Compass Cay sits near the heart of the Exuma Cays, roughly 65 nautical miles southeast of Nassau, in a chain of 365 islands that Bahamian charter captains still rank as the finest cruising ground in the Atlantic basin. The Compass Cay marina is famous throughout the charter world for a different reason: the dozen or so nurse sharks that congregate in the crystal water around the fuel dock, completely habituated to humans and docile enough for swimming. Every motor yacht charter that transits the Exumas makes Compass Cay a priority stop.
Motor yachts dominate Exuma Cays chartering precisely because of the distances involved. Moving between Staniel Cay, Compass Cay, Norman Cay and Highbourne Cay at leisure requires a vessel with enough range to cover 50-mile legs in a morning and still have fuel to run the water sports at anchor in the afternoon. The charter fleet available for Compass Cay encompasses 162 motor yachts, from 22-metre flybridge cruisers to 60-metre-plus expedition superyachts with onboard dive stations and multiple tender platforms.
Weekly rates range from approximately 40,000 euros for a well-maintained 25-metre motor yacht to 400,000 euros for a flagship superyacht with a crew of twelve. The advance provisioning allowance of around 30 percent covers fuel, provisions loaded in Nassau or Staniel Cay, marina fees and crew gratuity. High season from December through April sees strong demand and limited availability on premium vessels.
From Compass Cay, the classic Exuma itinerary runs north via Sampson Cay to Staniel Cay and Thunderball Grotto, then continues to Black Point Settlement and Great Guana Cay before finishing at Norman Cay. The entire loop fits comfortably into a seven-day charter for a motor yacht capable of 18 to 22 knots.
