7 Day Abacos Highlights SAIL Itinerary – Option 1 

Great Guana Cay

Known for its expansive white-sand beach on the Atlantic side, Great Guana Cay is sparsely populated with few stores or restaurants. It’s an incredibly scenic island, one that will inspire you to return for more fun. Anchor off in Fisher’s Bay and enjoy a beautiful sunset, or head to shore for some of the popular refreshments like the blaster in Grabbers or the Nipper on the other side of the island. 

Mooring

Moorings are available for a fee through Dive Guana in Settlement Harbor. Orchid bay Marina is found at the same place, with all facilities Both of these harbors are near the village and the few stores and restaurants. The best anchorage is in Fisher’s Bay. Just North of Settlement Harbour. Bakers bay in the North has a great anchorage, but the activities are restricted to the beach, as the rest of property inland is private. 

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available at Fisher’s Bay.

Things to do

Dive Guana is a full-service dive shop that also rents out bikes. There are several restaurants, including the famous Grabbers Bar & Grill, or Nipper’s. From Baker’s bay, venture to Spoil Cay with a dinghy for shell collecting and exploring. 

Facilities

Dockage is available at Orchid Bay Marina on the south side of Settlement Harbor. Provisions are available in town.

Manjack Cay

Let the ocean waves brushing the white sand beaches on this uninhabited island lull you into a relaxing state while you explore. This cay has plenty of activities to keep you busy for the day starting with snorkeling the nearby reefs which can be reached by a short dinghy ride. Explore the mangroves while you are here and take in the marine life as fish and turtles surround you.  You can even witness sharks and stingrays on the northernmost cove of the Cay.

The day’s sailing

• 3 Hr 24 mins Sailing time
• 17 Nautical miles

Mooring

There are no mooring balls here, but it is a safe place to anchor on the west side of the Cay.

Things to do

Snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing, seeing the stingrays and sharks

Facilities

There are no facilities for yachts here. 

Manjack Cay

Let the ocean waves brushing the white sand beaches on this uninhabited island lull you into a relaxing state while you explore. This cay has plenty of activities to keep you busy for the day starting with snorkeling the nearby reefs. These are some of the healthiest reefs in the area and they are bursting with marine life. There are also two well-known hiking trails on this cay that are marked with signs. Explore the mangroves while you are here and take in the wildlife as fish and turtles surround you. 

Green Turtle Cay

New Plymouth, the quaint village on Green Turtle Cay, is the epitome of Bahamian charm with its narrow streets, white picket fences, and brightly painted buildings. First settled in 1783, at the end of the American Revolution, it grew into the second largest city in the Bahamas by the 1800s. Now it’s known for its shops, restaurants, and historic sites popular among boaters, making New Plymouth yachting a delight. The main harbour is White Sound.

The day’s sailing

• 1 Hr Sailing time
• 5 Nautical miles

Mooring

There are moorings available in White Sound, as well as marina facilities – Green Turtle Club and Bluff House marina. Anchorages exist off of New Plymouth and outside of White Sound and Cocoa bay. Holding is poor in Black Sound, but there are mooring buoys and a marina available. 

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available.

Things to do

The Green Turtle Club in White Sound is highly recommended. New Plymouth is great for sightseeing, museum visiting and restaurants. 

Facilities

Dockage, fuel, water, ice, showers, provisions, and are available. Rent gold carts or bicycles, visit museums. 

Hope Town

Elbow Cay has much to offer cruisers, including historic Hope Town, White Sound, and Tahiti Beach. Snorkelling, scuba diving, shopping, and fine dining are all popular pastimes. Yachting in Tahiti Beach waters is a highlight of cruising to Elbow Cay, this spot offers a great anchorage and access to a tidal sand bar and beach. Many guests also enjoy exploring Elbow Cay by land via Golf Carts.

