Great Sale Cay to Green Turtle Cay

Anchor up at 7:30 am after a trip to shore in our dingy for Abby. There was no wind overnight and there still wasn’t a whisper this morning. Another beautiful day!

Unfortunately, as is common in the Bahamas this time of year, the weather forecast calls for incoming weather projecting high winds! We decided to head for Green Turtle Cay to tuck into White Sound Harbor, one of two good hurricane shelters on the Cay. The weather was beautiful and perfect for cruising making it hard to believe the weather reports. I’m guessing this is one of those days that get some boaters into big trouble when not erring to the side of caution.

At 2:15 pm we were cruising past Coopers Town, a village in Abaco, the second largest island of the Bahamas. The town is the northernmost of the island’s main centers of population. It was settled in the 1870s by the Albert Bootle family from Grand Bahama. Early industry included pineapple and sea-sponge harvesting, but both industries have dwindled over the last century. A major impediment to the success of these industries was the lack of a natural harbor at Coopers Town.

We arrived at Green Turtle Cay and were anchored in White Sound at 4:30 pm. Winds were forecast to clock around during the night so our anchoring position was critical to neighboring boats in the harbor. White sound is surrounded by a quaint and picturesque little settlement.

Green Turtle Cay is one of the barrier islands off mainland Great Abaco, The Bahamas. It is considered part of the “Abaco Out Islands” and is 3 miles (4.8 km) long and ½ mile wide. It was named after the once abundant green turtles that inhabited the area.

The population of the island is about 450 and its main settlement is New Plymouth which was founded in the 18th century. The architecture of the older homes in the village is unique in the Bahamas, with steep-pitched roofs, originating with settlers from New England. New Plymouth contains a post office, a bank, a customs and immigration office, four grocery stores, several restaurants, bars, and churches.

Green Turtle Cay is known for its beaches and has several full-service hotel-resorts with boat marinas. There is also a boat repair yard with haul-out slips.