Anchorage· Long Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Joe Sound Anchorage
23° 37.0′ N · 75° 20.6′ W
A narrow, deep tidal channel between Galliot Cay, Lucy Cay and the mainland that offers the only all-round protection at Long Island's north end. Boats lie to a strong current in flat water, with mangroves and ruins along the shore.
Practical
ActiveCaptain: excellent all-round protection, but the entrance is only about 20-25 ft wide with a sharp rock ledge on the south side and shoaling to the north; favour the south (Lucy Cay) side. Enter either side of high tide, ideally on the flood in good light; anchor outside at the Joe Sound Entrance waypoint first and sound the path by dinghy (a 2024 crew found 5 ft as the deepest route). Inside, the widest deep water is across from the ruins and old dock pilings; holding is excellent west of the anchored houseboat, marl and grass farther in. Use two anchors in line with the current; there is not room to swing on one. Cell coverage but little data. No trash facilities: pack it out. Galliot Cay is private and its dock is not public; land at St Lucy Cay, or at high tide dinghy to the Seymour's government quay near the graveyard, or follow PVC stakes in Glinton Sound to the Burnt Ground government dock (MGS Store for food, Alfred's gas station with liquor, trash bins at the dock, 2023 reports).
Best for
Riding out a front at the north end
Season
Year-round shelter; entry needs high water and good light
Nearby
- St Lucy Cay beach (shore access)0.2 NM away
- Hog Cay Anchorage (Long Island)0.8 NM away
- Galliot Cay South Anchorage (Calabash Bay South)1.1 NM away
- Hog Cay South Anchorage1.4 NM away
- Calabash Bay Anchorage2 NM away
- Cape Santa Maria reefs snorkel trips (Calabash Bay)2 NM away
- Grouper Valley (dive)2.1 NM away
- Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort2.3 NM away