The day’s sailing

• 5 Hr 24 mins Sailing time
• 27 Nautical miles

Mooring

Moorings in Hope Town are available and can be reserved in advance of your arrival. No anchorage is available in Hope Town Harbor. Anchorage is available north of the harbor off Eagle Rock. Dockage is available at White Sound, and there’s an anchorage off Tahiti Beach.

Dinghy dockage: Dinghy dockage is available in Hope Town.

Things to do

The Wyannie Malone Museum is named for Hope Town’s founder, Wyannie Malone, who fled her home in South Carolina because of the American Revolution. She began the settlement of Hope Town with fellow refugees in 1785. The museum is a fascinating homage to this turbulent time in British and American history, which helped give the Bahamas part of its unique character. Naturally, a climb to the top of Elbow Reef Lighthouse is a must; the views are extraordinarily beautiful. There are a number of eclectic shops. Restaurants include Cap’n Jacks, On Da Beach Restaurant, Firefly Bar and Grill and Bridget’s Rum Bar & Restaurant.  At White Sound, you’ll find the casual elegance of the Abaco Inn and the Boat House Restaurant.

Facilities

Dockage is available in Hope Town and White Sound. Fuel, water, ice, provisions, Internet access, and golf cart rentals are available.

 

Little Harbour

If there ever was a place that time seems to have forgotten, it’s the picturesque and secluded cove of at Little Harbour on Great Abaco. A narrow spit separates the harbor from the Atlantic – the surf booms and the balmy trade winds gently sweep across the white-sand beach. The abandoned lighthouse perched on the spit stands as a lonely sentinel, a vestige of the past. Best known for the internationally acclaimed artist, the late Randolph Johnston, who established an art colony at Little Harbour with his wife, Margot, in the 1950s, the arts still flourish in this idyllic place. 

Mooring

Moorings are available. The anchorage is well protected and holding is good. Anchoring is encouraged outside of the basin.

Dinghy dockage: A dinghy dock is available.

Things to do

Apart from the natural beauty of the beach and the caves on the west shore of the harbor, Pete’s Pub is the major attraction. The owner, Pete Johnston, a son of Randolph and Margot, includes an art gallery in his waterfront restaurant and bar. In the nearby foundry, open to the public, he makes life-sized bronze statues of marine creatures and other objects, as well as intricate jewelry. Pete’s Pub serves casual fare, quite appropriate for the setting, including hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, chicken, and fish. 

Facilities

No facilities for yachts are available.

Lynyard Cay

This long skinny cay is a perfect place to drop anchor safe from the ocean waves of the Atlantic and east winds. This quiet and remote spot is ideal for a long walk on the beach or a relaxing sunbathing session.

The day’s sailing

• 36 mins Sailing time
• 3 Nautical miles

Mooring

No mooring balls are here but it is a safe place to anchor on the west side of the island.

Things to do

Due to the cay being undeveloped, this is one of the perfect places to spend some time in solitude and enjoy stargazing. 

Facilities

There are no facilities on this cay for yachts. 

Man-O-War Cay

Man-O-War Cay is a quiet community of roughly 200 residents, many of whom earn a living in the boatbuilding trade, which dates back about a century. The original settlers, who first came to the cay in 1820, farmed the land, but they eventually gave it up in favour of crafting vessels from wood, such as the famous Abaco dinghy. In keeping with tradition, no alcohol is sold anywhere, but cruisers are welcome to enjoy sundowners aboard their yachts. Exploring the village on foot is a delight, taking you into some unique shops or to one of the casual restaurants for conch fritters. The white-sand beaches on the Atlantic side are stunning, making Man-O-War Cay yachting an unforgettable experience.

The day’s sailing

• 2 Hr 48 mins Sailing time
• 14 Nautical miles

Mooring

No moorings are available. The most protected anchorage is in Man-O-War Harbour.

Dinghy dockage: No

Things to do

Renowned sailing canvas shop and the Albury brothers boat building factory. 

Facilities

There are no facilities on this cay for yachts.