Nassau West Bay
Nassau West Bay Approach · Cable Beach anchorage
25°04.68'N 77°22.50'W
Depth
2–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
90m
90m for good holding on sand in 2–6m. The northern exposure is the critical concern — northers (cold front N winds 30–40kt) make this anchorage untenable; evacuate to Nassau Harbour or Coral Harbour immediately on any norther forecast. The 0.8m tidal range and deeper water here (up to 6m) gives good margin — anchor in 5m at high tide.
About This Anchorage
Nassau West Bay fronts the Cable Beach resort strip — Nassau's main hotel and resort corridor to the west of the capital. The anchorage in the bay provides good access to the resort amenities while maintaining open water sailing and good sand holding. The Melia Nassau Beach, SLS Baha Mar, and Baha Mar Casino complex are all fronted by the beach here. The bay is, however, open to the north — northers in November–April make this a dangerous anchorage and immediate departure to the enclosed Nassau Harbour or Coral Harbour is essential on any norther forecast. In settled weather with S or E winds, this is a pleasant anchorage with easy beach access. The Bahamas' 0.8m tidal range creates a perceptible current along the beach as the tide runs.
Protected From
S · SE · E
Exposed To
N · NW · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring in open bay
- Permit required
- Yes — Cruising Permit ~$300/3 months
Restrictions: Cruising Permit required; stay clear of hotel beach areas — resort operators may have water sports zones marked by buoys; do not anchor in the marked swimming beach areas; move immediately on any norther forecast.
Hazards
- !NORTHER RISK — northern exposure makes this a dangerous anchorage in cold front conditions; 30–40kt N winds possible Nov–Apr; evacuate immediately on any norther forecast
- !0.8m tidal range — beach appears and disappears significantly; tidal current along beach
- !Resort water sports zones — jet skis and water sports equipment operating in beach areas; stay clear of marked zones
- !No navigation lights on beach — dinghy approach after dark requires care
Skipper's Tips
- →Cable Beach West Bay anchorage is viable ONLY in settled, non-norther conditions — if the weather is uncertain, use Nassau Harbour or Nassau Yacht Haven instead
- →The Baha Mar Casino complex is impressive for an evening ashore — dinghy to the beach and walk up; no formal dinghy dock but the beach is accessible
- →The 0.8m tidal range reveals extensive shallow sandbars at low tide — the beach more than doubles in width; factor this into anchor scope
- →This anchorage should be abandoned at the first sign of any norther development; the harbour entrance is 2nm — easy to relocate
Facilities
Cable Beach resort hotels have multiple restaurants accessible from the beach. Baha Mar Casino complex has numerous dining options. No marine facilities — fuel and water at Nassau Yacht Haven (2nm E).
Nearest provisions: Nassau Yacht Haven (2nm E) (2nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May in settled weather only. Avoid entirely on any norther forecast. Best in February–March when northers are less frequent. Never rely on this anchorage as the only option — always have an evacuation plan to Nassau Harbour.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 90m
Nassau's 0.8m tidal range and cruise ship wake mean conditions change continuously. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position through every tide cycle — so you can explore Nassau with complete peace of mind.
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