay is sparsely populated with few stores or restaurants. It’s an incredibly scenic island, one that will inspire you to return for more fun. The reef off Guana Cay offers unmissable snorkeling and diving. Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Fishers Bay and Settlement Harbor at the south end of the cay.
The day’s sailing
- 2.5 Hr Sailing time
Mooring
Lazy line on a town quay or in Marina
Things to do
Sunbathing, Snorkeling, Diving, Hire a car
Facilities
Water, WiFi, Taxi, Showers/ Toilets, Rubbish, Restaurants, Provisioning, Dive Shop, Bike hire, Bars, Electricity, Fuel, Laundry, Ice, Gift shop,
Discover Great Guana Cay
Dive Guana is a full-service dive shop that also rents out bikes. There are several restaurants, including the famous Grabbers Bar & Grill. Cruising in Bakers Bay, the prettiest anchorage in the vicinity is a great way to end the day. Another popular spot perfect for a beach day is Bakers Bay, this spot has a scenic sunset anchorage, a beautiful beach, but activities must be limited to the beach. Dinghy dockage is available at Fisher’s Bay.
Day 2
Great Guana Cay to Manjack Cay
Let the ocean waves brushing the white sand beaches on this uninhabited island lull you into a relaxing state while you explore. This cay has plenty of activities to keep you busy for the day starting with snorkeling the nearby reefs. These are some of the healthiest reefs in the area and they are bursting with marine life.The day’s sailing
-
- 2 Hr Sailing time
Mooring
Anchoring option
Things to do
Turtle watching, Sunbathing, Snorkeling, Hiking, Swimming, Exploring
Facilities
None
Day 3
Green Turtle Cay
New Plymouth, the quaint village on Green Turtle Cay, is the epitome of Bahamian charm with its narrow streets, white picket fences, and brightly painted buildings. First settled in 1783, at the end of the American Revolution, it grew into the second-largest city in the Bahamas by the 1800s. Now it’s known for its shops, restaurants, and historic sites popular among boaters, making New Plymouth yachting a delight. The two main harbors are White Sound to the north and Black Sound to the south.
The day’s sailing
- 2 Hr Sailing time
Mooring
Mooring buoy
Things to do
Sunbathing, Biking, Hiking, Swimming, Exploring
Facilities
Water, WiFi, Showers/ Toilets, Rubbish, Restaurants, Dive Shop, Bike hire, Bars, Electricity, Fuel, Laundry, Ice, Gift shop
Rent a Golf Cart
Rent a golf cart to visit the beautiful, quiet beaches on the Atlantic side of the island. Visit the Green Turtle Club Resort & Marina, where fuel, water and ice are available plus an outdoor restaurant called The Club Restaurant and an indoor bar called The Dollar Bar. Other popular restaurants and bars that are open include Sundowners bar and restaurant, Pineapples bar and restaurant, Tranquil Turtle Beach Bar and McIntosh Restaurant & Bakery.
Day 4
Green Turtle to Hope Town, Elbow Cay
Elbow Cay has much to offer cruisers, including historic Hope Town, White Sound, and Tahiti Beach. Snorkeling, scuba diving, water sports, shopping, and fine dining are all popular pastimes. Yachting in Tahiti Beach waters is a highlight of cruising to Elbow Cay. Naturally, a climb to the top of Elbow Reef Lighthouse is a must; the views are extraordinarily beautiful. There are a number of eclectic shops. Restaurants include Cap’n Jacks, Bridget’s Rum Bar & Restaurant, On Da Beach Restaurant, and Firefly Bar and Grill. At White Sound, you’ll find the casual elegance of the Abaco Inn.
The day’s sailing
- 2.5 Hr Sailing time
Mooring
Mooring buoy
Things to do
Sunbathing, Snorkeling, Hire a car, Shopping, Swimming, Exploring
Facilities
Water, WiFi, Showers/ Toilets, Restaurants, Provisioning, Dive Shop, Bike hire, Bars, Electricity, Fuel, Laundry, Ice, Gift shop, ATM
Explore Tahiti Beach
Sail to the southern tip of Elbow Cay where you’ll find lovely Tahiti Beach. This sheltered peninsula of sand is picturesque, clean and often blissfully quiet. Naturally, a climb to the top of Elbow Reef Lighthouse is a must; the views are extraordinarily beautiful. There are a number of eclectic shops. Restaurants include Cap’n Jacks, Club Soleil, Harbor’s Edge, Hope Town Harbor Lodge, Munchies Take Away, and Rudy’s Place. At White Sound, you’ll find the casual elegance of the Abaco Inn and the Boat House Restaurant
Day 5
Little Harbour, Great Abaco
If there ever was a place that time seems to have forgotten, it’s the picturesque and secluded anchorage at Little Harbour on Great Abaco. A narrow spit separates the harbour from the Atlantic – the surf booms and the balmy trade winds gently sweep across the white-sand beach. The abandoned lighthouse perched on the spit stands as a lonely sentinel, a vestige of the past. Best known for the internationally acclaimed artist, the late Randolph Johnston, who established an art colony at Little Harbour with his wife, Margot, in the 1950s, the arts still flourish in this idyllic place. Yachting in Little Harbour waters transports you back to a time when the Bahamas remained an undiscovered paradise.
The day’s sailing
- 2 Hr Sailing time
Things to do
Snorkeling, Diving, Swimming, Exploring,
Facilities
Showers/ Toilets, Restaurants, Bars
Explore the Blue Holes
Dive the world-famous blue holes to the northwest of Little Harbor to discover a unique submarine landscape.
Day 6
Little Harbor to Lynyard Cay
This long skinny island is a perfect place to drop anchor safe from the ocean waves of the Atlantic and east winds. Dingy ashore for a quick walk across the cay to the Atlantic side for pristine beaches and views. This quiet and remote spot is ideal for a long walk on the beach or a relaxing sunbathing session.
The day’s sailing
- 1 Hr Sailing time
Things to do
Sunbathing, Snorkeling, Diving, Hiking, Swimming, Exploring
Explore this Quiet Island
Enjoy this secluded cay in peace as you take a long walk on the beach, moments like these make life worth living.
Day 7
Man-O-War Cay
On the final day of your Bahamas yacht charter adventure, sail west across the Abaco Sound to our base in Marsh Harbour. Bask in the glow of the warm Caribbean sun as the ocean slips away behind you, hurrying back to make the most of your time on Great Abaco or taking it easy and simply relishing the fine sailing conditions of the Caribbean. Marsh Harbour’s many bars and restaurants are perfect for an afternoon spent watching the world go by with a cocktail or a plate of fresh seafood.
The day’s sailing
- 2 Hr Sailing time
Things to do
Sunbathing, Diving, Swimming, Exploring
Facilities
Water, WiFi, Showers/ Toilets, Rubbish, Restaurants, Provisioning, Electricity, Fuel, Ice, Gift shop
Explore Boat Building
Take a walk and browse the canvas wares at The Sail Shop and the wooden handicrafts at Joe’s Studio. If you’re hungry, check out the Hibiscus Café. Golf cart rentals are available from Water Ways Rentals.
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