Abacos Sailing Itinerary

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. Anchor off in Fisher’s Bay and enjoy a beautiful sunset, or head to shore for some of the popular refreshments like the blaster in Grabbers or the Nipper on the other side of the island. 

Mooring

Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Settlement Harbor. Orchid bay Marina is found at the same place, with all facilities. The best anchorage is in Fisher’s Bay. Just North of Settlement Harbour. Bakers bay in the North has a great anchorage, but the activities are restricted to the beach, as the rest of property inland is private. 

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Fisher’s Bay.

Things to do

Dive Guana is a full-service dive shop that also rents out bikes. There are several restaurants, including the famous Grabbers Bar & Grill, or Nipper’s. From Baker’s bay, venture to Spoil Cay with a dinghy for shell collecting and exploring. 

Facilities

Dockage is available at Orchid Bay Marina on the south side of Settlement Harbor. Provisions are available in town.

Spanish Cay

Spanish Cay yachting is the essence of luxury at this private resort island. There are many amenities and three great beaches.

Mooring

Marina and anchorages available

Dinghy dockage: No dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

Full-service marina.

Facilities

Dockage, full electric hook-ups, and fuel are available.

Moraine Cay

Cruising in Moraine Cay waters takes you out beyond Great Abaco Island to the incredibly beautiful cays and reefs north of Little Abaco. It’s isolated, scenic, and serene in this tropical paradise. Moraine Cay is perched atop the reef system and is vaguely reminiscent of the South Pacific. You’ll definitely get a good sense of the “Out Islands” and why they are so popular.

Mooring

No moorings are available. The only anchorage is in a small nook at the south end of the island, sheltered only from the north-westerly winds.  

Dinghy dockage: No dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

The snorkeling off the east end of Moraine Cay is spectacular over coral gardens teeming with colorful tropical fish, and there’s a beautiful beach at the anchorage ideal for swimming and beach combing. 

Facilities

No facilities for yachts are available.

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 main harbour is White Sound.

Mooring

There are moorings available in White Sound, as well as marina facilities – Green Turtle Club and Bluff House marina. Anchorages exist off of New Plymouth and outside of White Sound and Cocoa bay. Holding is poor in Black Sound, but there are mooring buoys and a marina available. 

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended. New Plymouth is great for sightseeing, museum visiting and restaurants. 

Facilities

Dockage, fuel, water, ice, showers, provisions, and are available. Rent gold carts or bicycles, visit museums. 

Green Turtle Cay – New Plymouth

North of Marsh Harbor, surrounded by a jade-green sea, sits the scenic stretch of Green Turtle Cay. Natural beauty and modern day charm come together in the harbors of Black and White sounds, the food of local restaurants, and the stories surrounding significant sites. Dive into a unique learning experience to understand the ecology of the Bahamas’ reefs with exhibits at Captain Roland Roberts House Environment Center. Those with a predilection for history may find themselves strolling through the Albert Lowe Museum’s art and photography exhibits about New Plymouth. Like many areas in the Bahamas, Green Turtle Cay became a new home for former British colonists after the American Revolution ended. These long-gone, but not forgotten, British settlers are commemorated with a bronze sculpture that stands in the Memorial Sculpture Garden. 

Treasure Cay

Treasure Cay was developed as a resort in the 1950s, the first of its kind in the Abacos. Famous for its beautiful crescent-shaped, white-sand beach ideal for swimming and sunbathing. 

Mooring

Mooring balls are available, anchorage space is limited. 

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

The 3-plus-mile white-sand beach is the main attraction at Treasure Cay, where you can swim, or sunbathe. There is a local restaurant on the north end of the beach.

Facilities

 

Settlement Harbour

Cruising in Settlement Harbour waters brings you to the southern end of Great Guana Cay, where you’ll find a number of attractions within an easy walk from your luxury yacht that you can’t easily reach from Bakers Bay at the northwest end of the island. Although it is still a sleepy hamlet, Settlement Harbour has undergone development in recent years, boosting its popularity as a great place to visit during your charter.

 

Mooring

Mooring balls are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Settlement Harbour and there is the Orchard Bay Marina. You can anchor in Fishers Bay. 

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available in Fishers Bay and there is a public dock in Settlement Harbour.

