Day 1: Long Island
Long Island is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. Ideally our guests will arrive by private or charter plane, rather than make the crossing by yacht from Nassau. We anchor OLGA offshore from the Flying Fish Marina. It’s a funny thing; we never see any other superyachts here but many people spending big money to fly fish. This is a charming little marina, very friendly, easy to get in and out and really well protected. You see nurse sharks and other marine species found in the Exumas, and tons of turtles all the time. There is a stunning stretch of beach here.
Day 2: Eastern Jumentos
The first jump is the longest, 59 nautical miles from Long Island to the eastern point of Jumentos. Here we are only 50 or 60 miles from Cuba. The Jumento Cays are a rarely visited, beautiful group of islands rimming the southern edge of the 330-mile-long Great Bahama Bank in a hundred-mile arc. Only the southernmost island of the chain, Ragged Island, has about 40 inhabitants. There are several well-protected areas for mooring.
In the Exumas the water is shallow, but in Jumentos the water is very deep, so you can anchor very close to shore and be very well protected. There are reefs and coral heads everywhere on one side of the island and on the other the ocean floor drops from 700 feet to 7,000 feet, fantastic for fishing and diving. It’s the dream for the divers and fishermen to be that close, just a few hundred yards by tender. There are marlins, turtles, groupers, hammerheads and huge lobsters. We spend the first day here, fishing and diving in the morning and water sports after lunch.
Day 3: Water Cay
It’s only 20 miles to the next stop, Water Cay. Here guests are going to see the bank where you have three authentic blue holes. We anchor out in 20 feet of water and snorkel, or you can dive, and the holes are full of fish and marine life. People from Nassau now come here to pick up conchs because overfishing has left none close to Nassau. Here they are plentiful and Water Cay is also great for catching lobsters. It is easy to make our charter guests very happy here. We snorkel in the morning and catch 14 lobsters. Then we head for this pristine little beach. There is nobody here, no houses, and no yachts. Perfect for a lobster barbeque.
Day 4: Flamingo Cay
The next destination is just 9.5 miles and one of my favorite places. Flamingo Cay offers anchoring with total protection. Even in 20-knot winds the water in the bay is going to be flat. The island has an elevation of about 300 feet with lots of lush greenery. A powdery white sand beach rims the beautiful bay. We are all by ourselves. There is an old ferryboat sunken in seven to 12 feet of water that is great for snorkeling. It is the perfect distance to go with our guests from the beach to the boat and return to the beach. Chef Claire always makes a magnificent paella on this beach. This is also an amazing place for fishing because there are pinnacles that jut up from 7000 feet of water to just 26 feet. Here you are one hundred percent guaranteed to catch grouper and yellowtail because they like things that go up, so they live around the pinnacles. If guests want to catch really big grouper, anywhere from 30 to 80 pounds, we go out a little bit further and let the line drag down to 400 or 500 feet. We chum for yellowtail. When you know the area and know where to go the fishing is easy.
Today we cruise 28 nautical miles to another splendid spot, Buena Vista, again a well-protected area, although not as good as Flamingo because you are open to the north. We anchor in 11 feet and take the guests drift snorkeling along the wall. It takes about 45 minutes and is an ideal excursion, especially for children, because it is not tiring and islands on both sides make people feel safe. There is a small but stunning beach on the northwest side of the island. Divers enjoy the amazing reefs and coral heads and there is also a small yet marvelous beach. Nearby Nurse Cay is home to a lot of baby nurse sharks hiding in the rocks. It is really nice because the sharks are not deep and you can touch them and take pictures.
Day 6: Ragged Island
Ragged Island is part of the Jumentos Cays and Ragged Island Chain and lies about 20 miles from BuenaVista. In Duncan Town, the only settlement in the entire chain, most of the inhabitants are the direct descendants of the original settlers. These islanders rely heavily on the mail boat for transportation, freight and commerce. The island is renowned for great bone fishing and there are four or five of sunken fishing boats that provide interesting snorkeling. We like to go ashore for a walking tour of the island, which is culturally unique and distinguished from Nassau and the Exumas.
