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Bahamas

Bahamas Yacht Charter & Sailing Holiday

Discover The Bahamas

Sailors love the Bahamas for its sheltered harbours, easy-to-challenging sailing areas, and pristine, deserted islands. Within many of its protected territories, where fishing is prohibited, you’ll find the most enchanting diving and snorkelling. Stretches of mangroves play home to wildlife on sea and land. Legendary swimming pigs and three-foot iguanas greet you on white-sand beaches that dot the Caribbean islands, while sea turtles, friendly nurse sharks, and colourful fish swim with you below the surface. A traditional holiday on land pales in comparison to seeing the world from your own private yacht.

Choose the Bahamas if you’re looking for year-round summer-like temperatures and a private escape from the beaten path.

Bareboat itineraries 

Set sail on your own private yacht with a bareboat charter holiday in the Bahamas. Offering one of the world’s largest barrier reefs, a quarter of the world’s coral lying just beneath the surface, white sandy beaches, and crystal-clear waters, these islands are a favourite among families and experienced crews.

Where is the best place to sail in The Bahamas?

The Bahamas offer endless sailing destinations with its consistent tropical climate, world-renowned beaches, and vibrant, picturesque scenery. Sailing in The Bahamas is truly paradisiacal, with gentle trade winds filling your sails and the vast blue ocean stretching before you. When you want to take your yacht out into paradise, here are just three of the best places to sail in the Bahamas: 

Abacos

Boasting stunning weather, crystal clear waters and an abundance of marine life, Abacos is undoubtedly one of the best places to sail in the Bahamas. Abacos is a snorkelling and reef diving hub, with beautiful surrounding islands, shoals and shipwrecks to explore. 

The best part? Our Bahamas base is located in Abacos, which means you can uncover its treasures before casting off and discovering new islands. Whether you’re setting sail with friends, family or as a couple, we know you’ll fall in love with the beauty of Abacos. Build a quote and start planning your Abacos sailing itinerary today.

Grand Bahama Island

Sail aboard the ocean on the Great Bahama Island, 56 nautical miles from Palm Beach in Florida. This island features a rich history shaped by its vast and colourful coral reefs. Today, the island reefs offer an incredible diving experience, allowing you to witness tropical scenery and exquisite marine life.

Great Bahama Island has many places to anchor and stunning marinas, providing easy access to those chartering a yacht or sailing their own. 

The Exumas 

Experience some of the country’s most dramatic coastal scenery in the Exumas. Throughout the Exumas, most recreational boating happens in the government-protected Exuma Cays Island and Sea Park, a wonderful area for sea gardens and rainbow-colourful reefs stretching from Wax Cay to Conch Cay. 

The best places to sail in The Bahamas can also include New Providence Island, Marsh Harbour and Hope Town, Norman Cay, Shroud Cay, Bimini and many more to explore the wonders of The Bahamas from the water’s edge.

What are the best things to do in The Bahamas?

With more than 700 islands, featuring magical pink and white sandy beaches, The Bahamas is a top destination for sailors and beach lovers alike. Enjoying its wonders is part of the experience as even without a plan, roaming around, you can discover the stunning beaches, sea life and impressive restaurant scene.

The best things to do in The Bahamas are endless, whether you’re more inclined to snorkel in the many colourful reefs, venture on land for some shopping and exploring, or to simply enjoy the waves from your yacht. Activities to do in The Bahamas range suitable for families, couples on honeymoon or large groups embracing the tropical beach life.

  • Hop aboard and experience beaches across the various islands from Long Cay, Paradise Island to Pig Beach to scuba dive, snorkel or swim in the calm waters. 
  • Sunbathe on the pink beach, meet the wild pigs, drink at various beach bars, go island hopping, and experience what coastal life in The Bahamas is all about.
  • Visit the Lucayan National Park for a taste of nature, climb the Queen’s staircase, explore the underwater cave systems in hundreds of blue holes across The Bahamas or go bone fishing on the Out Islands. 

The Bahamas boasts diverse experiences to give you the best possible beach break as you sail the shore.

When is the best time to visit The Bahamas?

The best time to sail in The Bahamas is between November and April. 

Weather varies in The Bahamas throughout the year, with trade winds filling sails and cooling brows. The high season in The Bahamas is across the winter, offering the best weather between November and April, averaging at 70–80ºFs in the daytime. This season also boasts a bucket list of marine life species, such as tigersharks as you snorkel or scuba dive.

The Bahamas comes to life for party season and families in the shoulder season between mid-April and June for endless groups of spring breakers enjoying the quieter atmosphere and cheaper prices. The Bahamas have higher temperatures and a greater chance of rain between May and June.

The low season is between August and November, with an increase in humidity and a high chance of rain, making it a less desirable time to visit, but it’s still gorgeous even when the rain falls. Hurricane season ranges from June to the end of November. Even though you need to be aware of hurricanes in The Bahamas, they’re not as frequent as you think, receiving fewer hurricanes than the US mainland each year.Learn more about the best time to sail in The Bahamas.

What are the sailing conditions in The Bahamas?

The sailing conditions in The Bahamas are wonderful. You can expect a warm tropical climate, sunshine and reliable winds throughout most of the year, so the sailing conditions are ideal no matter when you visit.

With that in mind, the prime time for sailing in The Bahamas is during the winter months between November and April, as this is the prime sailing season in the Caribbean.

The only time when the sailing conditions in The Bahamas aren’t good is hurricane season, from July to August. The weather conditions can be extreme, with rough winds and choppy waters, so we thoroughly advise checking the weather forecast before booking your Bahamas sailing holiday.Check the sailing conditions in Abacos.

How much does it cost to charter a yacht in The Bahamas?

The cost of chartering a yacht in The Bahamas varies based on several factors, including:

The cost of chartering a yacht in The Bahamas is also dependent on the company you choose to organise your sailing holiday. Start building a quote with Sunsail to discover what it would cost.

How much are the mooring fees in The Bahamas?

Bahamas mooring boat fees range from $20 to $40 per foot on average monthly, depending on the boat size. Smaller boats are slightly cheaper at $20 to $30 per foot. The rates can also vary on the location throughout The Bahamas.

How long does it take to sail The Bahamas?

The Bahamas is 200km of paradise. You can sail around with ease from each of the islands, visiting some of the best scuba-diving spots in the Caribbean

When you book a Bahamas yacht charter with Sunsail, it will take even less time to sail around the stunning islands as our base in Abacos is only 3.5 miles away from Marsh Harbour Airport, which means you can start your adventure in as little as 10 minutes. 

It couldn’t be easier to sail from Abacos to other incredible islands in the Bahamas, from Nassau to Exumas, so you can look forward to an idyllic sailing charter.

The length of time you spend sailing around the Bahamas depends on how busy you want your Abacos sailing itinerary to be. If you want an action-packed itinerary, you may choose to go for a week, whereas if you’d prefer a more laid-back holiday with beach days and time for sunbathing, you may decide to book longer.If you’re interested in chartering a yacht on your Bahamas trip or looking to sail around the islands, contact us today for more information and to charter a yacht.

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