|
Rum Cay: A Destination Filled With
Excitement
Located 360 miles east of Miami, 165 miles
southeast of Nassau and 40 miles east of Great Exuma, Rum Cay is
still The Bahamas the way it was meant to be. An authentic out
island destination, long considered one of the best-kept secrets in
the Caribbean. The island enjoys mild year-round temperatures,
ranging from 70°F (21°C) in the winter months to 90°F (32°C) during
the summer. Only 9 miles long and 5 miles wide, Rum Cay is inhabited
by fewer than 100 islanders. It truly is your private island
retreat.
Sure it’s off the beaten path, but that’s what makes
it worth it! Rum Cay is a scenic island refuge, renowned for
stunning coral reefs and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Because of
its out-of-the-way location, fantastic fishing and diving, and
white-and-pink-sand beaches, the island is known as the "sleeping
beauty" of The Bahamas. Rum Cay is ringed by a colorful necklace of
coral reefs teaming with marine life, and on shore the island's
tropical interior is a sanctuary for hundreds of species of rare
birds and butterflies.
Flying Into Rum Cay
-
Direct charter flights to Rum Cay from Ft.
Lauderdale are available through numerous carriers.
-
Over
Under Aviation, 305-852-8015, makes frequent trips from Florida to
Rum Cay, Cat Island and Long Island, offering full charter
services, single-seat fares, and cargo deliveries.
-
Cat
Island Air, 242-377-3318, flies roundtrip (1 hour flight) from
Nassau on Wed, Fri, Sunday year-round at 12 noon, returning at 1
pm to Nassau.
-
San
Salvador International Airport provides connecting flights to Rum
Cay for some airlines arriving from Europe. A quick 15-minute
flight from San Salvador to Rum Cay can easily be
arranged.
Arrival by Sea
As plans are developed
for the Marina at Rum Cay, new channels and access will be dredged.
Cotton Field Point is in the heart of the resort and a well-known
landmark for yachtsmen traveling to Rum Cay.
There are
currently two approaches to the anchorage off Port Nelson; the first
and perhaps the most straightforward is between the end of the reef
off Sumner Point and the shoal that lies west of it. This approach
is with the prominent white houses on Cotton Field Point bearing
018°. Keep a good lookout for coral heads in this area, particularly
west of the 018° course. Short of the town pier is a shallow white
sandbank now growing somewhat toward the west. By passing around the
south end of it and avoiding one or two heads, a yacht drawing 5
feet could approach the pier more closely and anchor in clear white
sand.
The second approach to Port Nelson is from the west and
lies close to the south shore of the island with the houses on
Cotton Field Point bearing 087°. Continue in on this heading. This
course has the advantage of minimizing the sometimes-strong westerly
set that runs outside. Cotton Field Point is easily identified,
apart from the houses, as the first high land west of the
settlement.
GPS coordinates:
Outside waypoint: 23.37.846N
74.51.035W
Buoy waypoint: 23.37.846N 74.50.977W
|
