Caribbean Tales - Bahamas Abaco Islands

Abaco
With an area of 650 sq. miles, this group of islands comprises 130 miles of landmass, 82 off-lying cays and 208 rocks in an emerald sea. Just under 200 miles east of Palm Beach, Florida, the off-shore cays lie east of Great Abaco Island. They provide a 100-mile-long protected cruising area unsurpassed perhaps in the western hemisphere. The Sea of Abaco is the 100 mile long protected body of water bordered by The Abacos' 85 miles of reef and 100 miles of cays on its Windward side and Great Abaco's mainland on its Leeward side.
The major islands of this small archipelago are:
Great Abaco. It has the largest protected deep water harbour in Abaco. Centrally located on Great Abaco's mainland about 23 miles south (about 18-20 miles "as the crow flies") of Treasure Cay, the commercial hub of the islands and third largest town in The Bahamas is Marsh Harbour, a hilly, seaside town. Northernmost of Great Abaco's main settlements, Coopers Town was originally settled in the 1870's by families from Grand Bahama (the Coopers) and Green Turtle Cay. In the early 1900's, Coopers Town produced pineapples and sponges. Even though the area was originally settled to grow and export produce, Coopers Town does not have a natural harbour. Treasure Cay, The Abacos' 2nd largest mainland settlement, not an island as its name would imply. Originally named as a result of a fleet of more than 15 Spanish treasure galleons that sank off its shores in the late 1500's.
Little Abaco.
The off-lying cays are:
Elbow Cay, less than five miles from Marsh Harbour, is approxmately 6 miles long and 1/4 mile wide. A magnificent barrier reef protects the long sandy beaches. The settlement on Elbow Cay is Hope Town, a small 18th century picturesque village built around a protected harbour, another Loyalist settlement, famed for its candy-striped lighthouse.
Lubbers Quarters Cay lies protected from the ocean swells in the Abaco Sound. Located between Marsh Harbor and Elbow Cay, approximately 3 miles south of Hopetown, it is 1 mile long and 1/2 mile wide. Nearby Tilloo Cut offers easy access to the ocean.
Gorda Cay.
Man-O-War Cay, a Loyalist settlement named after the bird, has always depended on shipbuilding for its livelihood. Most famous is Albury Brothers Boat Builders.
Fowl Cay, north side of Man-O-War Cay.
Green Turtle Cay, on the southern end is the village of New Plymouth, Loyalists who first settled the island. The southernmost point is The Bumps. The Bumps' water is "very thin", 1-2 feet at high tide - numerous exposed sand bars at low tide all around the point.
No Name Cay, about 10 boat-minutes south of the entrances to Green Turtle's White Sound, Black Sound or Settlement Creek.
Munjack Cay, about 30 boat-minutes north of Green Turtrle Cay, dotted with a half-dozen superb beaches and secluded coves. An almost unbroken string of deserted (with the exception of Green Turtle) cays extend from No Name Cay to Manjack Cay. Several safe anchorages can be found along this 10 mile stretch of islands.
Guana Cay, another Loyalist settlement who left Virginia and the Carolinas to settle in this remote place, often called 'the last spot of land before Africa'. Longest of the Abaco Cays, on the east side of the (Abaco) chain, stretches seven miles from tip to tip. The settlement stretches along the beach at the head of the palm-fringed Kidd's Cove, named after the pirate. Depending on weather conditions and the occasionally treacherous Whale Cay Passage, Guana is easily reached by small boat from Green Turtle Cay on the north (15 nautical miles) to Elbow Cay on the south (8 nautical miles).
Stranger's Cay.
Umbrella Cay.
Pelican Cay.
Walker's Cay, the northernmost island in The Bahamas.
The Abacos have a long history of providing refuge from hectic life in the States. It was at Carleton Point, Abaco's first settlement, that 600 Loyalist refugees fleeing the newly-independent United States settled in 1783. The islands have bred keen fishermen, boat builders and sail makers since they were first settled in the 17th and 18th centuries by immigrants from Great Britain and Loyalists fleeing a newly independent America. A warm, welcoming people, they are resourceful by nature, necessity having turned their hands as readily to construction as to crawfishing.