The Choicest Season
Summer is the best time for boating in the Bahamas. Light southeasterly breezes average 5-10 knots - enough to keep the heat at bay but not enough to ruffle the offshore seas. It's also the best time of the year for snorkeling, diving and big game fishing.
Chart Your Course
The Cruising Guide to Abaco, Bahamas (White Sound Press, $14.95) includes detailed charts of the islands and ocean passages, as well as important instructions for entering each harbor. To order, call 904-423-7880 or visit www.wspress.com
Keeping in Touch
The nice folks of the Cruiser's Net will even forward e-mails to Abacos-bound boaters - as long as you don't mind them being read over the VHF airwaves. You can forward e-mails to cruisers.net@oii.com
Where to Stay
With a large enough boat, you're cruising in your hotel room and can toss the hook in any spot that's protected from the wind and waves. But to take advantage of everything the Abacos has to offer, you should tie up at the various resort/marinas. Renting a slip gives you access to all resort amenities, such as pools and beaches, and you can attach to shore power, water, even cable. It's an added luxury to reserve a hotel room off the boat for a night or two - that way your bed doesn't rock unless you want it to.
Resorts that can handle you and your yacht in luxury include:
Abaco Beach Resort & Marina, Marsh Harbour (800-468-4799, www.abacobeachresort.com)
Bluff House Beach Hotel, Green Turtle Cay (242-365-4247, www.bluffhouse.com)
Green Turtle Club and Marina, Green Turtle Cay (800-254-2617, www.greenturtleclub.com)
Treasure Cay Resort & Marina, Treasure Cay (800-327-1584, www.treasurecay.com)
The CT&L Index
Gallon of diesel: $2.55
Case of Kalik beer: $34.88
Bottle of Bacardi rum: $10.15
Nightly dockage: $1.50 per foot
Shore Power: (30 amps) $12 per day
Lobster dinner: $24
Hot dogs: $5.25 for a pack of 20
Resources
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism: 212-758-277 or www.bahamas.com
CT&L SAYS
If you're chartering a boat, don't over-provision at the market. Load up with breakfast and lunch foods and snacks for when you're out cruising, snorkeling and beaching - but don't buy too many dinner supplies. Each island has at least one restaurant worth anchoring for.
Posted online 02/01/01.
