Sportfisher trolls for blue marlin off Elbow Cay, Great Abaco.

Even if your boat's GPS has an electronic chart of The Bahamas Islands, you need to bring along a standard paper chart. A good one is Waterproof Chart's #38A Grand Bahama and the Abacos. The annual The Cruising Guide to Abaco, by Steve Dodge, is also an excellent resource. You can find it at West Marine, Boat US, Boaters World or by ordering online at www.wspress.com.

I used both of these guides in planning our route from the St. Lucie Inlet to Great Guana, Abaco. Below are listed some waypoints I used, with compass heading (magnetic), distance in nautical miles and GPS coordinates in minutes and tenths.

1. White Sands (from St. Lucie Inlet): 98 degrees; 51 nautical miles; 27-08.000'N and 79-10.500'W

2. North of Great Sale: 107 degrees; 52 nautical miles; 27-03.274'N and 78-10.809'W

3. North of Sale Cay Rock (short distance): 98 degrees; 27-03.229'N and 78-06.552'W

4. Just South of Carters Rock: 121 degrees; 27-00.994'N and 78-01.049'W

5. Just South of Center of the World Rock (the size of a house): 26-56.190'N and 77-41.660'W

6. North of Crab Cay: 26-56.271'N and 77-37.000'W

7. From 26-55.810'N and 77-34.860'W, take a 90-degree heading into Spanish Cay Marina.

8. After leaving Spanish, take a 230-degree heading to get you past a pretty large bar before you begin your trip to Great Guana: 26-55.245'N and 77-32.578'W.

9. As you make your way through the Sea of Abaco, your next reference of note is just South of Green Turtle Cay: 26-45.350'N and 77-20.700'W.

10. Stay south of NoName bar, which is easy to see in daylight. Begin your trip around Whale Cay where you have to make a jog into the ocean to avoid a shallow flat in the Sea of Abaco: 26-44.002'N and 77-19.017'W.

11. There's plenty of water on the ocean side of Whale Cay, but my numbers take you a little farther out to be safe. The east inside of Whale Cay is 26-43.009'N and 77-15.426'W. The east outside is 26-43.510'N and 77-14.250'W. The west outside is 26-42.560'N and 77-12.400'W and the west inside and the beginning of Loggerhead Channel is 26-42.560'N and 77-12.400'W.

12. At this point you'll see some old markers formerly used by cruise ships bringing you into Bakers Bay and inside of Spoil Bank Cay: 26-41.960'N and 77-11.930'W; then to 26-41.110'N and 77-10.020'W.

13. Now you're headed down the coast of Great Guana Cay to the point where you turn into Settlement Harbor to reach Orchid Bay Marina: 26-39.310'N and 77-07.080'W. It's pretty deep all along Guana, just pay attention for the rock with a stake on it just outside of Guana Beach Resort and Settlement Harbor.

The Abacos are dotted with scenic and historical towns like New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay.

Abaco Contact Info

Lodging, boat rental and marina information for getting the most out of your Abaco expedition is at your fingertips. We've listed several to help you on your journey. You can also check marina and accommodations at these two Web sites: www.bahamas.com and www.bahama-out-islands.com. Other recommended reading sources are The Cruising Guide to Abaco Bahamas by Steve Dodge, The Bahamas by Map Tech, Yachtsman's Guide to The Bahamas by Tropic Isle Publications and Bahamas, Turks & Caicos by Lonely Planet Publications.

There are Customs and Immigration offices at Green Turtle Cay, Marsh Harbour, Sandy Point, Walker's Cay, Spanish Cay and Treasure Cay marina. Some Abaco visitors opt to first clear at West End, Grand Bahama. See www.bahamas.com for more information on entry requirements and procedures.

Abaco Island

Elbow Cay

Great Guana Cay--Abacos

Guana Beach Resort: (242) 365-5133; 800-227-3366; www.guanabeach.com; e-mail: guanabeach@guanabeach.com
Harbour View Marina: (242) 367-3910; boat rentals; www.bluewaverentals.com; e-mail: troy@bluewaverentals.com
Orchid Bay Yacht Club & Marina: (242) 365-5175; www.orchidbay.net

Green Turtle Cay

Abaco Yacht Services, Ltd.: (242) 365-4033; e-mail: ays@oii.net
Bluff House Club & Marina: (242) 365-4247; www.bluffhouse.com; e-mail: bluffhouse@oii.net
Green Turtle Club & Marina: (242) 365-4271, 800-688-4752; www.greenturtleclub.com; e-mail:info@greenturtleclub.com
Other Shore Club, Green Turtle Cay: (242) 365-4195; www.othershoreclub.com

Man-O-War Cay

Man-O-War Cay Marina: (242) 365-6008; www.oii.net/mowmarina; e-mail: mowmarina@hotmail.com

Spanish Cay

Spanish Cay Marina: (242) 365-0083; www.spanishcay.com; e-mail: spanishcay@aol.com

Treasure Cay

Walker's Cay

Walker's Cay Hotel & Marina: (242) 353-1252, 800-WALKERS; www.walkerscay.com; e-mail: walkerscay@mindspring.com

FS