Ragged Island is among the most authentically remote destinations in the Bahamas, and a classic yacht arriving at Duncan Town joins a long tradition of sail-powered vessels working the southern island chain for fishing, trading, and exploration. The Bahamas charter fleet offers 8 classic yachts, and those making the passage to Ragged Island tend to be serious blue-water vessels with experienced skippers and a character forged over decades of offshore sailing. The Crooked Island Passage, which separates the southern Bahamas from the Caribbean proper, has been a navigational landmark since Columbus crossed it in 1492, and arriving at Ragged Island by classic yacht places that history in immediate context. The surrounding cays are uninhabited, the reefs are lightly dived, and the lobster fishing from a traditional dinghy is the same activity that the island’s small community has practised for generations. Weekly rates for classic charter yachts in the Bahamas range from approximately 20,000 to 80,000 euros per week depending on vessel size and crew complement, with provisioning allowances of around 30 percent covering fuel and provisions loaded in Nassau before departure. The passage south takes two to three days depending on wind conditions, and the return is typically upwind, often making the Exuma Sound a lively beat north. The season from January through April offers the most settled conditions, and a classic yacht crew experienced in these waters can time the passages to take advantage of the predictable trade-wind cycle.
