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Reviews: Hatchet Bay
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Andrew, Magic Dragon, on Mar 10, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 5.5'Overall Rating:4Holding:4Wind Protection:5Current Flow:4Wake Protection:4Scenic Beauty:4Ease of Shopping:1Shore Access:4Pet Friendly:2Cell Service:3WiFi:1Hatchet Bay is a spectacularly protected harbor on any wind. The middle of the bay is fairly deep (25-30ft) but it shallows up quickly when making your way to the shore. If you carry enough rode, the deep portions offer great holding and some distance to other boats on anchor. if you need shallower water, look for 10-14 ft of depth as the grass is thinner there. Both the east and west sides of the bay offer good protection, but if anchoring in the east side take care to stay out of the working boat channel.
Farrington's Boat Haven is a must for lively entertainment and a good deal on food. As of 2024, a big fried chicken sandwich and fries (both are delicious) costs $12 USD - a steal of a price in the Bahamas.
Shore access is available at Farrington's, the government dock, and at an abandoned boat ramp to the west of the boat yard. Sweetings Pond is barely a mile from the old boat ramp and laundry is .5 miles.
The biggest draw back to this harbor is the lack of pet access. In town there are lots of dogs of various levels of aggression roaming the streets. You can also take them ashore at the abandoned boat ramp, but we have seen stray dogs in that area too. just make sure to be alert and use common sense when taking your pets to shore.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Sandy Paige, Kennebec, on Jan 26, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 46'
Draft: 6.5'Overall Rating:4Holding:4Wind Protection:5Current Flow:1Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:3Ease of Shopping:4Shore Access:4Pet Friendly:4WiFi:1We found good, viscous mud in 2 anchorings in the cut to starboard and short of the two moorings.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Jason Spitz, Breathe, on Dec 31, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:3Ease of Shopping:5Shore Access:5Pet Friendly:5Cell Service:5WiFi:1We just spent another 10 days in Hatchet Bay. Some cruisers miss all the things Hatchet Bay has to offer and go on to other prettier anchorages and settlements, but Hatchet Bay truly epitomizes Bahamian culture and life. The people are super friendly. Try the restaurants at Boaters Haven, Beach Pot, BJs Sports Bar, and Twin Brothers. You can have three larger meals, that taste as good or better, for the same price as what you'll find in Governors Harbor. Sure it won't be as fancy, but we sure enjoy it. Happy hour is usually 3 beers for $10 and normal $4 beers.
Don't miss Hatchet Bay Caves, Sweetings Pond, $2 ice cream at the laundry - and $3 wash and $4 dryers.
The beach on the Atlantic is beautiful and Hatchet Bay beach is fun to walk to. Interesting cemetery at the end of the beach.
It's more than a place to be stuck! Oh, and turtles frequent the anchorage.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Tom Allison on Dec 14, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:4Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:3Shore Access:4Cell Service:5We are back after a few weeks and came to ride out four days of predicted winds in the high twenties with gusts in the low to mid-thirties. Twice we have had to reset the anchor as the bottom has given way. Significant muck balls have come up with the anchor. Clearing the anchor and resetting in these conditions is unpleasant at best. Now unfortunately we are anchored over what is probably an old mooring anchor and every time we swing over it the depth alarm is activated. This all said five other boats seem to be holding well.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Tom Allison on Nov 27, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 45'
Draft: 5.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:3Shore Access:4Cell Service:5The deep entry to Hatched Bay is narrow, right around 100 feet wide, so dropped our sails before entering. November is off season, and we were the only transient boat, thus plenty of room to anchor. We decided to anchor north of the entrance. It took a bit to get the anchor to bite in 12 feet of water, but once it did, we held firm. The weather was mild.
Going to shore we used the public dock adjacent to Boater's Haven Bar and Grill in Alice Town. Emmit, the owner graciously welcomed us. Dinner at Twin Brothers was relaxed and very good. Drinks on shore were a touch on the spendy side compared to other places we have visited. According to the locals, there are 12 liquor stores and seven churches. Alice town has many small shops and businesses that may or may not be open. Overall, a fun place to walk around.
