Guana Cay (Grabbers)
Great Guana Cay Abacos · Grabbers anchorage · Nipper's Bar Guana
26°40.08'N 77°07.92'W
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for good holding on sand in 2–5m. The 0.6–0.8m Abacos tidal range requires adequate depth planning. Western exposure to the Sea of Abaco means cold front northers (which push water into the Sea of Abaco from the north) can create confused chop — monitor the forecast. Grabbers Sunday parties bring many day-trip powerboats from Marsh Harbour — the anchorage becomes crowded on Sunday afternoons.
About This Anchorage
Great Guana Cay in the Abacos (not to be confused with Great Guana Cay in the Exumas) is famous for two legendary beach bars: Grabbers on the settlement harbour side and Nipper's on the Atlantic ocean side. Grabbers Beach Bar is known throughout the Abacos for its Sunday parties — the 'Sunday Pig Roast' with DJs, frozen drinks, and hundreds of visitors arriving by powerboat and dinghy from Marsh Harbour and throughout the cay chain. Nipper's, on the ocean side, is set on a dramatic Atlantic-facing cliff with a pool and panoramic ocean views. The two bars together make Great Guana Cay one of the most social stops in the Abacos. The settlement itself is a charming small Bahamian community with a grocery store and local character. The 0.6–0.8m Abacos tidal range creates a perceptible current past the settlement dock.
Protected From
E · NE · SE · N · S
Exposed To
W · NW · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- Yes — Cruising Permit ~$300/3 months
Restrictions: Cruising Permit required; the harbour area is shallow — draft over 1.6m approach carefully at high tide; Sunday party boats create considerable wake — anchor alarm essential on Sunday afternoons.
Hazards
- !Sunday powerboat traffic — Marsh Harbour day-trip fleet arrives Sunday morning; heavy wake in the anchorage all day; ensure anchor is very well set
- !0.6–0.8m tidal range — anchor depth planning in harbour approaches; shallow areas around the dock
- !Western exposure — cold fronts can push chop into the harbour from the Sea of Abaco; monitor forecasts
- !Dinghy landing at Grabbers can be surf-affected on the ocean side of the cay in swell conditions
Skipper's Tips
- →Sunday at Grabbers is the best party in the Abacos — arrive early (10:00) to secure a good anchoring position before the powerboat fleet from Marsh Harbour arrives
- →Nipper's on the ocean side is reached by dinghy around the south point (calm conditions only) or 10-minute walk across the island — the Atlantic views from the pool are spectacular
- →The settlement grocery has fresh produce on delivery days (Tue/Thu typically) — worth checking for fresh fruit and vegetables
- →The 0.6–0.8m tidal range creates a tidal current past the dock — time your dinghy approach to the dock for slack water
Facilities
Grabbers Beach Bar (west/harbour side): legendary Sunday parties, frozen drinks, fresh seafood. Nipper's Beach Bar (east/ocean side): pool, clifftop views, Sunday pig roast. Small grocery store in the settlement. No fuel — use Marsh Harbour (6nm S).
Nearest provisions: Marsh Harbour Maxwell's Supermarket (6nm S by dinghy/ferry) (6nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May. Sunday parties are the main event. Best anchoring on weekdays when the powerboat crowd has not yet arrived. A lively and social stop mid-Abacos cay chain.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
The Abacos' tidal range and winter northers make anchor monitoring essential. Safety Anchor Alarm watches your GPS position continuously — so you can enjoy Grabbers, Nipper's, and Miss Emily's Goombay Smash with complete peace of mind.
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