If you’ve been longing for the feel of sea spray on your face, then a getaway to the Bahamas is just what you need!  The islands of the Bahamas offer an exciting array of unique boating opportunities, whether you’re looking to captain your own ship or just relax as a passenger. Thousands of people from all around the world visit the Bahamas every year to enjoy the sportsmanship and camaraderie of local and international sailing competitions, or to fulfill their fantasies of the perfect pleasure boating adventure.  

Want to join in the fun of an exciting boat race and party the day away? Just look for a regatta!  Sailing regattas are commonplace in the Bahamas, and always generate festive parties where spectators and participants alike can enjoy barbecues, native music, and making new friends along with the thrill of an exciting competition. Every island holds at least one annual regatta, and there are scores of local events throughout the year—so no matter when you plan your trip, you can probably catch a regatta!

If you’ll be here this spring, you can check out the George Town Cruising Regatta, a popular sailing regatta that begins on the first Friday in March and lasts for 10 days. The annual competition attracts over 500 yachts for a week of celebration and festivities, and visiting yachtsmen test the speed of their vessels in the beautiful waters of George Town in three main boating events.

For the annual Island-Out Island Regatta in Exuma, scores of locally built sailboats race for the coveted “Best in the Bahamas” title. Sailors from each major island of the Bahamas meet in picturesque Elizabeth Harbour, George Town, for four days of fierce competition along with some exciting and fun onshore partying. One of the most famous regattas in the Bahamas is the Long Island Sailing Regatta, an annual five-day event where 40 to 50 locally built sailing sloops compete for trophies and prize money in a major showdown on the waters off Salt Pond, Long Island.

Four classes of vessels, ranging in length from 15’ to 28’, represent each of the major Bahamian islands. A festive atmosphere flourishes onshore, where visitors to the islands are invited to join in the fun by sampling native dishes, engaging in sporting activities, and enjoying native entertainment supplied by rake ’n scrape bands. And for folks who want to get close to the action, a spectator boat can take you right into the thick of the action for a first-hand view of the races. 

If you prefer pleasure cruising to sports competitions, the Bahamas offers a lively array of opportunities for all types of boating excursions. Hundreds of uninhabited cays provide lovely remote getaways where you can drop anchor and enjoy sunny, carefree swimming and snorkeling in calm blue waters far from shore.

Many are accessible only by boat—unless, of course, you’re a really good swimmer! Maybe you’d rather take a cruise in a glass bottom boat on a sunny afternoon and explore the undersea world of an island lagoon without getting your feet wet. Enjoy a dinner cruise on a smooth-sailing catamaran, and dance under the stars after feasting on native delicacies.

Rent a sunfish sailboat for an afternoon of wave skipping by a beautiful stretch of sand. Or charter your own vessel, crew included, to escape for a few days of peace and quiet navigating the island waterways. The choices are endless for enjoying and exploring the beautiful waters of the Bahamas.

Whatever boating adventure you’ve been dreaming of, the Bahamas is the place to experience it!  

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