Bahamas sailing guide 2026 – Exumas and Abacos highlights

The Bahamas deliver shallow, turquoise anchorages, sandbars, and easy passages perfect for catamarans.

Why the Bahamas

• Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park.
• Famous sandbars and swimming pigs.
• Abacos reefs and quaint towns.

Entry & bases

• Airports: Nassau (NAS) for Exumas; Marsh Harbour (MHH) for Abacos.
• Exumas bases: Palm Cay/Nassau, Highbourne (private), occasionally Georgetown.
• Abacos bases: Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay.
• Provisioning: Nassau has the widest choice; Marsh Harbour is solid; plan ahead for out-islands.

Season & weather

Period	Notes
Dec–Apr	Peak, stable weather
May–Jun	Shoulder, good value
Jul–Nov	Hurricane season

• Wind: Trades ~10–20 kts E/SE; cold fronts in winter bring squalls.
• Seas: Generally moderate; many legs are line-of-sight in lee of cays.
• Draft: Catamarans thrive. Monohulls need to mind cuts and banks; avoid night entries.

Itineraries

7‑day Exumas (classic)
Nassau – Highborne – Warderick Wells – Staniel – Black Point – Shroud – Nassau.

10‑day Exumas stretch
Nassau – Highborne – Warderick Wells – Staniel – Black Point – Cave Cay – Stocking/Georgetown – sail back via Warderick.

7‑day Abacos
Marsh Harbour – Great Guana (Nipper’s/Grabbers) – Man-O-War – Hope Town – Little Harbour (Pete’s Pub) – Sandy Cay – Marsh Harbour.

Costs & permits

• Park & moorings: Exuma Cays Land & Sea Park uses moorings; reserve early on channel 09/16.
• Customs: Clear in at Nassau/Georgetown/Marsh Harbour/Treasure Cay if arriving by private vessel.
• Fuel: Nassau and Marsh Harbour are reliable; top up before long hops.
• Fees: Budget for park moorings and Bahamas cruising/per-person fees (check latest rates pre-trip).

Boats & crews

• Best fit: Catamarans (shallow draft, space for sandbar days).
• Monohulls: Fine for sailors comfortable with tide and bank depths—stick to marked cuts.
• Crewed: Great for first-timers; skippers know cuts, tides, and reliable anchorages.

Moorings, depths, and nav

• Tides: ~0.9 m/3 ft typical; plan passages through cuts at slack when possible.
• Visual nav: Sun overhead or behind helps spot coral heads; avoid night entries.
• Draft: Respect bank depth signage; many anchorages are 2–3 m.

Packing & ops tips

• Sun + spray: rash guards, dry bags, soft luggage.
• Connectivity: Patchy LTE outside hubs; download charts offline.
• Safety: Good bug spray for no-see-ums; reef-safe sunscreen.
• Insurance/weather: Consider hurricane-season coverage and flexible dates Jul–Nov.

Booking checklist

• Align boat type with depth (catamarans shine).
• Lock in park nights early; carry cash/card for moorings.
• Use flexible dates to catch discounts; best price guarantee applies to cat fleets.