We were not able to rent a car. Hatchet Bay Cave and Seahorse National Park were a far enough distance we didn't feel comfortable walking. The Queens Highway can be a bit scary as a pedestrian.
One last note. Sound does carry across the bay. The Catholic church in town was having an event the night we arrived, and we heard everything. Sunday night was most peaceful.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Eric Ramsey, SunBums, on Mar 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'Overall Rating:4Holding:4Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:3Ease of Shopping:4Shore Access:4Great stop to be able visit Hatchet Bay Caves and Sweetings Seahorse Pond. Good grocery store in town. Only negative is the restaurant on the water plays very loud music at night.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Christine Rodway on Mar 3, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.5'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:1Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:5Ease of Shopping:5Shore Access:5Pet Friendly:5Cell Service:5WiFi:5Great anchorage and for those who don't know, there is a laundry mat called Miracle Washer just outside of Hatchet Bay. You can do it yourself or Drop Off Service. It's about a 15 minute walk from the Government Dock. Walk towards Gregory Town and look for orange and grey building on East side. They are open every day from 8AM - 8PM and also offer snacks, ice cream and drinks. Great place.
View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: George Hefner, TwoFish, on Jan 17, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 44'
Draft: 5.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:4Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:2Ease of Shopping:4Shore Access:3Pet Friendly:3Cell Service:4WiFi:4Lot of activities for the cruiser. In order of best to least.
Eleuthera Pineapple Farm was a entertaining and very "local". Russell gave our group of 12 a wonderful tour and a bit of history on the pineapple industry.
Emmette Farrington….a wonderful personality and he is wonderful ambassador. We ate, drank and chatted with the very kind folks of Alicetown.
Alicetown. Expect to wave a lot. Expect the local children to engage you.
Organic Farm is a beautifully landscaped nursery and local store.
The caves are a good distraction. Graffiti is a shame, but it is still a good time.
FOOD
The Front Porch is a 5 star foodies spot. The well done menu and ambiance. Pricey but you will not find a place like this back home. We indulged and enjoyed.
Twin Brothers is a solid menu of good food.
Holding was excellent in a blow that started West and ended up 36 hours later from the North. Sustained winds of 25+ and gust of 32+. I would not trust any of the moorings.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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Review for Hatchet Bay
Reviewed by: Jason Spitz, Breathe, on Jan 6, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'Overall Rating:5Holding:5Wind Protection:5Current Flow:5Wake Protection:5Scenic Beauty:3Ease of Shopping:5Shore Access:5Pet Friendly:5Cell Service:5Hatchet Bay provides excellent protection for all winds and is a great bad weather hole. Anchor in North or South ends of the bay. Just stay out of the channel to the main govt dock as several large freight and ferries come in weekly.
Farrington's Boater Haven in the South end has a beautiful well constructed dinghy dock. Everette and his family will make you feel welcome. Sit for a beer and Everette will likely pull out his guitar and play you some of his original Bahamian songs. He also has a small convenience store and you can leave your trash for $3 a bag. Please support Everette if you use his facilities. He's super nice and a big supporter of the cruiser community.
A newer boatyard has opened and has a 80 ton travel lift which they are building a basin for. They pull larger boats with a pulley system and huge inflatable rollers.
The Beach Pot restaurant is a short walk and has wonderful food and incredible views from their beachside picnic tables. Walk across the street to the bar for some beer.
Don't miss Sweetings Pond, where you'll find seahorses, nudibranchs, octopi, and many other sea creatures. And Hatchet Bay caves are pretty awesome.
Check out some of our posts to get a small taste:
Everette playing guitar
https://fb.watch/hUHfgmUBud/
Caves
https://www.facebook.com/100063618668322/posts/pfbid02Vfh9xeu2Z5kHEzpmuwZtfzckXU2cLZq3PUyFoEYYsxLvciVfLHiGMjH8uxay6H53l/
Sweeting's Pond
https://www.facebook.com/100063618668322/posts/pfbid02UkqQgZc7DsJ7xFvUCMSLScpKF1nqJ4nUWLzRzU6VqbmPgQ1rWa3oGFzz6NXHcoQRl/View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer
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