SPECIAL FOR SCA RESIDENTS ONLY



You can be here!

As noted in the November issue of the Relay insert in the SPIRIT, an invitation is extended to you, our fellow Sun City Anthem residents, to cruise in the Bahamas with us, paying expenses only, with no charter fees at all, for up to six days.

What does this really mean?  It means that profit is being taken out of the equation. Sun City guests will be expected to pay for expenses only.  Expenses include transportation from airport, provisioning, fuel, dockage, meals and beverages ashore, and extras such as land tours.  Expenses are between $100-150 per day per person depending on the activities chosen. Blue Tang can comfortably accommodate no more than 3 guests at a time.

WE ARE EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE. Guests on Blue Tang can choose either to do a lot  (going from island to island, snorkeling, fishing, taking land tours, visiting local markets, etc .)  OR to do almost nothing (taking a leisurely walk on the beach, reading on the aft deck, going on a picnic, taking a short ride in the dinghy, playing games, watching the sunset, etc).  So you see, expenses depend in part on your preferences and how you to prefer to spend your time. In any event we will do our utmost to ensure that you enjoy yourselves to the hilt.

To navigate this blogsite, you can click on almost any heading, and more information will come up.

Click on the Testimonials and you will see both photos and the words of other people who have cruised with us.

Click on the Photo of the boat for more info about Blue Tang. 

Only seven posts come up at a time, so in order to see more posts, at the bottom of any page, you can click on "OLDER POSTS" or "NEWER POSTS."  For the latest posts, click "HOME."

Click on About Us for a bit more info about your prospective hosts, who actually are just a fairly normal couple who are passionate about two things:  being on a boat and having a good time.  (Actually friends and family are right up there at the top too.)


PLEASE  CALL OR EMAIL US FOR MORE INFO!



George Town, Great Exuma -- The Destination

BLUE TANG anchored off Stocking Island

This anchorage is called Monument Beach because as you hike to the top of the mountain you come to a commemorative monument and a gorgeous view showing Exuma Sound looking down one side (as shown here looking toward Great Exuma Island) and looking toward the Atlantic on the other side.  Blue Tang is the second boat up, bottom left.  There are numerous anchorages such as this in the George Town area, accommodating over 400 boats during the cruising season.

Pathway on Hamburger Beach to Atlantic Ocean

Another popular anchorage is Hamburger Beach.  All kinds of cruisers' meetings take place here, from yoga exercises to happy hour get-togethers.  Of course there is a famous hamburger joint, which will be the subject of another post.  A 5-minute walk will get you from one side of Stocking Island to the other.  You can see that the beach is not crowded in spite of the numerous boats in the area, due to the vast spaces extending for miles.  This an inspiring place to walk and contemplate.

The glorious water brings boaters here year after year.

We never tire of looking at the water, but subsequent George Town posts will feature local architecture and personas, straw markets, and of course the beaches.

www.bluewatercharters.blogspot.com/2010/09/george-town-great-exuma-destination.html

Experiencing Nassau

The Tuckers outside famous hotel, downtown Nassau

Jim with new friends at same hotel in Nassau.

Holiday dinner at the Poop Deck Restaurant, Yacht Haven Marina, Nassau

A normal cruise ship experience doesn't do justice to Nassau.  There is incredible history here.  One of the most interesting things we never tire of is having a local driver take us all around the island, telling of his life there, where he lives, what he knows about the island, etc.  This is a great "windy weather day" experience when we can't go out on the water.

Nassau is very close to Rose Island and its beautiful snorkeling grounds where we often go on pretty days with a picnic lunch to spend the day.  And of course, no trip to Nassau is complete without a trip to Paradise Island, commercialized though it is.

Tom and Jingles on the way to Rose Island to snorkel

Bahamiam style buildings on Paradise Island viewed from nearby restaurant.

Our normal rates apply for all around Nassau/Rose Island cruising:  $400 for two people, with 2 meals per day onboard, accommodations in master cabin with queen bed and tub/shower, snorkeling and fishing gear, along with many extras.

Email yachtbluetang@yahoo.com for details.

Little Harbor and Royal Island



World-famous PETE'S PUB

As you are leaving the Abacos, the last port-of-call is usually Little Harbor. No one wants to miss the eclectic island decor at Pete's Pub, a portion of which is shown above, nor (believe it or not) the very excellent local cuisine there.

Gail and best buddy Decker out for exercise

Upon entering Royal Island harbor, Eleuthera island, we happily noted our good friends Dennis and Gail of the boat GADABAUT anchored nearby.  Gail is famous for her papaya shakes,  Dennis for his terrific mechanical skills, and Decker for his fishing enthusiasm.

                            Jim had  some luck catching dinner at Royal Island.

These stops are part of our island-hopping cruise between the Abacos and Nassau or  Eleuthera.  

Our usual charter rates apply:  $400 per day for two people, which includes 2 meals per day on board, accommodations in master cabin with queen bed and tub/shower, all fuel, dockage, anchoring costs, snorkeling and fishing gear, and all the extras.

