Anchorage· Conception Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Conception Island West Bay Anchorage
23° 51.1′ N · 75° 7.2′ W
The main anchorage: a broad white-sand crescent near the island's northwest corner, with clear water over clean sand and a white-sand beach with salt ponds behind it. Usually only a handful of boats share it.
Practical
Noonsite gives the anchorage at 23 deg 51'06"N, 75 deg 07'12"W (2016). Southern Boating: several small reef patches guard the entrance and there are isolated coral heads inside, but ample clean sand with good holding. Enter in good overhead light (Noonsite: 'good light is essential'). Shelter is from east only: Noonsite advises leaving before anything from the western semicircle blows, Southern Boating says any forecast west wind means go, and a northerly swell makes it uncomfortable. A Blue Water Sailing account (2016) describes the anchorage turning to steep standing waves ahead of a front by sunrise. Dinghy landing on the beach. No services of any kind - arrive fully provisioned. Typical arrival is from Calabash Bay/Cape Santa Maria, Long Island (about 17 nm) or George Town (about 45 nm, Cruising World).
Best for
Base for the creek, the reefs and the beach walks in settled easterlies
Season
Nov-May; untenable in W or N winds and swell
Nearby
- Winter cold fronts at ConceptionRight here
- Conception Island moorings (West Bay)0.1 NM away
- Conception Island hiking trails0.2 NM away
- Conception Island reefs0.2 NM away
- West Bay Beach (Conception)0.3 NM away
- Conception Island settlement ruins0.7 NM away
- Conception Island East Bay Anchorage0.8 NM away
- Conception Bank silver boa1 NM away