The Exuma Cays were made for sailing. The prevailing easterly breeze runs parallel to the island chain for much of the year, and the classic Exuma circuit from Nassau to George Town covers 120 miles of protected water with a consistent beam reach for southbound passages. Compass Cay sits at the quieter, less-trafficked northern middle of this chain, making it a useful base for a sailing yacht that wants to explore both directions without covering the same ground twice. The marina provides safe overnight berthing, diesel and a surprisingly well-stocked provisions shelf.
Nineteen crewed sailing yachts are available for Compass Cay itineraries. The Bahamas shallow water strongly favours catamarans on this route: a beam of 8 to 9 metres and a draft of under 1.5 metres opens up anchorages that a deep-keeled monohull can only admire from a distance. The double-deck layout of most modern charter catamarans also provides the sun space and social area that Exuma sailing demands, with a trampoline forward for watching the water change from blue to green to white over the banks.
Weekly rates for crewed sailing yachts at Compass Cay start around 18,000 euros for a 14-metre catamaran and rise to 80,000 euros for a 24-metre performance yacht with four cabins and an experienced crew of three. The advance provisioning allowance of 30 percent covers Nassau provisioning, engine fuel for the generator and dinghy, marina fees and crew gratuity. Two-week charters covering the full Exuma chain from Nassau to George Town are the most popular format.
Under sail, the passage south from Compass Cay to Staniel Cay takes under two hours in a moderate breeze, and the Exuma Sound to the east provides an opportunity for a proper offshore sail in deep water before ducking back through a cay pass for the night.
