Cold fronts are a fact of life in the Bahamas. In the winter you can expect at least one cold front every ten days and they are often spaced even more closely together. 

Fronts have predictable patterns that begin with prevailing easterly trade winds that gradually clock through south and into the west as the front approaches. When the front passes there will be a rapid shift of wind into the northwest and then the north. As the front pulls away from the area the winds will clock through northeast and back into the east to start the cycle again.

The cycle of cold fronts that usually begins in early December and continues through to spring are what is referred to as the "Christmas Winds".

The strength of the winds during a cold front cycle will vary but it will be rare for winds to be less than 20 knots and often more than 25 knots during peak periods. Travel will be either impossible or very difficult during a cold front cycle, which means that boaters are often stuck in one place for extended periods. The other thing to keep in mind is that the number of locations in The Bahamas where there is all-round protection will be limited. We need to be prepared for either settling on limited protection, or being prepared to be crowded into the few anchorages that offer decent protection. 

To avoid being stuck for extended periods of time, the simple answer is to avoid travel between early December and late February. While it is absolutely possible to cruise during this period, and many do, experienced crews choose to travel outside of the period where the cold fronts are at their peak. Obviously if you have a timetable, or visitors who are on a timetable, avoidance may not be possible, but all other things being equal traveling outside of the period when the Christmas Winds are most prevalent will yield a more pleasant trip.