George Town Anchorage
Elizabeth Harbour · George Town Elizabeth Harbour · Exuma gathering
23°30.78'N 75°46.14'W
Depth
2–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
95m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
95m
95m for good holding on sand/mud in 2–6m. George Town anchorage is one of the largest in the Bahamas — generous radius needed given the large number of boats and the 0.7–0.9m tidal swing. During the April regatta, 200+ boats are anchored — reduce scope to minimum safe and test thoroughly. Southern exposure means chop in SE or S winds — boats lie beam-to and roller around; alarm particularly important in these conditions.
About This Anchorage
George Town anchorage in Elizabeth Harbour is the end-of-the-Exumas gathering point — the traditional terminus of the winter cruise south from Nassau and Florida. The anchorage in Elizabeth Harbour (between Stocking Island and the Great Exuma shore) can hold hundreds of boats and does exactly that during the annual Cruising Regatta each April — one of the great cruising community events in the Caribbean, with races, beach parties, potlucks, and a constant VHF community net (VHF 68). George Town (the capital of the Exumas) has the Bahamas' best out-island provisioning: Exuma Market (two locations), a hardware store, pharmacy, clinic, and a small airport with connections to Nassau. The government dock has fuel (diesel and gas) and water. The 0.7–0.9m tidal range and the large harbour size mean boats swing considerably — a reliable anchor alarm is essential in this crowded anchorage.
Protected From
E · NE · N · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SE · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring
- Permitted in sand
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring in Elizabeth Harbour
- Permit required
- Yes — Cruising Permit ~$300/3 months
Restrictions: Cruising Permit required; customs clearance at George Town (if first Bahamian entry point); do not anchor in the ferry and commercial vessel channel near the government dock; dinghy dock available at main dock — use this for shore access; avoid the RBDF (Royal Bahamas Defence Force) base approach.
Hazards
- !April regatta crowding — 200+ boats; anchor drag in this crowd is catastrophic; set maximum scope and test thoroughly
- !0.7–0.9m tidal range — boats swing significantly on anchor over the day; alarm radius must account for full tidal swing
- !Southern exposure — S or SE wind brings choppy harbour; boats lie beam-to the chop; use adequate scope
- !Commercial ferry channel near the government dock — do not anchor in this channel; ferries operate regularly to Nassau
- !Stocking Island cut current — tidal current through the cut between Elizabeth Harbour and the ocean side is strong; time dinghy crossings
Skipper's Tips
- →Join the George Town cruising net on VHF 68 each morning at 08:00 — weather reports, cruiser announcements, and the social heart of the fleet
- →Chat 'N' Chill on Stocking Island (dinghy across) serves the Bahamas' most famous Sunday pig roast — arrive early and bring drinks to share
- →Exuma Market in George Town is the best provisioning stop south of Nassau — stock up here before heading to the northern cays
- →The 0.7–0.9m tidal range creates a perceptible current through Elizabeth Harbour — factor this into scope calculation; a scope of 6:1 in 4m depth
- →The April regatta is the social highlight of the Bahamian cruising season — reserve your best anchoring spot early and prepare for a week of parties
Facilities
George Town: Exuma Market (best provisioning in the out-islands, two locations), restaurants including Chat 'N' Chill on Stocking Island (legendary beach bar and Sunday pig roast), Eddie's Edgewater restaurant (Bahamian cuisine). Multiple small restaurants in George Town proper.
Nearest provisions: Exuma Market George Town (0.5nm by dinghy) (0.5nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May. The traditional southern terminus of the Exuma cruise. Quieter November–December and May. Very busy January–March; extremely crowded in April during the regatta.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 95m
The Exumas' 0.8–1.0m tidal range and extremely shallow banks make anchor alarm monitoring essential — even a small drag on the Exuma Bank can leave you aground. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors continuously through every tidal cycle.
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