Just a few things :

The town on Green Turtle is New Plymouth, not New Providence.

It's true that you can check in at several of the islands provide you don't
go ashore. So no real need to go to West End, but we certainly did not find
it busy earlier in the year. If you have the crew and the desire, you can
sail direct to Great Sale and then check in at Spanish Cay or Green Turtle
(there may be others too). Read the instructions on entering the Bahamas - I
think the crew must remain on board while the captain takes all the
passports to the customs (you do need passports). You will also have to pay
for a cruising permit - $300, I think.

You cannot get a ferry from Green Turtle to Treasure Cay Marina (It's
Treasure Cay not "Island" ). There is a ferry that goes to a ferry dock
that is part way between the Treasure Cay resort and the Treasure Cay
airport. From there you can get a taxi to Treasure Cay. The taxi fare into
Marsh Harbour (about 30 miles) is about $70.00 for 2 plus $10/person. Can't
see doing that if you can sail there yourself to pick up your crew.

In Black Sound, GTC, there is a dinghy dock just to the North of the marina
on the starboard side (is that the Other Shore Club?). We usually left our
dinghy there and walked up the little path next to a collapsed boathouse on
our way into New Plymouth. For a low cost Bahamas lunch, try the Wrecking
Tree cafe, just as you enter town.

One thing to be aware of, is that in sailing from Green Turtle to Guana and
beyond, you normally sail around Whale Cay. This passage is often benign,
but in strong northerlies or other high wind conditions, the passage can be
impassable. With 4'-3" draft you can take an inside route through Don't
Rock - It's not marked, but you just sail just to the east of the small
islands (see chart book). Depth at MLW is about 4-5 ft. We went through with
4'8" draft at high tide and always had a foot or more to spare.

By the way, Stephen Dodge's Guide to Cruising the Abacos is a must for those
who have not done this trip before.

"Scott" ASDF wrote in message ...
Mike,
Here's another routing if you want to save some time *and* if the weather
is
suitable. Leave West Palm in late afternoon-early evening and arrive on
the
Little Bahama Bank just after daybreak and just keep on going to arrive at
Great Sale by late afternoon for a total run of a bit under 24 hours more
or
less depending on conditions.

Given the need to fight the Gulf Stream on that particular crossing, there
is a lot to be said for laying a more northerly course, more towards
Memory
Rock than West End.

Spend the night at Great Sale, get a reasonably early start and you can
easily make Green Turtle that afternoon without having to push too hard.
Pick up one of the inexpensive moorings in Black Sound off "The Other
Shore Club", dinghy in, walk into town and clear customs there. Nice
friendly relaxed place and Marsh Harbor is easily reached by taking the
ferry across to Treasure Island and taxi or rental car from there to Marsh
Harbour. With your draft you should have no problems along that route if
you have up to date charts. We made that run a couple of years ago,
cleared
the W. Palm Beach inlet around 6pm and got to Great Sale around 5 pm next
day and Black Sound the next afternoon.
Scott
SV Itchen


wrote in message
oups.com...
I am making a crossing from West Palm Beach to sail the Abacos in the
next six weeks, and have two weeks for the trip. Need to drop off and
pick up passengers at the airport in Marsh Harbor half way through.
This is my first trip to the area, and I'd be interested in hearing
suggested itineraries and routes from others who've been there
before. My 32 foot sailboat draws 4 ft. 2 inches. My idea is to
check in at West End then anchor that same night at Mangrove, the next
night at Great Sale, then Allen-Pensacola, then Green Turtle, then
Marsh Harbor. After that, I'd be retracing the same route back to
West Palm. Thoughts about this approach or any others? Many thanks.