The Bahamas Cruising Guide: With the Turks and Caicos Islands

by Wilson, Mathew

• ISBN13: 9780071353274
• ISBN10: 0071353275
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-12-07
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Summary

A thorough explanation of local geography, climate, weather, and navigation techniques for sailors is offered in this comprehensive guide to the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands. Tips for planning a cruise, detailed descriptions of the wildlife history of the area, and practical advice for sailing such as entry requirements, currency exchange, and search-and-rescue services are included. Each important area of the Bahamas is reviewed with routes, headings, distances, and full waypoint lists provided. Also noted are things-to-do lists, an easy-to-use reference index, and shore-side information with accompanying street maps for each destination.

Table of Contents

Table of Charts	iv
Table of Yellow Pages	v
Preface: About This Guide	vii
Acknowledgements	viii
1999 Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Hurricane Report	ix
Part I. Introduction	1	(26)
Stop Dreaming ... Start Planning	3	(8)
What Are These Islands?	3	(2)
Where to Go? A Cruising Ground Analysis	5	(1)
Ocean Approaches	6	(5)
The Lessons of 500 Years of Voyaging in Bahamian Waters	11	(16)
Weather	11	(6)
Crossing the Gulf Stream	17	(3)
Navigation in the Islands	20	(7)
Part II. The Northern Cruising Grounds	27	(98)
The Little Bahama Bank	29	(12)
The Northern Abacos Walkers Cay to Allans-Pensacola Cay	41	(10)
The Central Abacos Allans-Pensacola Cay to Treasure Cay	51	(24)
The Southern Abacos	75	(32)
Great Guana Cay to Marsh Harbour	76	(7)
South Great Abaco Island	83	(24)
Grand Bahama Island Grand Bahama	107	(18)
The Grand Lucayan Waterway	112	(13)
Part III. The Central Cruising Grounds	125	(100)
The Bimini Islands Group	127	(12)
The Great Bahama Bank	139	(4)
The Bimini Islands and Cat Cay	139	(2)
The Routes Across the Great Bahama Bank	141	(2)
The Berry Islands	143	(18)
The Northern Berry Islands	143	(8)
The Southern Berry Islands	151	(10)
Nassau and New Providence Island	161	(20)
Nassau	161	(7)
New Providence Island	168	(13)
Eleuthera	181	(32)
Spanish Wells, Harbour Island, and North Eleuthera	181	(11)
Central and South Eleuthera	192	(21)
North Andros	213	(12)
Part IV. The Southern Cruising Grounds	225	(82)
The Northern Exuma Cays	227	(28)
Sail Rocks to Conch Cut	230	(9)
Conch Cut to Little Farmer's Cay	239	(16)
The Southern Exuma Cays and Great Exuma Island: The Farmer's Cays to Little Exuma Island	255	(18)
George Town, Great Exuma Island	259	(14)
The Out Islands North of the Tropic of Cancer. Little San Salvador, Cat Island, Conception Island, Rum Cay, and San Salvador Island	273	(20)
Long Island	293	(14)
Part V. Far Horizons	307	(30)
The Bahamas South of the Tropic of Cancer	309	(26)
The Eastern Route South: George Town to the Turks and Caicos Islands	311	(12)
The Western Route South to the Windward Passage	323	(12)
The Unexplored Bahamas: South Andros and the Jumentos Cays	335	(2)
Part VI. The Turks and Caicos Islands	337	(40)
Introduction	339	(6)
Providenciales	345	(14)
The Caicos Bank and South Caicos	359	(6)
Grand Turk Island and the Turks Bank	365	(12)
The Truks Bank	370	(1)
The Future	371	(6)
Part VII. Reference Sections	377	(50)
Blue Pages: Putting Out to Sea	379	(10)
Seamanship and Preparation	379	(5)
Tides and Currents	384	(1)
VHF Radio	384	(2)
A Pilot House Booklist	386	(1)
Day-to-Day Living in the Islands	386	(3)
Green Pages: History, Wildlife, and Fishing & Diving	389	(24)
The Story of the Bahamas	389	(5)
The Columbus Controversy	394	(7)
The Climate of the Bahamas	401	(1)
Parks and Wildlife Preserves	401	(3)
Coral Reefs of the Bahamas	404	(3)
Fishing	407	(4)
Diving	411	(1)
Recommended Reading	412	(1)
Buff Pages: Infrastructure and Government	413	(14)
A Bahamian ABC	413	(4)
A Turks and Caicos ABC	417	(2)
Medical Facilities and Health Hazards	419	(1)
Cellular Telephone in the Bahamas	420	(1)
Coastal Radio Stations	421	(1)
Government	421	(6)
Part VIII. Appendices	427	(22)
Float Plan	428	(1)
Appendix A. Planning	429	(8)
Planning Your Gulf Stream Crossing	429	(1)
Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Chart List	430	(1)
Routes and Distances	431	(6)
Appendix B. Waypoint Catalog	437	(5)
Batelco Towers	441	(1)
Appendix C. Blue Pages Supplement	442	(6)
Tidal Differences	442	(1)
Weather Information	443	(3)
Conversion Tables and Useful Measurements	446	(1)
Provisioning Checklist	447	(1)
Afterword: The Cruising Guide Team	448	(1)
Quick Reference Index	449