Things to do

A popular attraction of Settlement Harbour cruising is the chance to dine out at one of the restaurants. Nipper’s Beach Bar & Grill is just a short walk from your yacht. Perched on high sand dunes on the ocean side of the island, the views from Nipper’s are truly spectacular as you watch the swells break on the outer reef. Other restaurants worthy of a visit are Orchid Bay Restaurant, and Grabbers Bar & Grill. They all serve good food. Dive Guana is a full-service dive shop and offers bicycle rentals, so you can take a tour of the island to see the sights.

Facilities

Dockage is available at Orchid Bay Marina on the south side of Settlement Harbour. Some provisions are available in town.

Elbow Cay

Elbow Cay has much to offer cruisers, including historic Hope Town, White Sound, and Tahiti Beach. Snorkeling, and fine dining are all popular pastimes. Yachting in Tahiti Beach waters is a highlight of cruising to Elbow Cay.

Mooring

Mooring slips in marinas in Hope Town are available and can be reserved in advance of your arrival. No anchorage is available in Hope Town Harbour. There’s an anchorage off Tahiti Beach.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available in Hope Town.

Things to do

The Wyannie Malone Museum is named for Hope Town’s founder, Wyannie Malone, who fled her home in South Carolina because of the American Revolution. She began the settlement of Hope Town with fellow refugees in 1785. The museum is a fascinating homage to this turbulent time in British and American history, which helped give the Bahamas part of its unique character. 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, On Da Beach Restaurant, Firefly Bar and Grill and Bridget’s Rum Bar & Restaurant.  At White Sound, you’ll find the casual elegance of the Abaco Inn and the Boat House Restaurant.

Facilities

Dockage is available in Hope Town and White Sound. Fuel, water, ice, provisions, Internet access, and golf cart rentals are available.

 

Great Guana Cay

Even though Great Guana Cay is without moorings, it is one of the largest anchorages in the Exumas. Well-protected and easy to approach, Great Guana Cay offers a genuine “Out Islands” experience. The locals at Black Point Settlement will make you feel right at home in their quaint little town. Immerse yourself in the friendly island culture, feast on traditional Bahamian cuisine, and admire the handwoven palm leave baskets made by the settlement women. You can even order homemade bread from Lorraine’s Café and pick it up the next morning.

Mooring

Anchor, dinghy dock, mooring

Things to do

Hiking, Dining, Biking, Beachcombing, Provisioning 

Facilities

Grocery ,Ice, Restaurants, Trash service, Laundry, Dinghy dock, Bike rental, Internet

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 which can be reached by a short dinghy ride. Explore the mangroves while you are here and take in the marine life as fish and turtles surround you.  You can even witness sharks and stingrays on the northernmost cove of the Cay.

Mooring

There are no mooring balls here, but it is a safe place to anchor on the west side of the Cay.

Things to do

Snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, seeing the stingrays and sharks

Facilities

There are no facilities for yachts here. 

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. 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 main harbour is White Sound.

Mooring

There are moorings available in White Sound, as well as marina facilities – Green Turtle Club and Bluff House marina. Anchorages exist off of New Plymouth and outside of White Sound and Cocoa bay. Holding is poor in Black Sound, but there are mooring buoys and a marina available. 

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended. New Plymouth is great for sightseeing, museum visiting and restaurants. 

Facilities

Dockage, fuel, water, ice, showers, provisions, and are available. Rent gold carts or bicycles, visit museums. 

Green Turtle Cay – New Plymouth

North of Marsh Harbor, surrounded by a jade-green sea, sits the scenic stretch of Green Turtle Cay. Natural beauty and modern day charm come together in the harbors of Black and White sounds, the food of local restaurants, and the stories surrounding significant sites. Dive into a unique learning experience to understand the ecology of the Bahamas’ reefs with exhibits at Captain Roland Roberts House Environment Center. Those with a predilection for history may find themselves strolling through the Albert Lowe Museum’s art and photography exhibits about New Plymouth. Like many areas in the Bahamas, Green Turtle Cay became a new home for former British colonists after the American Revolution ended. These long-gone, but not forgotten, British settlers are commemorated with a bronze sculpture that stands in the Memorial Sculpture Garden. 

