Warderick Wells Cay lies inside the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, a marine reserve spanning 176 square miles of some of the clearest water in the Caribbean. For sailing yachts, the Exumas offer an almost perfect cruising environment: reliable trade winds out of the southeast, sheltered channels between the cays, and a progression of anchorages manageable in a single day’s sail. The park itself prohibits fishing and collecting, which means the reefs and sea floors here have the density and clarity that the rest of the Bahamas has mostly lost.
The sailing fleet available for a Warderick Wells charter includes ketches, sloops, and modern performance cruisers ranging from around 20 to 30 metres. Crew of two to four handle the vessel while guests use the deck space for sunbathing, swimming, and watching the world below through mask and snorkel. Catamaran options provide shallower draft and greater stability at anchor, useful in the park’s protected mooring fields.
Charter rates for sailing yachts in the Exumas typically run between 30,000 and 100,000 euros per week, depending on size and specification. The advance provisioning allowance covers food, drink, fuel for the tender, marina charges, and park mooring fees. Park permits are arranged by the crew in advance.
From the mooring fields at Warderick Wells, day sails can reach Compass Cay, Staniel Cay, and the Thunderball Grotto, made famous by the James Bond film and still one of the most photographed snorkelling sites in the archipelago. Longer passages south connect to Georgetown in Great Exuma, a popular hurricane-season hub with good provisioning and a lively sailing community. The north end of the park gives access to Shroud Cay, whose tidal creeks can be explored by dinghy at high water.
