Freeport (Bahamas) - Docking
Freeport Harbour itself is a commercial harbour with no place for yachts except in an emergency. The marinas to the east (Xanadu Beach, Sunrise and Port Lucaya) provide a more comfortable port of call.
The Lucaya area is a big development, after Nassau probably the biggest in the Bahamas. If you like hustle and commerce you’ll find much to your liking.
Sunrise Marina is only for shallow draft boats (less than 1.5m / 5ft). It has a very narrow channel which shoals at the entrance.
The Bell Channel into Port Lucaya, the Grand Bahama Yacht Club and Flamingo Bay Marina, has a minimum draft of 2.5m (8 feet) at high tide. The Yacht Club is one of the more expensive marinas here. The GPS coordinates for the outer buoy at the Bell Channel are 26° 29.879’N and 78° 37.800’W.
Flamingo Bay Marina is good value and they have a pool, however, it’s small so advance reservations are recommended.
Yachts also anchor here a little further inside.
Following Hurricane Matthew, in 2016 some of these marinas are no longer operating.
Last updated: May 2018
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Related to following destinations: Bahamas, Freeport (Bahamas), Grand Bahama Island
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We stayed in Freeport in May 2018. First, we tried to get to the Sunrise Marina, which was impossible for us even with high tide. They charge 1,50 $/ft. The channel is very narrow and shoaled at the entrance. I wouldn’t recommend trying entering the channel unless your draft is less than 1.5 meter (5 feet). We could enter the Bell Channel, which had a minimum draft of 2.5 meters (8 feet) at high tide.
We stayed at the Grand Bahama Yacht Club, which costs 2.20 $/ft plus 10 dollars for electricity per night. We switched to the Flamingo Bay Marina, which is just around the corner, where they only charge 0.50 $/ft. They have got a pool, warm showers and friendly staff. Just send an e-mail in advance as they don’t have a lot of slips. You could even just anchor somewhere a bit further in. We met a cruising couple who stayed on anchor here for a week, without problems.
From Bahamas Chatter – Old Bahama Bay:
Although Hurricane Matthew hit Grand Bahama with a wallop, Old Bahama Bay Marina is able to accommodate travelling yachts. Electricity at the slips is not yet restored, but there is fuel, water, an excellent restaurant, and dockage at the reduced rate of $1/ft. The dockmaster brings Customs forms right to your slip, so clearing in is easy.