Blue water adventures
WTDN - Jan08
Blue water adventures
Fast and leisurely excursions for all
Getting out on the water is surely one of the best ways to enjoy The Bahamas. As an island nation, water is the focal point of life, providing food, transportation nd fun! There are many ways to enjoy our warm, turquoise H2O. One of the most popular is to take a full- or half-day excursion and there's a superb trio to choose from.
One exciting excursion is a three-hour trip out to deep water aboard one of two 76-fot racing yachts operated by Sail Nassau.
These multi-million-dollar racing machines, NZL 10 and NZL 12, were formerly Team New Zealand America's Cup yachts, which competed in San Diego, California, and Auckland, New Zealand. Now they're at home in Nassa, ready to give you a thrilling half-day of sailing.
Participation is welcomed but not required. You're encouraged to take the helm, work the grinders to trim the sails, or just sit back and enjoy the race.
The trip begins at the Paradise Island FerryTerminal where you'll meet the crew who will explain the safety and operational features of sailing America's Cup yachts.
Then it's off to the yachts where you will meet your skipper, either Tom Jarrold or Steve Harrison. Once out in the deep water off Pradise Island, you will find yourself in a real race around a set course.
"You feel the boat heel over and the power of the wind is phenomenal," says Simon Cobb, a visitor from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. "You feel like you're going a hundred miles an hour."
"I'd go back again in a heartbeat," says Eileen Leggett, from South Hampton, England. "It's really a lot of fun and great for photography."
Safely back on the Ferry Terminal, you can buy photos and videos of your trip to show friends and family back home
Sail to a tropic isle
For a relaxing half day of sun, sea and snorkelling, climb aboard the sleek Flying Cloud catamaran. With half-day, evening, Sunday and dinner cruises, there are plenty of options from which to choose. Captain Craig pilots the speed, comfortable sailing catamaran from the Ferry Terminal on Paradise Island twice a day.
The tour takes you on a leisurely trip through Nassau Harbour out to nearby Rose Island. Along the way you'll see the beautiful island made famous in the sixties TV cmedy series Gilligan's Island.
Once anchored at Rose Island, the helpful crew will assist you in donning masks, snorkels and fins. Drifting over a colourful reef, you'll be astounded by the marine life. You'll have ample time to enjoy this magical marin spectacle, but be sure not to touch the coral!
Your need for speed
For those who thrill to the power of a high-performance engine, Island World Adventures will give you just the ride you're looking for.
This excursion company, with its two, 45-foot, tin-engine speedboats will give you a full day of thrilling speed and idyllic relaxation. Each boat is powered by twin 420HP turbo-charged diesel engines and can reach speeds of up to 45mph. Your destination is Saddleback Cay, 40 miles away. Take a camera ecause, among other things, you might spot a pod of wild dolphins cavorting.
Saddleback is an exquisite location in the northern Exumas, perfect for a day of relaxing in the sun, swimming in ultra-clear water and unwinding on one of seven pristine beache. Included in the price is the boat ride; lunch; a fully stocked bar, including wine, beer, spirits, rum punch and soft drinks; snorkeling gear; and guided tours and transfers to and from your hotel.
Make sure to pack your swimming gear (including a towe), sun screen, your own snorkelling gear if you'd prefer it, and some warm clothes for the trip home.
You can swim out to an isolated sand bar or take a leisurely stroll, gathering sea shells as you explore the coastline. You might see grouper, conch an migrating turtles.
After a tasty lunch, you can feed your leftovers to fish, including sharks and needle-nosed houndfish, from platforms overlooking the shoreline.
In the shallows, a crew member will summon sharks and stingrays to your feet. You may aso see barracudas and
an array of tropical fish so close you can touch them.
Before heading back to Paradise Island, the tour will take you to Leaf Cay, one of the few places in The Bahamas where you can still see and feed scores of prehistoric looking guanas.
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