| The Bahamas offer a wide range of yacht charter | | | | European influences. This can be seen in the islands |
| including bareboat yacht charter, skippered yacht | | | | music and different styles include; junkanoo, rake and |
| charter, luxury crewed yacht charter, monohull and | | | | scrape, calypso and a unique form of hymnal. |
| catamaran charter and both sail and motor yacht | | | | Marching bands are also an important part of life and |
| charter. | | | | are heard playing at funerals, weddings and other |
| Yacht charter in the Bahamas offers turquoise | | | | ceremonial events. |
| waters and sparkling white sandy beaches. There are | | | | In the less developed outer islands of the Bahamas, |
| many attractive, interesting yacht anchorages. | | | | known as the "Out Islands" or "Family Islands", |
| The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical. | | | | regattas are important social events. They usually |
| The Gulf Stream significantly moderates the climate | | | | comprise one or more days of racing by |
| particularly in the winter. Summer temperatures in the | | | | old-fashioned workboats and combine an onshore |
| Bahamas average 30 degrees Celsius and are just 5 | | | | festival. The Bahamas also have festivals associated |
| degrees Celsius cooler in the winter. Summer and | | | | with the local traditional crop or food, such as the |
| autumn can bring very severe weather in the form | | | | "Pineapple Fest" in Gregory Town, Eleuthera or the |
| of hurricanes. | | | | "Crab Fest" on Andros. |
| History: The seafaring Taino people moved into the | | | | Currency: US Dollars and US$ travellers cheques can |
| southern Bahamas around the seventh century from | | | | be used. Major credit cards may be accepted in |
| Cuba and Hispaniola. They came to be known as the | | | | hotels, restaurants and some shops. |
| Lucayans and there were an estimated forty | | | | Abaco is a major centre for yacht charter in the |
| thousand Lucayans on the Bahamas at the time of | | | | Bahamas. Here a full service marina is home to many |
| Christopher Columbus' arrival. His first landfall here | | | | charter yachts. Fuel, water, ice, laundry and shower |
| was on San Salvador Island, also known as Watling's | | | | facilities are all available. You can also provision the |
| Island, in the southern part of Bahamas. | | | | yacht here. Fly to Abaco from Florida's Palm Beach, |
| Later Bahamian Lucayans were taken to Hispaniola as | | | | Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports. Your charter |
| slaves. In two short decades many Lucayan societies | | | | yacht is just five minutes from airport. |
| ceased to exist due to forced labour, warfare, | | | | There are several modern marinas in the Bahamas. |
| disease, emigration and out marriage. After the | | | | The main cruising area for yacht charters comprises |
| Lucayan population was eliminated, the Bahamian | | | | Great Abaco and Little Abaco, along with a delightful |
| islands were virtually unoccupied until the English | | | | string of sandy cays just to the east. Begin in the |
| settlers came from Bermuda in 1647 and settled on | | | | centre at quaint Man-O-War Cay. |
| the island of Eleuthera. | | | | The beach at Treasure Cay is one of National |
| In 1718 the Bahamas became a British crown colony. | | | | Geographic's Top 10! |
| Some 8,000 loyalists and their slaves moved to the | | | | Great snorkelling and a Marine Park are to be found |
| Bahamas in the late 1700s from New York, Florida | | | | at Fowl Cay. |
| and the Carolinas. Slavery was ended in the Bahamas | | | | Green Turtle Cay is known for its cultural appeal with |
| in 1834 and this led to many slaves fleeing the USA | | | | its museum, sculpture gardens, and fine dining at the |
| and making a dangerous crossing of the Atlantic for | | | | Green Turtle Club. Visible for miles is the historic |
| the promise of a free life in the Bahamas. In 1964 | | | | lighthouse of Hope Town, a candy-striped sentinel on |
| the British made the Bahamas self-governing. And in | | | | the southeastern reef. |
| 1973, the Bahamas became fully independent, but | | | | South to the Pelican Cays National Park you' will |
| remained a member of the Commonwealth of | | | | enjoy extensive colourful coral and sea life. Giant |
| Nations. | | | | starfish can be seen scattered along the sandy |
| The culture of the Bahamas is a mix of African and | | | | bottom for miles. |