The Bahamas offers a wide range of yacht charters, including bareboat charter, skippered yacht charter, crewed luxury yacht charter, monohull and catamaran charter, and sailing and motor yacht charter.
Yacht charter in the Bahamas offers turquoise waters and sparkling white sand beaches. There are many attractive and interesting anchorages for yachts.
The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical. The Gulf Stream significantly moderates the climate, particularly in the winter. Summer temperatures in the Bahamas average 30 degrees Celsius and are only 5 degrees Celsius cooler in the winter. Summer and fall can bring very severe weather in the form of hurricanes.
History: The seafaring Taíno people moved to the southern Bahamas around the 7th century from Cuba and Hispaniola. They became known as the Lucayans and it is estimated that there were forty thousand Lucayans in the Bahamas at the time of Christopher Columbus’ arrival. His first landfall here was on the island of San Salvador, also known as Watling Island, in the southern part of the Bahamas.
Later, Lucayans from the Bahamas were brought to Hispaniola as slaves. In two short decades, many Lucayan societies ceased to exist due to forced labor, war, disease, emigration, and marriage. After the Lucayan population was eliminated, the islands of the Bahamas were virtually unoccupied until English settlers arrived from Bermuda in 1647 and settled on the island of Eleuthera.
In 1718, the Bahamas became a British crown colony. Some 8,000 Loyalists and their slaves moved to the Bahamas in the late 18th century from New York, Florida, and the Carolinas. Slavery ended in the Bahamas in 1834, and this led to many slaves fleeing the US and making the perilous crossing of the Atlantic for the promise of a free life in the Bahamas. In 1964, the British declared the Bahamas self-governing. And in 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent, but remained a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Bahamian culture is a mix of African and European influences. This can be seen in the music of the islands and the different styles include; junkanoo, rake and scrape, calypso and a unique form of hymnal. Marching bands are also an important part of life and are heard playing at funerals, weddings, and other ceremonial events.
On the less-developed outer islands of the Bahamas, known as the “Out Islands” or “Family Islands”, regattas are important social events. They typically comprise one or more days of racing on vintage workboats and combine a festival on land. The Bahamas also have festivals associated with local traditional food or cultivation, such as the “Pineapple Fest” in Gregory Town, Eleuthera or the “Crab Fest” in Andros.
Currency: US dollars and US dollar traveler’s checks can be used. Major credit cards may be accepted at hotels, restaurants, and some stores.
Abaco is a major yacht charter center in the Bahamas. Here, a full-service marina is home to many charter yachts. Fuel, water, ice, laundry and shower facilities are available. You can also buy the yacht here. Fly to Abaco from the Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports in Florida. Your charter yacht is only five minutes from the airport.
There are several modern marinas in the Bahamas.
The main sailing area for yacht charters included Great Abaco and Little Abaco, along with a delightful series of sandy cays just to the east. Start downtown on picturesque Man-O-War Cay.
Treasure Cay Beach is one of National Geographic’s Top 10!
Great snorkeling and a marine park are found at Fowl Cay.
Green Turtle Cay is known for its cultural appeal with its museum, sculpture gardens, and fine dining at the Green Turtle Club. Visible for miles is the historic Hope Town Lighthouse, a candy-striped sentinel on the southeast reef.
South of Pelican Cays National Park, you’ll enjoy extensive and colorful coral and marine life. Giant starfish can be seen scattered along the sandy bottom for miles.