Please contact yachtbluetang@yahoo.com to make plans to join us.  



Eleuthera & Spanish Wells

Lobster, lobster, and more lobster!

Easily the most unique Bahamian island is Spanish Wells.  Most of the lobster consumed in the U.S. comes from this island.  The lobster boats are not corporate; they are owned by small cooperatives of individuals who share both the ownership and labor.  In other words, as we understood it firsthand from a lobsterman, you cannot "get a job" on one of these lobster boats.  You buy into a boat, usually a boat that one of your relatives is already a part owner of, and you work that boat as well as own it, sharing the profits equally with the other owners.  For example, if there are 10 owners, the profits might be divided 11 ways, 1/11 to each of the owners and and last 1/11 for provision the boat for the next trip.  The lobsterman we spoke with was 25 years old and had been working on this boat for over 10 years.  This island is quite prosperous.

Nearly every home, school, church, and office building are decorated for the holidays.

   Quite a festive sight to behold!

Spanish Wells, located at the northern tip of Eleuthera, is a must-see island on the voyage from the Abacos to Nassau or any place further south.  A one-of-a-kind enchanting place, we could write an entire blog on this area alone.  November is a great time to be here, as their holiday decorations are already up, the lobstermen are home, and the residents are ready to celebrate!

We plan to visit Eleuthera and Spanish Wells December 1 - December 15 this season, exact dates depending on the weather of course.

Our usual charter rates apply:  $400 per day for two people, which includes 2 meals per day on board, accommodations in master cabin with queen bed and tub/shower, all fuel, dockage, anchoring costs, snorkeling and fishing gear, and much more.

Please contact yachtbluetang@yahoo.com to make plans to join us.  

Friendly guides for Paradise.

Jim, Maggie, Jingles


The consensus is:  "The Bahamas is as good as it gets." 

 And we love showing people the best of the Bahama Islands.  With over 15 years of experience boating and enjoying the many wonders of the islands, we are ready and eager to help you design a vacation you will always treasure.  Bob & Loretta,  Carolyn & Charles, and Tom & Kate, have generously provided accounts of their experiences with us.  (Just click on their names to see what they have to say.)

We offer you the opportunity for a guided, fun, captained charter, tailored to your interests, at affordable rates.  This season, beginning approximately January 15--May 15, we will be based in the Exuma chain, at Georgetown, Great Exuma.  However, we will be visiting numerous fantastic islands en route.  See "Cruising Packages" for information about places to join us along the way.

Jim is our coast-guard-licensed and very talented captain, who was a banker in what we boaters call  his "former life," but who has captained numerous vessels from 10-person ferries to 110-foot oil spill cleanup vessels. Maggie is the "mate" (who also has a captain's license), a former teacher/paralegal, but now strictly a people-pleaser who serves up those acclaimed meals.  Both captain and mate make it a point to seek out and organize fun experiences. And then there is our 10-pound, 7-year-old Maltese mix Jingles, who never met a person who didn't adore her.

Our boat, Blue Tang, is a very safe, comfortable home-away-from-home.

Please contact yachtbluetang@yahoo.com whenever you are ready to discuss your very own charter.

The Abaco Islands

The lighthouse on Elbow Cay, in the village of Hopetown, is an enduring symbol of the Abacos, and is viewed here from the idyllic anchorage.

The colorful foliage is lush in the Abacos, as this entrance to a quaint restaurant attests.

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at a beach bar on the ocean side of Elbow Cay with this delightful couple and wanted their photo to remember them by.

Cruising Suggestions:  The Abacos are fantastic in the summer and fall!  Green Turtle, Man-O-War, Guana, Elbow, Treasure, and Marsh Harbor--all these cays are close together and it is great fun to travel back and forth for the special events that are held at each one, such as the Barefoot Man concert on Guana Cay.

Guests may elect to island hop on Blue Tang from Grand Bahama (a day trip), or join us after we arrive in the Abacos.

Suggested fly-in and fly-out:  Marsh Harbor
Suggested length of Abacos cruising vacation:  5-7 days
Rate:  $400.00 per day for two people includes 2 meals per day on board, luxurious accommodations in master suite with queen bed & tub/shower, snorkeling and fishing gear, fuel, dockage, anchoring fees, and much more.

Please contact us at yachtbluetang@yahoo.com to design your personalized charter.

Pet safety, as well as human safety, comes first on Blue Tang.

Our adorable mascot Jingles, a maltese mix, loves cruising!  
Here she is on the flybridge of Blue Tang.

But she doesn't love swimming to shore!

Here she goes on her raft with Maggie propelling.

Grand Bahama Island

What we remember about this beach at Old Bahama Bay Resort is not only the exquisite beach but the excellent Pina Coladas!

Old Bahama Bay Resort is anything but old.  It has been gorgeously renovated, having been previously called Jack Tar's.  It is at the very tip of Grand Bahama Island known as West End. 

A view of the grounds, looking to the beach in the background.