Ragged Island is located on the passage between the Bahamas and Cuba where currents from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean flow into the Gulf Stream. The amount of marine life here is astonishing. We ride the tender for 20 minutes to reach
Columbus Bank. There is a six-foot deep area that is surrounded by a depth of 60 feet, which then drops off to 4,000 feet. There are thousands of fish here including spectacular jumping tuna. South of Ragged are more sensational coral heads with a delightful sandbar in the center. Magalenese Bank is another great spot for deep-sea fishing.
This is an itinerary for families and friends that want to spend quality time together. There are no shops, no restaurants, no casinos and no bars. This is an unsurpassed charter itinerary for those interested in exploring nature and an environment that has changed little since Columbus sailed these same Caribbean bays.
Charter OLGA with Captain Bernard and enjoy a rare opportunity of discovery while living in absolute luxury.
Our Charter Experts Onboard SERENITY: A Beloved Charter Yacht and Crew
Autumn is the current theme on board SERENITY, and we are greeted with potentially dangerous Pumpkin Spiced Martini shots as we board the aft deck. Through the sliding glass doors the cocktail and coffee tables of the main saloon are laden with enticing appetizer platters of figs, goat cheese and prosciutto crostini, crab cakes with orange cranberry relish, mini beef wellingtons and many other delectables. The Chef, Jeff Ciucevich presents
temptations hard to resist, that somewhat belie his credo of “fresh and light cuisine with lots of veggies, fruits, seafood and local ingredients”.
SERENITY, a 116-foot Lazzara, is at once soothing and energetic, high spirited and harmonious. The décor brings in hues of the Caribbean Sea; woven into the gently undulating rug, echoed in the upholstery, 
accent pieces, and artwork. Guests feel at ease and at home everywhere on board. Notable features include an elegant bar with magnificent 
views in the main salon, a welcoming country kitchen with sunny skylight, and an open flybridge with protective hardtop and sizeable Jacuzzi. A floor plan designed for complete wheelchair accessibility makes circulation effortless. Modifications to this semi-custom design create an expansive swim platform and extra storage for a plethora of watersports toys and gear.
SERENITY accommodates up to ten guests in five staterooms but conversion options make this elegant yacht especially optimal for couples and charter families with children. One twin converts to a queen stateroom and also has two Pullman berths that are ideal for children. A removable wall between adjacent port and starboard staterooms reconfigures to become a second master stateroom or a suite perfectly suited to the nanny and children.
We have testimonials from guests who have actually been brought to tears of sadness when their charter draws to a close. SERENITY maintains a loyal repeat charter clientele for obvious reasons; she’s the quintessential charter yacht with the consummate crew. SERENITY is available for charter this winter in Florida and the Bahamas.
Here are helpful links for further information about SERENITY and Super Yacht and Luxury Yacht Charter.
Acclaimed Marine Artist Guy Harvey Collaborates to Produce Documentary Film of REEF Grouper Moon Project
Grouper are normally solitary and territorial, yet during the winter full moons grouper travel together to spawn. Wherever spawning aggregations sites have been recorded throughout the Caribbean fishermen have also aggregated, resulting in endangerment to the species and the present dormancy of one-third to one half of these sites.
In the winter of 2002, REEF launched the Grouper Moon Project in the Cayman Islands to observe the Nassau grouper spawning aggregation off the western tip of Little Cayman. Renowned marine artist and conservationist Dr. Guy Harvey, with videographer George Schellenger, joined the Grouper Moon Project team in 2011 to document ongoing research. They spent seven days in the field with scientists from REEF, the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment, and Oregon State University.
This September, their documentary “The Mystery of the Grouper Moon”, premiered at the Harquail Theatre on Grand Cayman. Inspired by his time underwater with the grouper, Dr. Harvey also created a painting of the aggregation that is featured on the documentary promotional poster. The original artwork will soon be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to REEF to support the Grouper Moon Project.
REEF is a non profit organization dedicated to grassroots marine conservation programs. REEF partners with dive shops, dive clubs, individuals, and other organizations worldwide.
For information on dive charters to destinations hosting REEF field stations please follow this informative link to Caribbean Yacht Charter.
Our Charter Experts On Board 121ft. OLGA: A Super Yacht with a Mission to Spoil! See OLGA at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, October 27-31
For discerning charter guests accustomed to unsurpassed seaworthiness and the finest level of formal service, OLGA will exceed expectations. Designed by Jack Sarin to deliver an enchanting yachting experience, every element about OLGA is thoughtful and inviting. OLGA`s interiors by Robin Rose combine a traditional tone with a contemporary flair. Elegant hard wood interiors of Sapele and Pomele Mahogany are complimented by upscale furnishings and first class amenities.
