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Best anchorages and mooring fields in the Exumas

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by Silver Lining, Jun 11, 2017.

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  1. Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

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    Hi, we will be in the Exumas and Eleuthera for several weeks in June and July. We have been before several times but usually stay at marinas. Staniel Cay Yacht club is a favorite with a lot to do in the area. I am wondering what the best anchorages are in the Staniel Cay area. Big Majors looks nice and protected from east and south east winds. Other good anchorages in the area?

    Also, we would like to spend a few nights in the Exuma Land and Sea Park. Which mooring fields are best protected and in the best parts of the sea park. How hard is it to get a mooring ball this time of year? I have been unable to get any response from the park managers. Boat is a 50 ft Viking SC.
  2. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Big Majors is your best bet around Staniel, there are a few mooring balls that are cheap that are just NE of Staniel on the South side of big majors that are good......land and sea park mooring balls are always available from what I've seen......Can also anchor on the North side of Sampson Cay and that's pretty protected also. On a 50' Viking SC I'd rather be at a marina than bouncing around on anchor and listening to a noisy generator, personally.
  3. Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

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    I think I remember the mooring balls near Staniel, just east of the grotto. The current really rips through there at mid tide, I would think Big Majors is more comfortable. We would stay at Staniel but they are booked for one of the weeks that we will be in the area.

    In the Land and Sea Park, which of the mooring fields is best protected? Winds are between 10 to 20 knts out of the east south east.
  4. thatcher

    thatcher Member

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    cambridge cay, hawksbill, the bank side of pipe cay. all are protected and usually quiet.
  5. Ken Bracewell

    Ken Bracewell Senior Member

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    My favorite is Warderick Wells, as it's very close to the Park Office (you can get internet there if needed too). There is also a very nice mooring field on the SE side of Warderick (Hog's Cay I believe?).

    Shroud Cay is also a nice mooring field if the winds aren't too high.
  6. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    There are three mooring field at Warderick Wells... the main one is often full but emerald, just south of the park building is very nice too. If it's windy out of the east you can get good protection o the buoys closer to shore, never less than 7' MLW. The thirst one is hog cay on the sound side. Very scenic but need to be accessed from the sound, and can be a bit rolly.

    I wouldn't trust the old thrunderball moorings in Staniel, on the south side of big majors. And they can be rolly too

    The best anchorage in Staniel is indeed the west side of big major. We usually tuck in close to the he north side, near fowl cay and the view is nicer and you don't get all the traffic going to visit the entitled pigs (they don't swim anymore, just wait on the beach for people to deliver the food). And take a selfie,

    With westerlies, you can tuck in between the majors.

    Don't over look the area south of Staniel, there are many great places. Bitter Guana where the iguanas are, jacks bay cove and white point on great Guana, oven rock and the cave across little farmer, rudder cay (piano, cave, etc...)

    Also lunch at TYs sunset grill on little farmer is a must stop. Great food, nice folks, beautiful beach. You can anchor in 6' MLW around the point or tie to their new dock. There is 5.5' MLW so we only tie up mid tide or higher

    And just a bit further south, lee Stocking is one of the most pretty Anchorage in the Exumas.

    North of Staniel, pipe cay is very nice. You can tie up to the old navy dock on the west side and dinghy around the east side to a huge sandbar. Cambridge Cay is a good spot too (moorings) as well as the area around little halls pond cay. Great snorkeling at the aquarium and beautiful beaches all over

    Last trip two weeks ago we anchored by hawksbill and ran the tender up to the north end across shroud. Beautiful spot : https://instagram.com/p/BVNlkJDB-jh/

    I could go on and on... we go there every other month or so and still find new anchorages after all these years
    Last edited: Jun 12, 2017
  7. Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Hawksbill Cay is my favorite island.
    Is the old mailbox still up on the hill?
  8. Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

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    Perfect info, thank you. I will be back at the boat tomorrow and go over my charts with the recommendations. Probably heading across Wednesday morning, weather looks good so far.
  9. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    We re in Bimini coming back wed. To Miami. Speaking of Bimini, it's getting worst every time we go... the settlement is dirty, smells like garbage and the staff at Bimini bay is ruder than a Parisian waiter. And now they charge 5.25 a foot... we only come here whenever guests really want to go. When going to the exumas w always clear at cat cay
  10. Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

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    We cleared at Bimini big game club today. We prefer here over Bimini bay and the new pool is nice. It's not very crowded seems a lot of folks staying at Bimini bay. The staff are friendly enough here. Heading to Atlantis tomorrow and then exumas
  11. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Yeah I prefer big game but our guests wanted to go to BB

    There was a large Boston whaler group at BB yesterday but otherwise it was pretty much empty.
  12. Danvilletim

    Danvilletim Senior Member

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    Hog Cay at land and sea is amazing. It's in the ocean side but well protected. Only 3 mooring balls there. We will be there in June.
  13. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    It's protected but there can be some surge, especially in winter with NEies. We usually go with the tender
  14. rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    I was wondering this about the mooring field at Shroud. It seems somewhat exposed. Better when you push up to the north end behind the bars?
  15. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I anchor in the south mooring field in front of that creek. In most conditions it’s well protected and very good holding.
  16. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    The mooring field is pretty protected but sometimes there is a little bit of surge which is odd considering it s so far from any cut to the sound. It s a very pretty spot though and you have about 8’ to 9’ MLW till very close to shore and great holding

    sometimes we anchor near the north end, just before the north creek entrance. Very peaceful and very protected. Down side is that you have about 5 1/2’ to 6’ MLW on approach but about 7’ in the anchorage

    Very good holding. There are a few coral heads in the area but they are off to the sides and easy to spot.

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