Click for Burger Click for Burger Click for Furuno Click for Ocean Alexander Click for Walker

Bahamas Yachting Report

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by Capt J, Nov 25, 2012.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Capt J, Nov 25, 2012
    #1
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,540
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I'm over here at Atlantis on a trip. We left on the 16th and stopped in Nassau, then Great Exuma on the 17th-21st. Now Atlantis 21st-26th. There are a lot of big yachts over here, mostly megayachts, but almost all of the yachts here and moving around are 100' + and the majority of them 135'+. Atlantis is full and we are the shrimp in the marina. I haven't seen hardly any '80< moving around at all. However I saw at least a dozen 135'+ on the banks in the exumas and Atlantis is full with them. It appears the '80< isn't boating at all. There are a few around 70-80' at Atlantis, but they appear to just be sitting here for a while and not moving around at all. Anyways, it seems like the big money is yachting a lot, and everything underneath them is non-existant.
  2. ombreetsoleil, Nov 25, 2012
    #2
    ombreetsoleil

    ombreetsoleil Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Messages:
    825
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Have you also been at the new Albany marina on New providence?

    Wondering how that new marina is coming through........
  3. Pascal, Nov 25, 2012
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,570
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Atlantis is always big boats, at least mostly. And I think many spend most of the winter there.

    Great exumas and Nassau only? You guys missed the best of the Bahamas!! :) we re heading out there for a couple of weeks late dec/ early jan. can't wait to sit at the bar at SCYC for a cinch burger!

    Atlantis doesn't appeal to some owners... It's just too crowded, no privacy whatsoever. We usually stay a day or two at one of the marinas across the harbor just for pick ups and reprovision and get the heck out of Nassau! :)

    It's also a lot cheaper especially the water!
  4. Capt J, Nov 25, 2012
    #4
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,540
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    We did stop at Albany, the marina is done and very nice but the layout is weird. It has some boats in there, but mostly a ghost town and due to the layout of the places there is never anyone walking on the docks and it's boring. You'd think they'd put a nice restaurant/bar on the ocean on the point at the marina, but no, the restaurants are a 1/2 mile walk away and not even on the water.

    The owners rented a house in February Point in Great Exuma, so we went straight there. We did Stocking Island 2 days and they enjoyed that, We did Conception Island one day and it was nice. We stopped in Sampson for 1 evening, but the owners flew up to Nassau from Great Exuma, due to the amount of them (11) and the sea conditions. We're only on a 58' Azimut. They've done the exumas a few times, so they wanted to see further South, which is well, somewhat nice and somewhat boring. We're still at Atlantis, heading to Rose Island today and heading back to Ft. Laud tommorow. But they're staying off the boat and using the boat little, so it's really easy for us.

    I like the people watching at Atlantis, and the good thing about Atlantis is there is something for people of all ages.

    1 guy chartered both the smaller Wheels Trinity and the Feadship A2 for an entire week......Wheels was for the kids and A2 was for the adults in the family......must be nice.......LOL
  5. ombreetsoleil, Nov 25, 2012
    #5
    ombreetsoleil

    ombreetsoleil Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Messages:
    825
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Hurricane hole marina is up for sale.
    Would be cool if they would make something nice of that.

    I still remember Paradise Island before the Atlantis was built.
    Hurricane hole was pretty nice back then with some small apartments.
    Also dinner at Columbes tavern just in front of the former little airstrip, where Ocean club apartments are now.
    I could almost touch the planes coming over.

    I wanna go!!!!!:rolleyes:

    Any pictures?
  6. Capt J, Nov 25, 2012
    #6
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,540
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    Hurricane Hole is DEAD. It was owned by Atlantis. The rates are the same as the cheap slips at Atlantis, so what's the drawing card? We're headed out to Rose Island in a few for a little Snorkeling. Rumor has it around here that a Canadian group recently bought Atlantis for $250mil. The Chinese are building a mega sized place over by Crystal Palace that's supposed to be twice Atlantis when it's done.
  7. ombreetsoleil, Nov 25, 2012
    #7
    ombreetsoleil

    ombreetsoleil Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Messages:
    825
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    The new resort is called baha mar costs............3.4billion dollar!!!

