Delta Marine, the Seattle-based American shipyard, builds semi-custom composite and fibreglass motor yachts in the 30 to 50-metre range with a design philosophy that prioritises range, fuel economy and seakeeping over outright speed. The resulting charter fleet performs particularly well on the inter-island Bahamian passages that define a Cat Island charter itinerary: the four to five-hour crossing from Nassau to Cat Island in prevailing northeasterly conditions, the coastal runs between Fernandez Bay and Hawk’s Nest Marina, and the optional extensions north to the Exumas or east to the Turks and Caicos. Cat Island is a destination that rewards the extra passage time: the island’s beaches at Fernandez Bay and Greenwood are among the finest in the southeastern Bahamas, the bonefishing flats at Bennett’s Harbour receive minimal pressure from the charter market, and the reef diving off the eastern shore provides exceptional underwater visibility in the clear Atlantic water. Charter-available Delta Marine yachts carry six to ten guests with crews of five to eight. Weekly rates sit between approximately 65,000 and 160,000 euros before the advance provisioning allowance of 30 per cent, covering fuel from Hawk’s Nest Marina, food and drinks and harbour dues. Season runs from October through April.
