A sailing charter to Ragged Island is one of the most committed itineraries available in the Bahamas, covering 200 nautical miles of open water south from Nassau to reach a chain of cays where the only sounds are wind, water, and the occasional pelican. The trade winds from the northeast make the southbound passage a broad reach or a run, typically comfortable in a well-found blue-water sailing yacht, and the return north is frequently upwind through the Exuma Sound. Nineteen sailing yachts are available for charter in the Bahamas and Caribbean region, and those suited to Ragged Island are typically long-keeled, passage-making vessels with ample tankage and experienced skippers familiar with Bahamian tidal cuts and bank crossings. The approach to Ragged Island skirts the edge of the Great Bahama Bank and requires careful attention to draft; most keelboats drawing under 2.2 metres pass comfortably. The anchorage off Duncan Town is one of the most remote in the Bahamas, sheltered by the curve of the cay and rarely shared with more than one or two other vessels. Weekly rates for sailing charters in this region range from approximately 20,000 euros for a capable cruising yacht to 120,000 euros for a larger performance vessel. Provisioning in Nassau before departure is essential, as no resupply is available at Ragged Island. The Bahamas carries no charter VAT. Peak season for Ragged Island itineraries runs from January through April, when the trades are most reliable and the risk of weather delays is lowest.
