Hatchet Bay, Governor’s Harbor, or Rock Sound

[motoryacht lover]

Hatchet Bay, Governor’s Harbor, or Rock Sound

Planning my next Bahamas cruise and thinking of hitting Staniel, then Hawks Nest on Cat Island, then up to Eluethera. Which one of the above Eluethera locations would provide the most stuff to do. It will be me and my wife (lower 50’s) and my daughter and her boyfriend (mid 20s). We don’t cook on board much so dining out for dinner is going to be a factor. Would prefer to tie up to a dock but want/need to get more comfortable anchoring out. Draft is 5’. Thanks for your time.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Hatchet Bay, Governor’s Harbor, or Rock Sound

There isn't much on most of Eleuthera. We spent 4 days anchored in Hatchett Bay for Irma and thankfully we have a mini ping pong table in the skylounge! Cape Eleuthera is pretty much your only bet for dockage outside Spanish Wells and Harbor Island

Eleuthera adds a lot of miles and fuel frankly for not much. If your only stop in the Exumas is Staniel you re missing 90% of it.

I prefer anchoring To marinas so I ve never been a fan of highborne but if you want tndine ashore they have a restaurant.

Also, don't miss Norman's and the DC3. Great sandbars on boot Cay and there is a restaurant by the runway

Compass Cay marina a must stop as well

Instead of Eleuthera and even Cat I d go down to Gtown. Many great anchorages allong the way and Elizabeth harbor has some great spots to explore

 

[motoryacht lover]

Re: Hatchet Bay, Governor’s Harbor, or Rock Sound

Pascal thanks for the info. I have been to Highborn, Normans, Compass, & Staniel. Thought about Georgetown but can’t figure out what marina to stay at. Emerald Bay maybe. Do you have a marina you like in or near Georgetown? Have you been to Cat island? Thanks again.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Hatchet Bay, Governor’s Harbor, or Rock Sound

I ve looked at Cat many times but can't find anything there better than the Exumas

I don't like Emerald, the surge can be real nasty in winter and the entrance can be just dangerous when it's blowing over 20kts from the NE. And Emerald is just away from everything

In Gtown the only marina is Exuma Yacht Club. They ve repaired the docks and they re ok but rustic. Shorepower is ok, at most slips From there there is a lot to explore with the boat or tender.

Typically we spend 90% of the time in the Exumas on the hook

Have you been to harbor island?

 

[motoryacht lover]

Re: Hatchet Bay, Governor’s Harbor, or Rock Sound

Yes been to Harbor Island. Wife and daughter love it. I might give Georgetown a shot. On other forums there have been a rash of people saying that they don’t like Georgetown. But they may have been people down there during the winter. I hear it is crowded during the winter. Don’t know what I am going to do. At least I have some long winter months to figure it out.

 

[Pascal]

Re: Hatchet Bay, Governor’s Harbor, or Rock Sound

We ve been there both wint and summer. Yes there are a lot more anchored sailboats in the winter but they re all in the same area, close to Chat n Chill (over rated rip off) and the town (they need quick access to fill their jugs of free water) other ends of the harbor are very nice, especially moriah cay area. Teh beaches on the sound side of Stocking are spectacular