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Perfect, Anytime
By Eileen Mansfield — Spring
2004
Ask anyone who’s visited the Abacos, and they’ll
tell you that anytime is the right time to go. A small island chain that
lies along the northeastern corner of the Bahamas, the Abacos are considerably
more remote and laid back than the better-known touristy areas of Nassau
(the capital of the Bahamas) and Paradise Island, and they form one of
the largest semiprotected bodies of water in the Caribbean, Abaco Sound.
Just 180 miles from Fort Lauderdale, they’re within easy reach for
a day trip or an extended cruise yet are a world apart from the crowded
shores and hustle and bustle of South Florida.
According to a NauticBlue customer service representative,
the Abacos’ high season runs from early March through August; we
were cruising in early February, which, by my estimation, was the perfect
time to be there. None of the mooring or anchorage spots we cruised to
was terribly crowded (especially in the morning), nor were any of the
bars, restaurant, shops, or tourist attractions. The mid-70-degree weather
was cool by Bahamian standards but comfortable for us Northeasterners,
although we did find it necessary to wear long sleeves in the evening.
However, the water temperature—around 70 degrees—was too cold
for snorkeling without a wetsuit.
We had dinner ashore three nights and were pretty much
the only customers in all three restaurants. At Man-o-War Cay—an
interesting island itself, as it’s inhabited primarily by white Bahamians
and is the Abacos’ major boatbuilding and repair center—we all
agreed that The Pavillion, where we had lunch, was positively “booming,”
with a whopping 24 customers.
If you’re planning on visiting the Abacos, I recommend
getting a detailed cruising guide like the one we used. The Cruising
Guide to Abaco, Bahamas: 2004 by Steve Dodge is available on www.wspress.com
and made finding anchorages, mooring spots, and safe approaches to the
various harbors/marinas a piece of cake. —Elizabeth
Ginns Britten
>> Previous page >> Part 3: Down the road at Albury’s Sail Shop, we discovered
the sturdy canvas bags that have become something of a trendy item for
boaters. Page
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3, 4
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