Chartering in the Bahamas
Unbelievably, the Bahamas is one of chartering's best kept secrets. Hundreds of islands and cays are fringed by dazzling white sand beaches and a seascape of warm aquamarine waters, where the opportunities for virgin cruising, watersports, diving and fishing are outstanding. A cruise aboard a yacht with her first class crew who have an intimate knowledge of these islands is an experience that cannot be recommend highly enough.
The Exuma Cays lie in an all but unbroken chain from Beacon Cay in the North to the islands of Great and Little Exuma in the South. They form possibly the most beautiful cruising ground in the Western Hemisphere. Settlements are small and picturesque, the people friendly and courteous. The water is crystal clear, a vivid rainbow of blues, and beneath the surface lies a treasure trove of coral reefs and schools of fish to charm even the most seasoned snorkeler.
The Allan's Cay grouping contains the well known Leaf Cay; one of the few remaining habitats of iguanas in the Bahamas. A dinghy ride to this unique spot is a "must do". Standing quietly, guests will be charmed to see first one and then another iguana come forward to get a closer look. In a matter of minutes, the beach will be dotted with 20 to 30 of these odd but loveable creatures poised silently in the sand.
The stop at Highborne Cay is marked by the 260 ft. Batelco Tower at the southern end of the island. The island maintains a few ocean view cottages and a store with a wide selection of fresh meats, groceries and spirits. The tranquil harbor is home to small families of stingrays circling the waters in silent grace. On the eastern shore of this cay is one of the loveliest beaches in the Bahamas.
Norman's Cay is approximately four miles in length and is easily identified by the long sandy beach on its western side. The island with its adjacent cays forms a large shallow lagoon making it a perfect spot for bone fishing.
Bonefish
"Bones." "Silver Ghost"
Physical Features:
The bones' silver, almost translucent, scales reflect everything around it, making them look like shadows, or ghosts on the flats.
Next stop, Warderick Wells Cay , considered to be the most popular cay in the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park. The colors are awe inspiring and make this a lovely spot to moor while dining.
Bell Island is a high, rather forbidding looking island. The reefs in this island's vicinity have been set aside as natural seaquarium sites.
Staniel Cay has long been the cruising headquarters for the Exuma Cays. The quaint village offers time off for shopping or perhaps an exotic drink in the tropical setting of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club. With an annual bonefishing tournament, frequent picnics on the beach as well as the conviviality found at the yacht club, Staniel Cay is the ideal out-island community. The James Bond movie "Thunderball" was filmed in the Bahamas and there is a cave on the island just north of Staniel Cay which can be entered through a passage underwater by snorkeling.
Little Farmers Cay is unmistakable with its light blue water channels and pleasant anchorages. A tour might include a visit to the land cave on Great Guana Cay into which you descend 80-90 feet, and fresh water drips from the ceiling.
Big Farmer's Cay has good beaches and coconut plantations on the western side. It is a large cay with undulating, brush covered hills.
George Town , located at Great Exuma Island is one of the most interesting islands in the Bahamas, offering first rate scenery. At one time, the island enjoyed considerable prosperity with several large plantations established by the American Loyalists. The ruins can still be seen, the rolling countryside is fertile for crop cultivation and livestock.
