Anchorage· Rum Cay· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Port Nelson Anchorage (Rum Cay)
23° 38.7′ N · 74° 50.7′ W
A wide, gin-clear anchorage off Port Nelson on Rum Cay's south shore, sand bottom dotted with coral heads, in front of the island's only settlement.
Practical
Noonsite position 23 deg 38.73'N, 074 deg 50.72'W. Bottom is sand with good holding and very clear water, but the anchorage is open to the south and west (Noonsite, 2017) - leave ahead of fronts. Approach only in good overhead light: noforeignland reviewers flag large coral heads and small reefs (manageable for shallow draft), and Cruising World (2023) describes weaving around heads by eye. Anchor outside the main channel. Dinghy landing: the sand bar is very soft in places; Noonsite suggests landing on the beach next to the ruined jetty on the seaward side of the dune, mid-bay. Snorkelling here has been affected by coral bleaching (noforeignland). No fuel or water dock in town; Sumner Point Marina is the only fuel source on the island.
Best for
Overnight stop between Conception and San Salvador, and access to the village
Season
Nov-May in E-NE trades; open S and W
Nearby
- Rum Cay Medical Center0.3 NM away
- Kay's Restaurant & Sand Bar (The Last Chance, Port Nelson)0.4 NM away
- Ocean View Restaurant & Bar (Port Nelson)0.4 NM away
- Port Nelson government dock0.4 NM away
- Port Nelson settlement0.4 NM away
- Two Sisters Take Away (Port Nelson)0.4 NM away
- Out of the Blue Restaurant (Sumner Point Marina)0.8 NM away
- Sumner Point Marina (Rum Cay, closed: entrance silted)0.9 NM away