Abacos?

[BeachCruiser]

Here is a link to an arial photo of Man-O-War 2008.

[lionshooter]

Thanks. Love all your photos.

[HerbDB]

I spent almost three months in the Abacos on our trip south and truly enjoyed it. Feb is a little cool when the fronts roll through, but we were still in shorts with maybe a jacket in the evening. I would recommend a wet suit for snorkeling unless you are very hardy. A shortie is fine.

We staged out of the Conch Inn Marina which is the base for the Moorings fleet. It is a nice facility and I kept a slip for the time we were there, so we always had a place to go back to when the weather turned bad.

Just a personal observation about Nippers. This is a great place if you are into Calypso music and the beach bar scene. For someone not interested in being around heavy drinking in the afternoon or those traveling with children, not so great. The famous Pig Roast is just a buffet with pork that was roasted somewhere, but definitely not the beach. The setting is fantastic.

[lionshooter]

Thanks Herb.
When I was a captain there in the late 70's, Guana was totally deserted but for a bar on the extreme south end. I always took my clients to the beaches north and east, totally deserted so they could snorkel, sunbathe nude or whatever.

[HerbDB]

You would really be amazed at the development now going in. There is a big political fight about development of the island. Local Residents claimed it would destroy the reefs because of runoff from the planned development.

When I left (18 mos ago) the developers appeared to be winning. There is a huge development going in near Bakers Bay on the NW end of the island. They were ferrying potential buyers from Marsh Harbor to Bakers Bay in a Hinckley Picnic Boat, so I knew it was out of my price range without asking.

[camaraderie]

Yup...Baker's Bay is no longer "public"...the new marina is open. And development is well underway.
Baker's Bay :: Marina

[lionshooter]

Sucks, but progress can not be stopped; only slowed down a bit through protests...but eventually the developers win.

[RichH]

With the economy in the dumper I doubt very much that Bakers Bay will succeed. Last winter, except for the 'cruisers', the Abacos were relatively empty, and emptied further after May 1 when all the prices increased in anticipation of the 'sport fishing fleets' to roll in - and didnt happen.
West End (Old Bahama Bay Marina) was a ghost town after May 1st ... much of the staff laid off.
Spanish Cay ... totally empty with not a boat in any slip before the end of April.
Treasure Cay ... virtually empty, unless a front came through and the 'cruisers' were there hiding in the harbor.

Green Turtle & Hopetown ... always filled because they have good 'value'.