We started our tour aboard OLGA, a 121-foot Crescent motor yacht, in the spacious country kitchen where amazing aromas from the ovens of Claire, the Cordon Bleu Chef, wafted throughout the main deck. Sara, the talented Chief Stew, massage therapist, beautician, Mariachi singer and guitar player extraordinaire, busily served these enticing appetizers and greeted guests.
The VIP stateroom aboard OLGA is nicely positioned forward of the galley and 
romantically remote. The master suite and guest staterooms are located on the lower deck amidships. Adjacent to the master suite is a small cabin with upper and lower bunks, perfect for small children 
that need to stay within parental earshot. We are told that this cabin is rarely sold because, despite the fact that OLGA can accommodate 10 guests, they will not charter to more than eight guests so as to maintain an optimum level of service.
This is a great yacht for couples but also for families. Chef Claire and Captain Bernard are very family-oriented, in fact their son Rafael was home schooled and worked on board OLGA as a youth. He was apparently quite a heartthrob with the young ladies. (Now he’s turned 18 and has a real girlfriend in Montreal, so he’s staying
ashore.) Captain Bernard`s strict policy is not to hire any crew who do not smile. First mate Clem from St. Vincent displays an expansive grin. His cruise ship experience endowed him with the whimsical ability to create terry towel pets that are enjoyed by all.
Venture out on OLGA`s upper deck to find the water toys and a massage table, draped in luxurious white linens and strewn with orchids. The Chief Stew and the Second Stew are both licensed massage therapists and offer manicures and massages on an as available basis, depending on the 
demands of the charter.
OLGA is equipped for certified divers to scuba dive right off the yacht and the Captain knows where to find lobsters the size of a man`s forearm!
OLGA is a superb option for chartering in the Bahamas this winter with no delivery fee for 
week long charters. For fishing enthusiasts OLGA is available in tandem with AMBUSH, a 61′ 2009 Garlington Sportfishing Yacht that charters at an additional rate and can accommodate two guests.
During the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show OLGA will be available for viewing on the Face Dock at the Hall of Fame Marina.
Click here for information on chartering OLGA.
Also on display ar FLIBS:
DESTINATION FOX HARB’R TOO 161’ Trinity, Hall of Fame Marina – Face Dock, Slip 42
MISS MICHELLE 130’ Westport, Hall of Fame Marina – Face Dock
UNFORGETTABLE 100’ Inace, Hall of Fame Marina – Face Dock, Slip 45
TIGERS EYE 98’ Hargrave, Las Olas City Docks – A-Dock
Please follow this useful link for information about Super Yacht and Luxury Yacht Charter worldwide.
Super Docks for Superyachts in the Exumas at Staniel Cay Yacht Club
The island of Staniel Cay is nestled midway along the magnificent chain of Bahamian Islands called The Exumas Cays. This island is ideal for friends and families who enjoy boating, beaches, snorkeling, diving and fishing. Staniel Cay lies approximately 75 miles south of Nassau and 250 miles of southeast of Florida. The island itself is small and remote, less than 2 square miles in area. A tiny Bahamian village lies on the western shore a short walk south from the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.
The Staniel Cay Yacht Club offers berths for superyachts of up to 185 feet and has recently expanded and upgraded dock facilities with increased electrical supply and a dedicated fuel dock with high-speed pumps. Staniel Cay is a favorite destination for yacht charter guests wishing to explore the pristine Exumas, and remote locations such as the Plana Cays, renowned as one of the most spectacular regions for diving and fishing anywhere in the world.
Many yacht charter guests with personal aircraft utilize the airstrip on Staniel Cay. For yacht charter guests without private air transport, Watermakers Air, the airline of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, offers both private charter flights and a rate-per-seat for shared-charters departing from Fort Lauderdale executive Airport. Flights may clear customs in South or Central Andros making this a very convenient option for passengers destined for the southern islands in the Bahamas chain.
Please follow this informative link to view a Yacht Charter Guide to the Bahamas.
Here is a selection of extraordinary luxury crewed yachts for Bahamas Yacht Charter.