Bahamas Abacos Route

We have made well over 10 trips from Florida to the Bahamas, and presented here are the routes, via charts, that we have run. The Bahamas are split into two general sections: The Abacos and The Exumas. It is far easier to make a run from Florida to the Abacos as they are much closer. The run to the Exumas is more difficult as the first island is 200nm ESE of Miami. So, let’s start first with charts of the the run into the Abacos. Here you go…..see captions for details:

We were on the Salty Podcast talking about all of this and you can watch a video as we overview these charts. The VIDEO LINK is BELOW. Thank you TINSLEY for your amazing channel:

https://www.youtube.com/live/hpKKPGajVWw?si=hu2N9Vajwssz4PI2

The Overview of Florida to the Abacos vs Exumas
The run from Florida to West End, where you will check in is a simple day trip. Then day #2 you run for Great Sale Cay and anchor. #3 You run from Great Sale Cay to Green Turtle Cay
West End has a marina and you will book into here and then walk around the harbor to the customs officer and check in.
Departing West End asap you move east to Great Sale Cay where you will drop an anchor. No easy shore access here.
Day #3 you depart Great Sale Cay and run to Green Turtle Cay, welcome to paradise…
Arriving at X, Green Turtle Cay, you have two options, Head north to Green Turtle Club and anchor or dock, or head south to Leeward Club Marina or anchor or take a mooring. This could be you destination and you could stay here all winter. It is that nice…..but you can also push on…
OH NO!!!!! The SCARY WHALE CAY CUT! Yup, this can be very serious as the ocean swells will break over this exit to sea, and you could get in big trouble here. So, you listen to the VHF and find out if the cut is “raging” or not and then you make a run out to sea and around Whale Cay and then into the SEA OF ABACO!
Welcome to the SEA OF ABACO, this is your primary destination for the Abacos. It is calm, easy sailing with the main harbor begin Marsh Harbor and the prize being HOPETOWN.
The #1 stop in the SEA of ABACO is MARSH HARBOR. again, you sail in and drop the anchor and take the tender to shore. We have spent many weeks here on anchor and our fav place if the JIB ROOM.
The dream destination next is HOPETOWN and the lighthouse of the same name. The harbor is filed with mooring balls and one marina and THIS is THE SPOT to make. Dream spot for sure.
Just south of HOPETOWN is the famed TAHITI BEACH. You will anchor off this and spend your time playing a beautiful sand bar. You can take the dinghy over to LUBBERS QTRs for BURGERS (typo on picture, sorry) and then come back to your anchored yacht. Paradise
As a review, THIS is the BIG PICTURE. Difficulty Level of this trip is a 2 out of 10, very very easy because the runs are short, the waters are calm, you are in protected harbors. SIMPLE, very simple to run to the Abacos. ENJOY

THE SALTY ABANDON PODCAST where we talk about this. MINUTES 1 to 35 covers this, THE ABACOS…

The VIDEO LINK is BELOW. Thank you TINSLEY for your amazing channel:

https://www.youtube.com/live/hpKKPGajVWw?si=hu2N9Vajwssz4PI2