Bahama Islands

The Bahama Islands are the most popular winter time cruising area for North American sailors. Starting a mere 50 miles from the coast of Florida, they stretch close to 700 miles, almost to Haiti. They encompass nearly 700 coral islands, only about 30 inhabited. The waters are warm, transparent, with an unbelievable range of colors from the palest translucent green to a deep indigo. Hundreds of square miles are shallow waters, but off the east coasts of the island chains depths quickly reach hundreds and even thousands of feet. Tides do not exceed three feet, but yachts drawing more than 5 feet may only be able to traverse some of the shallowest channels close to high tide. The prevailing winds are the easterly Trades, interrupted only by occasional northers reaching down from the United States in the winter months and tropical depressions in the summer months. Some of the entrances from deep water to the shallower harbors, particularly in the Abacos and Exumas, may be difficult or even dangerous on an ebbing tide when the easterly wind exceeds 15 knots.
I think the best overall guide book is the "Yachtsman's Guide To The Bahamas". However, for the Abacos you can't beat the detailed information provided by "Cruising Guide to the Abacos and the Northern Bahamas" - originally published in 1976. Now the completely updated and expanded 3rd Edition, published in 2000, is available. The Chart Kit published by B.B.A. is a great value and provides aerial photos to aid navigation.
I avoid the crowded and noisy tourist centers of Nassau on New Providence Island, and West End and Freeport on Grand Bahama Island; although if approaching from Miami or Fort Lauderdale they are difficult to avoid being the ports of entry. Beyond them, there are so many beautiful anchorages that it's difficult to list only a few.
Average daily air temperatures are:
· In the Winter:
Maximum: 77°F/25°C.; Minimum 65°F/18°C.
· In the Summer:
Maximum: 91°F/33°C.; Minimum: 75°F/24°C.
And did you know that the water temperature in the Bahamas hardly ever drops below 72° F (equivalent to 22° Celsius) near the shorelines?
We keep measuring water temperatures on the shoreline of the Atlantic side of Central Eleuthera. Here is what we're usually finding...
· 24° C = 75° F Winter
· 27° C = 80° F Spring
· 31° C = 88° F Summer