Bahamas · The northern islands
The northern sailing ground: Hope Town’s lighthouse and the Sea of Abaco
The Abacos are a hundred and twenty miles of cays in the north of the Bahamas with a flat, sheltered sea behind them, Hope Town’s candy-striped lighthouse, Nippers on the dune at Great Guana, and the New England feel of the Loyalist villages. A different week from the Exumas, and a different boat usually.
Where
Northern Bahamas, 100 nm north of Nassau
Fly to
Marsh Harbour (MHH) from Florida and Nassau
Best months
December to April; the Abacos are cooler than the Exumas
Give it
A week of its own
Known for
Hope Town, Nippers, Green Turtle Cay, the Sea of Abaco
Water
Flat behind the cays; the Atlantic beaches on the other side
Why go
The Abacos, honestly
The Abacos are the Bahamas’ other sailing ground, and a different place from the Exumas. The cays sit along the outside of Great Abaco with the Sea of Abaco between, shallow and flat, so the sailing is easy and the anchorages are an hour apart. The villages are Loyalist, settled by Americans who stayed British after 1783, with clapboard houses, picket fences and a New England feel under the palms.
Hope Town on Elbow Cay has the candy-striped lighthouse, the last kerosene-lit one in the world, and a harbour you moor in the middle of. Great Guana has Nippers, the bar on the dune with the Sunday pig roast and the Atlantic beach below. Green Turtle Cay has New Plymouth, the Goombay Smash where it was invented, and Treasure Cay’s three miles of beach across the water.
We run it as a week from Marsh Harbour, which has its own airport with flights from Florida. It is not joined to the Exumas in one week; a day of open water separates them, and they suit different groups. The Abacos are for people who want to sail.
Where we anchor
The anchorages, in the order we use them
- Hope Town, Elbow CayMooring, overnightInside the harbour under the lighthouse. The prettiest night in the Abacos.
- Marsh HarbourMarina, boardingThe base and the airport, twenty minutes apart.
- Great Guana CayAnchorageFisher’s Bay or the settlement harbour, with Nippers up the dune.
- Green Turtle Cay, White SoundAnchorageThe protected sound at the northern end, with New Plymouth round the corner.
- Treasure CayDay stopThree miles of beach across from Green Turtle, with the marina behind it.
Ashore
The Abacos off the boat
Not a directory. If it is here, we have sat at the table or stood at the bar.
Eat
Harbour-front dinners and a Sunday pig roast.
Firefly, Elbow CaySunset dinner on the Sea of Abaco side of Hope Town.
Abaco InnOn the ridge of Elbow Cay with the Atlantic on one side and the sea on the other.
- Nippers’ Sunday pig roastGreat Guana’s dune bar, the Abacos’ institution.
Drink and dance
Beach bars with a view of the Atlantic.
- NippersOn the dune at Great Guana, the Atlantic below, frozen rum punch.
Pete’s Pub, Little HarbourA beach bar and bronze foundry at the southern end, Pete Johnston’s family place.
- Miss Emily’s Blue Bee BarNew Plymouth, Green Turtle Cay, where the Goombay Smash was invented.
Do
Sail, snorkel, climb the lighthouse.
Hope Town LighthouseA hundred and one steps up the candy-striped tower, lit by kerosene every night.
Sail the Sea of AbacoFlat water, steady breeze, an island an hour apart. The best sailing in the Bahamas.
- Snorkel Fowl Cay and Sandy CayThe reef parks off Great Guana and Little Harbour.
Where it sits
The Abacos on the chart
The Abacos sit a hundred miles north of Nassau and a day of open water from the Exumas. A week of their own from Marsh Harbour, not joined to the Exumas.
Drag to move. Double-click or ctrl-scroll to zoom.Zoom with the buttons, then drag to move.
When
When to be in The Abacos
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- December to April: the season, a few degrees cooler than the Exumas. Northers pass through in January and February.
- Early July: Regatta Time in Abaco, the week of racing and parties, if you are here in summer.
- March and April: the best weeks, settled and warm.
- June to November: hot, hurricane season. Dorian in 2019 hit here hardest; the cays have rebuilt.
Itineraries
Itineraries that call at The Abacos
Full plans, day by day, with the boat each one runs on. Send one to the people coming with you; we reshape it around your yacht and dates.
Yachts
Yachts in the Bahamas now
The Sea of Abaco suits the sailing yachts and shallow-draft motor yachts in the fleet.
