The first mate and I just returned from the Abacos, spending a couple
of weeks onboard. As you know, water's pretty thin there, so pay
attention to tide charts and follow the waypoints with a little more
care than ususal. Cruising Guide to Abaco is a good one.

Don't miss Double Breasted Cay on the way down. Spectacular. Green
Turtle's Black Sound is the place to be if you want to spend time in
the settlement, New Plymouth. White Sound has great marina and
services, but unless you need dockage, pick up a mooring in Black Sound
and rent a golf cart to see the place. Don't miss the Gully Roosters
playing at the White Sound's Green Turtle Club if you're around on
Wednesday nights. Kevin - the band leader - is dockmaster at Black
Sound's Other Shore Club.

Great Guana Cay is fine. Fisher Bay is where Troy of Dive Guana
operates - if you need guide to snorkel and dive, he's quite
personable. He's also got moorings there. Main harbor for Great Guana
isn't too pretty, but dockage there may appeal to you. Nipper's Bar on
the Beach is a place to check out. We happened to catch a Jimmy
Buffett wanabee there - Barefoot Man. Was kind of like a Spring Break
for 50-year-olds scene, but good time anyway.

Man-O-War Cay is a great stop. The island is dry, so if you enjoy a
little plazma, make sure you have it aboard. The Hybiscus restaurant
there is really quite a nice find. And these people, although quite
parochial, are marvelous folks. Early loyalist history still carries
forward the strongest at this stop. Every 3rd person you meet is an
Albury. They layup a fine run about boat there too. You'll see
Albury's all over the place piloted by the locals and day renters.

Hopetown, Elbow Cay is indeed a most scenic place. The lighthouse was
mentioned earlier, and you won't want to miss it. But go a half hour
before sunset and watch the keeper, Jeffrey, light her off. It's the
last world's three remaining original kerosene fired lamps. They use
silk mantels, just like the Coleman lanterns. The settlement at
Hopetown is great fun with a spectacular beach just east of the
settlement.

Cruisers Net, VHF Ch. 68 at 0800 is very good source for weather and
other happenings around the islands, with best first hand info about
Whale Cay and Man-O-War Cay Channel passage conditions. Treasure Cay
is essentially just a resort, but appeals to some.

Beaches and reefs are terrific, of course. A rather hidden treasure,
it being close to Marsh Harbor may be the reason, is a dive / snorkel
spot called Mermaid Reef. Many think it can't be that good since it's
close-in. Not so.

Hope your trip is a good one!