The Bahamas are famous for their laid-back, friendly people and the exquisite cruising amid isolated cays fringed with coral reefs that draw snorkelers and scuba divers from around the world.
A Bahamas powerboat itinerary is wide open with a luxury Powercat. These powered catamarans have an extensive cruising range of more than 1,000 miles and are built to handle offshore waters. Within the shallow and well-protected Sea of Abaco, which is home to the Moorings Power base in the resort town of Marsh Harbour, the shoal draft of a Powercat comes into its own, allowing you to nose into coves and bays off limits to deep-draft sailboats. You can often find a place to anchor away from other yachts. On an extended Bahamas powerboat itinerary, you’ll love the Powercat’s superior performance as you head out into open waters to explore the Berry Islands, the Exumas, and points south (see Bahamas yachting maps). Everywhere in the Bahamas you’ll find isolated desert islands like the ones you see in the movies, with blue lagoons, white-sand beaches, and coral reefs rich in marine life.
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Marsh Harbour to Great Guana Cay – 10 miles. The beauty of a Bahamas powerboat itinerary is its amazing flexibility. With a luxury power yacht, you can throttle up the twin engines to make the miles when you need to, or you can take time see the sights. The direct route from Marsh Harbour to Bakers Bay on Great Guana Cay is short, so you may have time to stop at Man-O-War Cay for a brief stroll through the intriguing village. Boatbuilding is big on the island, and as you walk the picturesque lanes the importance of the craft becomes obvious. Stop for a bite to eat at one of the restaurants or drive over to Bakers Bay, one of the most scenic anchorages in the Abacos with its tree-lined beach. While relaxing in the spacious aft cockpit of your luxury Powercat, enjoy a cocktail and the stunning views of the sun setting over Great Abaco Island.
Great Guana Cay to Spanish Cay – 33 miles. The next leg of your Bahamas powerboat itinerary takes you on a northwesterly course out into the Atlantic as you navigate around Whale Cay. It’s the perfect time to try your hand at some trolling. If you enjoy fishing, Great Guana Cay and its environs has some of the best in the Abacos. After you pass Whale Cay, duck back inside the sheltered waters behind Green Turtle Cay. Ahead you see Crab and Manjack cays. Drop the hook off Manjack, which the locals pronounce as Munjack or Nunjack, and spend some time swimming, snorkeling, or simply exploring the beaches and nature walks on the cay. When you’re ready, keep cruising northwest to Spanish Cay, a gorgeous private island resort with a full-service marina and an excellent restaurant, among other amenities.
Spanish Cay to Moraine Cay – 17 miles. As you head to your farthest point to the northwest, you begin to truly appreciate the remote nature of the outer islands. To port is Little Abaco and just ahead is long Allans-Pensacola Cay. The island has two names because it was once two cays, but a hurricane joined them together.
The harbor at the northwest end is a terrific lunch stop, where you can go ashore in the dinghy to explore the ruins of an old American missile-tracking site. The beach is also an excellent place for a refreshing swim. After lunch, power up your luxury yacht and keep heading northwest to tiny Moraine Cay. This anchorage is right on the reef system and offers protection from all but southerly winds. The snorkeling and scuba diving on the reef extending off the east side of the cay is splendid.
Moraine Cay to Green Turtle Cay – 33 miles. This leg of your Bahamas powerboat itinerary brings you to the town of New Plymouth, on Green Turtle Cay. While it may be tempting to plan a lunch stop, it’s well worth pushing on to White Sound at the northern end of the island to grab a slip at the Green Turtle Club Resort & Marina. The facilities are first-rate. The club has an upscale restaurant, a swimming pool with another bar and restaurant, and kite surfing and golf cart rentals. You could easily spend much of a day exploring the picturesque streets of New Plymouth, browsing in the shops and visiting the museums and art galleries. There is also a wide selection of restaurants in town. Get to White Sound by lunchtime and you can dine out twice! The swimming and snorkeling at Green Turtle Cay is excellent, which is one reason why it’s such a popular destination.
Green Turtle Cay to Treasure Cay – 27.5 miles. The next leg of your Bahamas itinerary takes you down the coast of Green Turtle Cay. At the far south end of the island is No Name Cay, a great spot for a lunch stop and to do some snorkeling or scuba diving. Some really big lobsters, the largest in the Abacos, inhabit the surrounding reefs. Treasure Cay is not far and on the way there you may want to fish as you go out around Whale Cay. Billed as one of the premier resorts in the Bahamas, Treasure Cay is a must-see destination with a full-service marina. There’s fine dining available at the Spinnaker Restaurant, an 18-hole golf course, and a beach extending more than three miles that’s second to none. In fact, the beach has been rated among the top ten in the world. Watersports of all kinds are available.
Elbow Cay to Settlement Harbour – 38 miles. From Hope Town enjoy another cruise south and the exquisite snorkeling and scuba diving at the Pelican Cays Land and Sea Park. Anchor off Sandy Cay, in the park, and head to the reef to view the sea life and the undersea caves. This area of the Abacos has roughly 150 species of birds, sea creatures, and plants. Not far to the north is beautiful Tahiti Beach, on Elbow Cay. It’s well worth a stop, either for the night or for part of an afternoon. A cruise back to Great Guana takes you to the southern end of the island to Fishers Bay and Settlement Harbour. Moorings and slips are available. The famous Nipper’s Beach Bar & Grill is a short walk through the small town to the ocean side of the cay, where you can dine while enjoying superb views of the breakers on the reef.
Final Morning
Settlement Harbour to Marsh Harbour – 8 miles. Although you won’t want to cruise back to reality (you can always come visit the Bahamas again!), the final leg of your charter will be a short passage back to the Moorings Power base in Marsh Harbour. Please check in by 10:00 A.M.
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