Hope Town

Elbow Cay has much to offer cruisers, including historic Hope Town, White Sound, and Tahiti Beach. Snorkelling, scuba diving, shopping, and fine dining are all popular pastimes. Yachting in Tahiti Beach waters is a highlight of cruising to Elbow Cay, this spot offers a great anchorage and access to a tidal sand bar and beach. Many guests also enjoy exploring Elbow Cay by land via Golf Carts. 

 

Mooring

Moorings in Hope Town are available and marina slips can be reserved in advance of your arrival. Mooring balls in Hope Town are first come- first served. No anchorage is available in Hope Town Harbor, but due West of the Lighthouse between Elbow Cay and Pirate Cays. Marina dockage will be available at White Sound, and there’s an anchorage off Tahiti Beach.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available in Hope Town.

Things to do

The Wyannie Malone Museum is named for Hope Town’s founder, Wyannie Malone, who fled her home in South Carolina because of the American Revolution. She began the settlement of Hope Town with fellow refugees in 1785. The museum is a fascinating homage to this turbulent time in British and American history, which helped give the Bahamas part of its unique character. 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 and some restaurants, including Cap’n Jacks. At White Sound, you’ll find the modern Firefly Resort and Abaco Inn.

Facilities

Dockage is available in Hope Town and White Sound. Fuel, water, ice, provisions, Internet access, and golf cart rentals are available in Hope town.

 

Little Harbor

Enjoy a relaxing sail across the bay to Ruskin’s Resort & Club at Little Harbor—a Caribbean-style island resort featuring its own private beach, a full-service marina, and an array of recreational activities. Go swimming in one of the three heated pools, cast your line off the 250-foot fishing pier, and come sunset, chill out Adirondack-style around a private fire pit. With several waterfront restaurants located on site, you can choose the menu that appeals to you most while taking in breathtaking views of Tampa Bay. You can even rent wave runners to satisfy your adrenaline-rush craving or go on a guided jet ski tour.

Highlight:
If you head a bit northwest of Little Harbor Marina, you can visit Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center at Apollo Beach during the winter months—a protected marine reserve with a boardwalk, 50-foot observation tower, trails, and a butterfly garden. You can also enjoy a superior lunch or dinner dining experience at Circles—Tampa’s most storied, iconic, and award-winning waterfront restaurant with reserved slips for patrons.

Mooring

Little Harbor Marina

Things to do

Dining, Swimming, Fishing, Watersports Rentals, Beach Volleyball, Basketball, Horseshoe, Shuffleboard, Tennis, Playground

Facilities

Fire Pits, Spa, Shuttle Service, Wi-Fi, Restaurants, Bait & Tackle Shop, South Shore Watersports, Water, Ice, Fuel Dock, Laundry Facilities, Grill Area, Pump Out, Restrooms, Showers, Swimming Pools, Fitness Center, ATM

Lynyard Cay

This long skinny cay is a perfect place to drop anchor safe from the ocean waves of the Atlantic and east winds. This quiet and remote spot is ideal for a long walk on the beach or a relaxing sunbathing session. 

Mooring

No mooring balls are here but it is a safe place to anchor on the west side of the island.

Things to do

Due to the cay being undeveloped, this is one of the perfect places to spend some time in solitude and enjoy stargazing. 

Facilities

There are no facilities on this cay for yachts. 

Man-O-War Cay

Man-O-War Cay is a quiet community of roughly 200 residents, many of whom earn a living in the boatbuilding trade, which dates back about a century. The original settlers, who first came to the cay in 1820, farmed the land, but they eventually gave it up in favour of crafting vessels from wood, such as the famous Abaco dinghy. In keeping with tradition, no alcohol is sold anywhere, but cruisers are welcome to enjoy sundowners aboard their yachts. Exploring the village on foot is a delight, taking you into some unique shops or to one of the casual restaurants for conch fritters. The white-sand beaches on the Atlantic side are stunning, making Man-O-War Cay yachting an unforgettable experience.

Mooring

Mooring balls are available in Man-O-War Harbour, while the marina remains inoperable. No anchorage is allowed in the harbour. 

Dinghy dockage: NO

Things to do

Renowned sailing canvas shop and the Albury brothers boat building factory. 

Facilities

There are no facilities on this cay for yachts.