Treasure Cay

If you're coming up from the south, you have probably seen the industrious villages of Abaco, such as Hope Town or Man-O-War. If you are coming down from the north you have surely enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the relatively isolated cays and hopefully visited at least one of the native villages such as Grand Cay, Fox Town, or Coopers Town. Hopefully, you've taken the time to stop and explore at least one of the many gunkholes I've described. In any case, Treasure Cay promises something still different!

Treasure Cay is a "development" in every sense of the word. There was and still is no native settlement here. You'll find a dredged basin and a marina with all of the amenities! Condominiums line the waterfront, some of which are available for rent through the hotel office. There is a pool, restaurant, bar, and golf course. There is an excellent airport nearby, and probably the finest single beach in Abaco, perhaps the Bahamas.

If I have sufficiently tempted you to make the stop, let me describe the approach and harbor entrance, then I'll take you for the guided tour around the development!

Approaches

Two major changes have occurred since our second edition. First, the Treasure Cay Marina has done extensive dredging of a new channel which carries a good 6 feet at MLW from well outside the sand flat all of the way into the marina. More dredging is planned. This new channel has been marked with sturdy pilings which should last for many years. These are marked with your customary "red on the right arriving" daymarks.

The second major change in this area is that significant shoaling has occurred west of the spoils from the dredging at the north end of Great Guana Cay. Although there have been some shoal areas between Great Guana Cay and the Great Abaco mainland for many years, these have built up significantly in the last few years. It is not impassable through here, but we have had enough reports of boats going aground on the direct course from Great Guana to Treasure Cay, that I have deleted this as a recommended course for the third edition. Instead, proceed to the Fish Cays, clearing them in deep water 0.25 NM off and join the 286°T course from Man-O-War.

From Whale Cay, proceed inbound on the 236°T course. Both courses converge on the first welcome sign which I've marked on our sketch chart, complete with on sight GPS coordinates. This sign is marked with a white light.

The Entrance Channel

From this first welcome sign proceed 0.9 NM on a true course of 284° T to the second welcome sign, which is co-located with a red day mark and a flashing red light. Leave this sign to starboard, and follow the well marked channel, keeping the red markers to starboard arriving and leaving the green one to port arriving. I found a full 6 feet MLW as claimed. The dredging operation seems to have become a near constant process to maintain this channel. The Treasure Cay Marina seems committed to keeping the channel open. Two words of caution are in order! One, the deep part of the channel is fairly narrow, considering the size of some of the boats which frequent this marina. Bear this in mind when you enter the channel and plan not to pass any of the large motor yachts, particularly in the curve. Second, there is no water to spare on the starboard side of the channel arriving. This has always been a shoal area and now it looks as if the dredging barge has used it as a spoil bank.

Once you've passed the last of the new substantial pilings the concrete bulkhead of the main channel will be clearly obvious. Follow this big wide channel approximately 040°T toward the flagpole and, if you haven't already done so, make your contact with the dock master on channel 16 for a slip assignment. In the past there has been some silting in this main channel.

The Marina

The marina has 30 and 50 amp shore power, cable TV, and high quality fresh water. They sell their fresh water at a "flat rate", which is cost effective if you need a lot of water not so if you only need a few gallons. Diesel and gasoline are both available at the fuel dock.

The marina store overlooks the marina and has most of the necessities you might be looking for. There is a fully service dive shop on the premises.

The pool is close to the marina and is served by a delightful outside bar. I could spend a week right here and never move if someone would just check the dock lines! There are three other fresh water pools on the property, but none closer to the marina!

Now that you're in, let's visit this delightful resort. Earlier, I hinted at just how much this place has to offer, but didn't really give you any details. This has never been my favorite place in Abaco, but it could have easily been in the top three! If your crew is diverse in their ages or their interests, this may very well be your favorite spot. I can't emphasize this enough, as beautiful as Abaco may be, sometimes it is difficult to keep everyone happy. If that is your challenge as skipper or cruise director, this is your best shot! Treasure Cay is a gem among Bahamian resorts. For this reason, I've included it on virtually all of the charter itineraries.

The Beach

The beach is know widely as the best in Abaco, and often listed as one of the ten best in the world. Although I don't consider myself an expert on beaches of the world, I think I qualify in that regard for Florida and the Bahamas. From that perspective, it ranks right up there with Cape Santa Maria on Long Island, Bahamas and the beautiful white beach at Pensacola, Florida! From the marina, you have to cross the hotel property in order to walk to this fabulous beach. The last time we were there the new owners of the hotel had roped off the access and put up no trespassing signs! If the beach is not re-opened to marina visitors, you can still enjoy it by approaching from the water (up to the high water mark). The best time I ever had at this beach was when I anchored Kira off the beach!