"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
We are getting ready to leave in a couple of weeks for a cruise to the
Abacos. The plan is to leave from either Port St Lucie or Ft Pierce
on the FL east coast, cross the stream at night weather permitting,
and check in the next day at Walkers Cay. From there we plan to work
our way south along the northern rim of Great Abaco, ending up at
Marsh Harbor and beyond.

The return leg is still open ended but time and weather permitting we
might continue south to Nassau and then swing back to the states via
the Berry Islands and Miami.

Does anyone have any good information to share on "must see" places in
the Abacos, favorite towns/marinas, or other good information to pass
on? Our boat is a Grand Banks 49 trawler drawing a bit over 5 feet,
typically cruising between 8 and 10 kts.

We already have just about every cruising guide that I've been able to
locate, plus both paper and electronic versions of the Explorer
charts.


Wayne:

After Marsh Harbour, a must do is Hopetown, Elbow Cay. a very short hop just
east of Marsh Harbour. One of the most picturesque anchorages anywhere. Be
sure and go to the top of the lighthouse to take photos of your boat on the
hook. Once, when we were there, a local came to our boat and asked if his
wife could cook a Bahamian dinner for us to be delivered to the boat. We
happily agreed, and it was an event I'll never forget. The best conch
salad, conch fritters, and fresh grouper imaginable. And, a little
specialty of the island, was served as a garnish. These were little bitsy
yellow peppers that would bring tears to your eyes. Hottest damn things
I've ever eaten anywhere.

Since it looks like you might be headed south, I can also recommend Spanish
Wells, on the north end of Eleuthera. This was a very long time ago, but we
hired a local guide for the day, and he took us out on his skiff to do some
conch diving and bottom fishing for grouper. It was a great day.

Chub Cay is a great spot if you like sportfishing. It's one of the premier
sportfishing places anywhere, and there are plenty of charters available.

Of course Nassau and Paradise Island is always worth a stop if you've never
been. The last time I was there, it was pre-Atlantis.

I'll see if I can drag out some old photos, scan them and post them "over
there".

Russ