The Best Sailing

Marsh Harbour and Hope Town (the Abacos): Known among yachties for their many anchorages, sheltered coves, and plentiful marine facilities, the Abacos are considered one of the most perfect sailing areas in the world. You can charter boats of all shapes and sizes for a week or longer, with or without a crew.

The Exumas: Yachties flock to these beautiful sailing waters to see some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in The Bahamas. The Family Island Regatta, the most popular boating spectacle in The Bahamas, is held here annually. Most of the recreational boating is in the government-protected Exumas Cays Land and Sea Park, an area of splendid sea gardens and rainbow-hued coral reefs that stretches south from Wax Cay to Conch Cay. You can rent motorboats at Minns Water Sports in George Town.

New Providence Island: Although sailing in the waters off New Providence Island isn't the equal of those yachting favorites, the Exumas and the Abacos, boaters can still find much to delight in. More organized boating excursions are offered in New Providence than anywhere else in The Bahamas, especially by outfitters such as Barefoot Sailing Cruises and Majestic Tours Ltd.. You can also choose from an array of sunset cruises, like the ones Flying Cloud offers, which feature its fleet of catamarans. The most popular -- and the most scenic -- trip is sailing to tranquil Rose Island, which is 13km (8 miles) east of the center of Nassau and is reached after sailing past several small, uninhabited cays. In addition, Blue Lagoon Island, 4.8 km (3 miles) northeast of Paradise Island, is a magnet for boaters in that it offers seven white sandy beaches along with seaside hammocks. The drawback to this island, however, is that cruise-ship passengers flock here and many beach buffs like to come over on day trips.

Grand Bahama Island: On the beautiful waters off this large island, you can go sailing aboard Ocean Wonder, which is supposedly the world's largest twin-diesel engine glass-bottom boat. This boat offers the best and most panoramic picture of underwater life off the coast of Grand Bahama Island -- a view most often reserved for scuba divers. You can also go sailing aboard Bahama Mama, a two-deck 22m (72-ft.) catamaran on a Robinson Crusoe Beach Party. The catamaran also sails at sunset on a booze cruise. Superior Watersports operates this catamaran.

Marsh Harbour: One of the finest anchorages in the Out Islands is found in Marsh Harbour, which is called "The Boating Capital of The Bahamas." The Moorings is one of the leading charter sailboat outfitters in the world, and rents boats to sail the waters of the Abacos. Passengers discover white-sand beaches and snug anchorages on uninhabited cays. Sailing here is one of the great experiences of visiting The Bahamas.

• Aruba
• Bahamas
• Cancun
• Caribbean
• Cozumel
• Grand Bahama Island
• Jamaica
• Los Cabos
• Mexico
• Nassau
• Puerto Plata
• Puerto Vallarta
• Punta Cana
• Riviera Maya
• St. Lucia