CORAL OCEAN
Lürssen · 73m · 1994, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 28 crew
€650k – 790k
LEXINGTON
Horizon · 26m · 2006, refit 2024
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$45k – 55k
FAVOR
Crescent Yachts · 39m · 2000, refit 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 6 crew
US$95k – 110k
NO BAD IDEAS
Trinity Yachts · 49m · 2000, refit 2024
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$225k – 250k
A SALT WEAPON
Ocean Alexander · 35m · 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 6 crew
US$120k – 130k
Lady Joy
Christensen · 48m · 2007, refit 2025
12 guests | 6 cabins | 11 crew
US$199k – 225k
GAIL FORCE II
Hatteras · 24m · 2011, refit 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$35k – 40k
NOMADA
Mochi Craft · 24m · 2010, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$50k – 55k
TCB
Trinity Yachts · 50m · 2008, refit 2022
11 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
US$175k – 200k
TOTAL
Mangusta (Overmarine) · 33m · 2006, refit 2020
9 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$60k – 65k
KEFI
Christensen · 46m · 2005, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$175k – 195k
LADY GRACE
Westport · 28m · 1996, refit 2025
6 guests | 3 cabins | 4 crew
US$35k – 40k
LADY J
Palmer Johnson · 43m · 1997, refit 2021
12 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
€109k – 119k
SEASCAPE V
Benetti · 44m · 2005, refit 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
US$153k – 180k
NAMASTE
Benetti · 37m · 2013, refit 2023
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$105k – 135k
PIER PRESSURE
Azimut · 27m · 2020, refit 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 4 crew
US$70k – 80k
LIMITLESS
Hargrave · 31m · 2010, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$55k – 62k
KING OF FUN
Northern Marine · 40m · 2005, refit 2022
10 guests | 5 cabins | 8 crew
US$120k – 138k
CROSSED SABRE
Burger · 44m · 2006, refit 2021
12 guests | 7 cabins | 11 crew
US$175k – 195k
EROS
Custom Line · 37m · 2019, refit 2026
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$140k – 160k
MIDORI
Sunreef Yachts · 21m · 2016, refit 2026
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$45k – 48k
SeaQuest
Christensen · 38m · 1999, refit 2025
10 guests | 5 cabins | 6 crew
US$85k – 98k
RELENTLESS
Trinity Yachts · 44m · 2001, refit 2019
10 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
US$150k – 173k
MEMENTO VIVERE
Westport · 40m · 2005, refit 2021
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$120k – 150k
INDIGO
Viking Yachts · 28m · 2019, refit 2024
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$58k – 75k
SWEET ESCAPE
Christensen · 40m · 1993, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 8 crew
US$115k – 140k
CHANSON
Christensen · 37m · 1995, refit 2020
9 guests | 4 cabins | 6 crew
US$75k – 85k
BG
Feadship · 47m · 1990, refit 2022
12 guests | 6 cabins | 10 crew
US$149k – 170k
Princess Mila
Fountaine Pajot · 20m · 2022
6 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
US$45k – 49k
EMINA
Benetti · 42m · 2014, refit 2021
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$165k – 195k
ESCAPE
Hatteras · 35m · 1995, refit 2023
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
US$55k – 65k
NEW LIFE
Lazzara · 28m · 2009, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$57k
NO SHORTCUTS
Westport · 34m · 2006, refit 2022
8 guests | 4 cabins | 6 crew
US$65k – 75k
MISS STEPHANIE
Richmond Yachts · 42m · 2004, refit 2023
12 guests | 6 cabins | 8 crew
US$135k – 165k
BEACHFRONT II
Princess · 32m · 2012, refit 2023
10 guests | 5 cabins | 5 crew
US$80k – 95k
LADY ELAINE
Christensen · 50m · 2008, refit 2024
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
US$200k – 225k
BEACHFRONT
Hargrave · 33m · 2006, refit 2022
10 guests | 5 cabins | 5 crew
US$65k – 90k
KASHMIR
Splendor · 41m · 2008, refit 2021
12 guests | 6 cabins | 7 crew
US$110k – 130k
MARGATE
Broward Marine · 34m · 1997, refit 2022
10 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
US$55k – 60k
NEVER ENOUGH
Feadship · 43m · 1992, refit 2019
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$110k – 127k
MARY KATHLENE
Westport · 42m · 1989, refit 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 7 crew
US$85k – 95k
SOUTH
Heesen · 55m · 2012
12 guests | 6 cabins | 13 crew
US$320k – 350k
HANNAH
Westport · 34m · 2003, refit 2020
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
US$65k – 75k
SEA AXIS
Heesen · 38m · 1988, refit 2026
12 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
US$105k – 135k
INSIEME
Azimut · 32m · 2012, refit 2023
8 guests | 5 cabins | 4 crew
US$63k – 69k
NORMAN'S T4
Sirena Yachts · 21m · 2022
6 guests | 3 cabins | 2 crew
US$35k – 40k
STARSHIP 185'
Delta Marine · 56m · 2001, refit 2021
12 guests | 6 cabins | 11 crew
US$275k – 315k
PLAYTIME
Lagoon · 20m · 2018, refit 2021
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
US$46k – 49k
48 yachts in rotation. The order changes with every visit so no boat is always last.
Questions we get asked
The Abacos, answered
Common questions
How do we get to the Abacos?
Fly to Marsh Harbour from Florida or Nassau and board twenty minutes from the airport. The cays are an hour apart from there.
Can we combine the Abacos with the Exumas?
Not in a week. A day of open water separates them and they suit different groups: the Abacos for sailing and the villages, the Exumas for the water and the pigs. Two weeks can do both.
What is Nippers?
The beach bar on the dune at Great Guana Cay with the Atlantic beach below it, famous for the Sunday pig roast and frozen rum punch. The Abacos’ one institution.
Are the Abacos still recovering from Hurricane Dorian?
Dorian hit the Abacos in 2019 and the rebuilding has been long. Hope Town, Great Guana and Green Turtle are open and welcoming; Marsh Harbour has rebuilt its marinas. We will tell you honestly what is open when you book.
Want The Abacos in your week?
Tell us the dates and who is coming. We will say which nights to give it, which berth to hold, and whether the week you want is still open.