Anchorage· Cat Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
New Bight Anchorage
24° 17.3′ N · 75° 25.7′ W
The big sandy bight off New Bight is Cat Island's cruiser hub, with room for dozens of boats. The fish-fry shacks are on the beach, and the Hermitage on Mount Alvernia is a short walk away.
Practical
From the south, go via waypoints 24°09.300'N 75°33.500'W and 24°14.400'N 75°31.400'W, then steer 073° magnetic toward the BaTelCo tower (ActiveCaptain). Anchor anywhere off the beach between the tower, the government dock and the fish fry in deep sand with excellent holding. Charts read about 1 ft shallow, so you can get closer in than they show. Protected NNW through ESE; rolly in S and miserable in any W (SW-WNW over 12 kt), and the sand spit at Bonefish Point does little to stop NW waves. A 2015 report warned that swell can lag a forecast shift by hours, so skip Cat with any west in the forecast. There is a long beach for the dinghy without surge. Public restrooms and showers are near the sailing club (2016). Trash goes at the government offices by the police station. Cell is BTC with good data; the old open WiFi near the sailing club is gone. Fernandez Bay is the alternative in north-east winds, and Old Bight in south-east.
Best for
The cruiser base for the Hermitage, fish fry and provisioning, in east winds
Season
Nov–May in NE–SE trades; leave before westerlies
Nearby
- Cat Island west-coast exposure in frontsRight here
- New Bight groceries and bakery0.5 NM away
- The Bight Community Clinic (New Bight)0.5 NM away
- Cat Island Regatta0.6 NM away
- New Bight fish fry0.6 NM away
- Gilly's Laundry (Freetown, New Bight)0.7 NM away
- New Bight Service Station (fuel, propane, car rental)0.7 NM away
- Armbrister Plantation ruins1.2 NM away