Staniel Cay sits in the central Exumas, roughly 80 nautical miles southeast of Nassau, and has earned a reputation as the social hub of the island chain. The Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a handful of restaurants, a fuel dock and an airstrip make it the most practical stopping point between Nassau and Georgetown, and the surrounding cays are within tender range. Motor yachts make the most of this geography: with enough speed to cover the Yellow Bank from Nassau in a half-day, they arrive in time for an afternoon at Pig Beach before sundowners at the club. The motor charter fleet available for a Staniel Cay voyage numbers approximately 162 published yachts, from compact 30-metre cruisers to 90-metre flagships with dedicated crew of 12. Weekly rates in the Bahamas range from around 50,000 euros for a well-appointed 30-metre motor yacht to 900,000 euros and above for the largest vessels. The advance provisioning allowance, typically 30 percent of the base fee, covers fuel, food, drink, berthing and local permits. Season runs November through May. The waters around Staniel Cay are among the most photographed in the Bahamas, and that distinction has not diminished the anchorages: the pigs at Big Major Spot are wild and resident, and Thunderball Grotto still floods with tropical fish at every tide.
