Smith Bay Harbour

• Lat / Lon: N 24° 19.650' / W 075° 28.418'
• Depth: 10'-12'
• Tide: 2.5'-3.75'
• Description:

  Smith Bay is a surprisingly well-appointed harbour that is used by the mailboat and the other small freighters that service Cat Island. 

  The entrance to the harbour is marked by a lighted range and the government dock is large enough to handle 2-3 freighters at once. Except for the turning basin that is immediately in front of the concrete docks, there is very little room to anchor and the little bit of space that is available is usually taken up by local craft, leaving very little room for transient boaters. The remains of several sailboats that have dragged into the shallows are a poignant reminder of the dangers of short scoping to fit in too small a space.

  If there is space available, it is possible to tie up to the seawall north of the concrete roll on/ roll off ramp.

  N.B. The seawall is quite high and if you enter at low tide, it will require some gymnastics to climb up onto the dock.

  It is far safer to anchor just outside of the harbour and dinghy into either the government dock, or to one of the small restaurants and bars that are south of the sea wall.  The Bahamas Customs office is in the building on the north end of the dock and the Aliv cellphone store and the well-stocked Alvernia Supermarket are directly across the Queens Highway from the dock. On Fridays the dock is also the site of the Cat Island Farmers Market where crafts, baked goods and local produce may be purchased.

  Obviously, the anchorage should only be used in settled conditions as it is exposed in all directions except east.

  DISCLAIMER: Before committing to an anchorage, you should confirm that the location is not governed by a regulation that may conflict with your plans. An increasing number of states and municipalities are enacting laws that define where and how long you may anchor.