    Should check out the website www.bahamar.com

    Looks pretty cool.
  8. ombreetsoleil, Nov 25, 2012
    #8
    ombreetsoleil

    ombreetsoleil Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Messages:
    825
    Location:
    The Netherlands
  9. Pascal, Nov 25, 2012
    #9
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,570
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Stocking is ok but a but crowded

    My favorite anchorages in southern exumas are Rudder Cay, Williams bay / lee stocking (nice elevation and very Caribbean like scenery) and the rat cay area.

    The nice thing about rat cay is that there is quite a but to explore and you can easily run the tender to Barraterre where guests can get a cab to GTown airport. Saves a 20 miles run in the sound

    With the tide, you can stay inside from lee stocking/Normans pond to rat cay up to 6' 1/2 draft.

    Sampson is ok but feels very cold... Lacks the atmosphere of Staniel Obviously a personal opinion. I ve yet to see guests not have a blast at Staniel. Same with Highborne,again it's personal preference but I don't see the appeal

    These days we usually do Normans (so much to explore around there), Warderick wells, Staniel and shroud cay which has incredible scenery on the NE shore at the end of the creek. Again, this is always a guest favorite.

    There is some great snorkeling off the west end of the little palm island at the NW end of Rose,only a short tender run from Nassau. The north shore of Rose is a fun day trip with the tender, lots to explore all the way to the big wreck at the NE end

    Ombré et Soleil. Check out panaramio (google earth) lots of pictures of the whole area, I ve uoaded dozens...

    Here is a link to my exumas pics

    Panoramio - Photos by Sandbarhopper > Exumas

    And Nassau / Rose

    Panoramio - Photos by Sandbarhopper > Nassau Area
  10. ombreetsoleil, Nov 25, 2012
    #10
    ombreetsoleil

    ombreetsoleil Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Messages:
    825
    Location:
    The Netherlands
    Great pictures, brings back memories.

    I have been to the neighbouring island of Normans cay...... It was called Saddleback cay........but that was 15 years ago with a powerboat adventure tour.
    I also saw that Saddleback cay has been put up for sale.......9 million.

    Interesting history of Normans cay ..........
  11. Pascal, Nov 25, 2012
    #11
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,570
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Normans is a great spot worth spending 2 nights. There is a lot to explore there besides the DC3. Very nice sandbars and spots around the entrance to the pond, plus the beach club is a nice spot for drinks. It's also fun to explore what's left of the resort and count the bullet holes :)
  12. ombreetsoleil, Nov 26, 2012
    #12
    ombreetsoleil

    ombreetsoleil Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2011
    Messages:
    825
    Location:
    The Netherlands
  13. Capt Ralph, Nov 26, 2012
    #13
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,500
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I'll never understand why anybody wants to go near Nassau. Not quite sure why anybody needs to go anyplace near civilization. Last visit to Nassau was just before & after Andrew and swore never to return. If you must go, cruse ships do that cheaper (shudder).
    We clear Ft Peirce full of fuel & chow and never need anything for two weeks, then we return. We go as far south as near Davis Harbor (southern Eleuthera) and drift back to Florida.
    Flying in/out Guest at Treasure, Marsh or Spanish Wells. Hate crowds (anything on the horizon) and when it's Just Us, no dress code for days.

    I'm sure when on the owners tab, you have to follow orders. Sorry about that. Somebody has to go to jail, Ben..
    We run an old South Georgia operation from Jax. Slow, cheap and every day is an adventure,,,, Like it's supposed to be...

    Planning two, 2 week hops this summer. Going to stay around the north banks, Grand to Treasure. Less travel, more gen-set time (A/C), more dive / fish / relaxing time / less total fuel$$. Guest will fly in FreePort, Spanish or Treasure. Other than picking up guest, should never see civilization or a strange face for days at a time.

    Island time,,, clear water, cheap rum, good company and not a boss or car near for many, many (many, many) miles.
  14. Pascal, Nov 26, 2012
    #14
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,570
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Well if you want to do the exumas Nassau is really the place to pick up people, reprovision and refuel if needed. But I fully agree, one day, two at the most is enough! If I have to spend more than than two days,i usually anchor out near Rose and come in when ready.

    We fill up the freezers before leaving Miami, and dry goods too, but it s hard to make produce last more than a week so a stop in Nassau is usually a must