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Marinas or Anchorages Near to the Exumas

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Silver Lining, Feb 23, 2021.

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  1. Pascal, Feb 25, 2021
    #21
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Here is a video of Norman’s Galleon point / saddle Cay area... the abandoned day trip resort is cool. Lots of shade, great for a picnic

  2. rtrafford, Feb 25, 2021
    #22
    rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Thank you for posting this. I'd prefer to dig in here as opposed to Highborne again.
  3. Pascal, Feb 25, 2021
    #23
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    The approach has about 6 1/2 MLW and you have about 7’ in the anchorage. As usual explorer charts are spot on
  4. Danvilletim, Feb 28, 2021
    #24
    Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

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    Just downloaded acquamap. Impressive. A much better zoom in zoom out exp.
  5. Pascal, Feb 28, 2021
    #25
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Aquamap is a must in the Bahamas as it uses explorer charts. Navionics is awful in the Bahamas with dozens of errors.
  6. Ken Bracewell, Feb 28, 2021
    #26
    Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    I'm very familiar with these areas, cruise them often, and still enjoyed watching the entire video. Well done!
  7. Capt J, Feb 28, 2021
    #27
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I agree Navionics is horrible in the Bahamas and Aquamap is better.

    But I hate the shading of the Aquamap in the U.S. and prefer Navionics there. I REALLY miss the old Garmin blue chart app, it was perfect everywhere.
  8. Pascal, Feb 28, 2021
    #28
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    True. I still have Blue chart on my old iPad. Great in the us or Bahamas. Yes she shading on Aquamap in the US makes it harder to read
  9. Pascal, Feb 28, 2021
    #29
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Thanks Ken. It s hard not to get great footage in such beautiful places.
  10. Capt J, Feb 28, 2021
    #30
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Here are videos from trips I've done in the Exumas. Taken and edited by the owners son with a djia mavic pro. The Shroud Cay one is my favorite.

    The Real Bahamas - YouTube
    bayoubud likes this.
  11. bayoubud, Mar 3, 2021
    #31
    bayoubud

    bayoubud Senior Member

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    The Staniel Cay video is fantastic. Noticed the landing strip at Cave Cay!
  12. Silver Lining, Jul 12, 2021
    #32
    Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

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    Pascal you were definitely right about Rudder Cut Cay. Highlight of the trip - anchored multiple nights solo in the large cove around the point from the cave and piano (came in at high tide, very protected anchorage). Two beautiful palm lined beaches to ourselves and a most spectacular open view towards the banks. Lots to explore on the island, the "large pond" inside the island, a few large rays hanging by the boat etc.

    Took the dinghy to Cave Cay, beautiful protected, but empty marina - nothing on the island but a few unfinished high end cottages and restaurant, apparently under construction for 18 years! Met Shark, what a nice guy, let us hang out at the unfinished restaurant up on the hill with the most amazing views of Exuma Sound and the Banks to the other side.

    I have to say the cut south of Rudder Cut Cay and the one at Galliot Cut are insane with a strong on shore wind. I have never seen anything like that - the water flows out like a river more than a 1/2 mile with endless steep seas. Good guidance in the Explorer Charts on how to navigate the shortest time in the river. Wont make that mistake again.
  13. Pascal, Jul 12, 2021
    #33
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Cave cay is a hurricane hole but shallow hump coming in. Only 5 1/2 MLW I think. It a one of those never finished projects. Sad

    Galliot has a strong current but is never rough. Very safe. Rudder Cay Cut on the hand can be dangerous when wind opposes tide. Years ago I stuffed the bow with a johnson 70 and had a foot of water on the foredeck.

    From Rudder, a short dingy ride takes you to the starfish lagoon between the Darby’s. Very nice spot
  14. Silver Lining, Jul 12, 2021
    #34
    Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

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    Pascal, are you sure about what you are saying about Galliot cut? My Explorer charts and Exumas guide both warn about Galliot being similar to Rudder Cut Cay. It sure looked the same - we went out Rudder Cut Cay in a 15 - 20 knot on shore wind at max ebb tide and went in Galliot under similar conditions and the steep waves looked a good 1/2 mile long - its quite spectacular. I was more nervous going in Galliot then out Rudder because it seems going out an inlet into steep seas while "exciting", is more straight forward and safer than going with steep seas into an inlet because of the possibility of burying the bow and a broach. The Explorer charts had good guidance on how to enter the channel close to the mouth of the cut and then I used what I think are proper techniques on entering an inlet in such sea conditions.
  15. Pascal, Jul 12, 2021
    #35
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    I ve used Galliot probably 50 times over the last 15 years. It s the cut I use the most when heading to Gtown. Yes the flow can be seen quite a distance from the cut itself but heading out you can turn south very quickly and the waves are never bad in the cut.

    another easy cut is rat cay despite being very narrow. It s another one i use quite a bit especially when the sound is rough so we run on the bank thru pudding to wait or minimize time in the sound
  16. Capt J, Jul 12, 2021
    #36
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I too have used Galliot dozens of times, you can turn South pretty quickly once through the cut, but yes, it does stack up there.
  17. Silver Lining, Feb 27, 2022
    #37
    Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

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    Pascal thanks for providing such nice, useful Exumas information. I am planning this summers trips. We plan a few weeks in the Southern Exumas, then leave the boat at Emerald Bay for a few weeks, fly home for a bit, then return and take another few weeks to work our way back home.

    We usually spend about half our time at anchor and half in a marina. Is Exumas YC and Emerald Bay the only nice marinas south of Staniel? Anywhere else nice south of Staniel to tie up for a few days? I dont have water maker and about 4 days is max at anchor.

    We loved the anchorages at Rudder and will anchor at Lee Stocking as well. Cave Cay marina is pretty minimalist - lots of great anchorages south, but always nice to tie up for few days and get water.
    rtrafford likes this.
  18. Pascal, Feb 27, 2022
    #38
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Cave cay, emerald and EYC are the only marinas. If Cave cay is indeed minimalist, EYC is just plain decrepit:(.

    why don’t you install a watermaker? I installed a SeaWaterPro before this last 6 weeks trip as a back up. Just under $4k, 40 GPH very simple with no electronics.

    there is also RainMan which is portable and popular with sailors.

    I would not go to the Bahamas without a waternaker
  19. rtrafford, Feb 27, 2022
    #39
    rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    Indeed, thank you for the details and videos. I'm also headed in that direction in a few weeks, back through South Andros and then across into the Exumas from the west. Rudder Cut? Not sure yet what the float plan is...starting to sort it out now.
  20. olderboater, Feb 27, 2022
    #40
    olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Install a watermaker. Makes life so much easier.
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