Abacos, Bahamas Sailing Itinerary

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

To be used as a guide only. Based on suggested sailing lanes and average wind speed for the area.

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.

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

  To be used as a guide only. Based on suggested sailing lanes and average wind speed for the area.

  Mooring

  Anchoring option

  Things to do

  Turtle watching, Sunbathing, Snorkeling, Hiking, Swimming, Exploring

  Facilities

  None

  Explore White Sand beaches

  This is the perfect spot to break out the water toys! There are also two well-known hiking trails on this cay that are marked with signs. Explore the mangroves while you are here and take in the wildlife as fish and turtles surround you.

  

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

To be used as a guide only. Based on suggested sailing lanes and average wind speed for the area.

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.

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

To be used as a guide only. Based on suggested sailing lanes and average wind speed for the area.

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.

Little Harbor, 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

To be used as a guide only. Based on suggested sailing lanes and average wind speed for the area.

Mooring

None

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.

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

To be used as a guide only. Based on suggested sailing lanes and average wind speed for the area.

Mooring

None

Things to do

Sunbathing, Snorkeling, Diving, Hiking, Swimming, Exploring

Facilities

None

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.

Lynyard Cay to Man-O-War

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

To be used as a guide only. Based on suggested sailing lanes and average wind speed for the area.

Mooring

None

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.