We came for a day and stayed for a week, feeling that we had truly "arrived".



The marina at Old Bahama Bay Resort.

 This area is known for its  fantastic deep sea fishing.

We met pro golfer Robert Allenby at Old Bahama Bay when he was participating in a fishing tournament as we were passing through and enjoying the beach and the resort.

Cruising Suggestions:  If you do not care to make the Gulf Stream crossing aboard Blue Tang, you can fly into Freeport, Grand Bahama, where we
will meet you at the airport and begin your vacation to paradise!  After enjoying Old Bahama Bay and Grand Bahama, including Freeport, for as long as you want, you may either accompany us as we island hop down to the Abaco Islands or return back home from Freeport.

Rate:  $400 per day for two people, includes accommodations in luxurious guest cabin with queen bed and shower/tub, 2 delicious meals per day on board, fuel, dockage, snorkeling and fishing gear, anchorage fees, and much more.

Please contact yachtbluetang@yahoo.com to begin designing your personalized Grand Bahama vacation

"What fabulous times!"

 One of the joys of Bahamas cruising is meeting the Bahamian people.  Here guests Tom and Kate Tucker are shown with Pro Pinder, a prominent Nassau attorney whom they met at church on Christmas Eve.  The next day Pro brought his father & mother, who happens to be Sidney Poitier's sister, to Blue Tang for brunch.  It made the day especially memorable

Pro, Pro's mom, Maggie, Danielle (Pro's girlfriend), Tom (below), Kate, and Pro's father

Brunch that day consisted of bloody marys, fruit, bacon, chile relleno casserole, cheese grits, and rum cake

Here are the Tucker's words:

BLUE TANG CRUISES

We have been lucky enough to have had several cruises on the Blue Tang.

What fabulous times!  Great Food & Excellent Company.  Very knowledgeable about the Bahamas & Caribbean. They have all the charts and know how to navigate with them.  Jim is an extremely  able Skipper who can fix anything, & Maggie is a wonderful hostess. 

The 42 ft.Jefferson is a very safe & comfortable ship.

A cruise with them is a memorable lifetime experience.

Tom & Kate Tucker

"The most relaxed I have ever been."

Transparent aqua water, fluffy clouds, and cool breezes equal serenity.

Charles and Carolyn were with us in Georgetown, Great Exuma, and were mesmerized.  We are honored by their kind words:

Great Exuma on the Yacht Blue Tang 

We can't say enough good about our experience on the Yacht Blue Tang with Jim & Maggie Steele! We flew from Miami to Great Exuma (by way of Nassau) where we were picked up by Jim at the local airport in Georgetown. The car ride to the boat was interesting, as this was our first experience on the left side of the road. Our first glimpse of the harbor was breathtaking. The gorgeous turquoise water continued to take our breath away each morning when we awoke. I asked if they EVER reached the point of getting up and not having their mouths drop open when they saw the water!

The boat was wonderful as was the company! This couple is so knowledgeable about the Bahamaas and Caribbean--boating, fishing, local cuisine, culture, etc. We ate some fabulous food prepared by Maggie, who LOVES to cook and makes you feel that NOTHING is too much trouble.

We spent a week on the boat-reading, playing cards, snorkeling, touring the island of Great Exuma, eating conch fritters and other local cuisine in Georgetown, going to the little book exchange/library, exploring the little island offshore, enjoying eating/drinking/dancing at an outdoor restaurant/bar in Georgetown and attending a beach party for boaters, who are quite an interesting group of people. It was neat to hear all the stories of how they happened to be there. One day we went deep sea fishing and caught some fish too pretty to eat!

Most of the time we were anchored in the harbor and used the small motorized dingy to go to Georgetown, to other boats owned by friends, to the beach party, etc. The boat was large enough to get away from everyone when needed. Sometimes I would sit, stand or lie down on top of the boat for some quiet time and it seemed I was in a world all my own. There were several seating areas for enjoying coffee or drinks, as well as our own private bedroom and bathroom with tub-shower combination.

We are retired and have done a fair amount of travelling-but I have to say, the week spent on the boat with the Steeles was the most relaxed I have ever been. No worries, be happy!!!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Carolyn and Charles

"Peaceful Adventure"

 

This spectacular rainbow captured our attention as we cruised with Bob and Loretta down the Exuma island chain. 

We thoroughly enjoyed Bob and Loretta's company during this 10-day trip, and they agreed to share with you their impressions of their experience: 

Cruising with the Steeles on the Blue Tang

Simply delightful yachters and hosts! In 2000, we accompanied Captains Jim and Maggie Steele on their Blue Tang to the British Virgin Islands. Whether we were cruising toward St. John, Tortola or St. Thomas, or archored in the evening for a delicious dinner and sound sleep -- the Steeles were the perfect hosts.

In fact, their hospitality caused us to rejoin the veteran yachters again in 2007. This peaceful adventure took us from Nassau to various Bahamian cays as we ventured towards the magnificent Four Season's facilities at Emerald Bay. Wow! What a beautiful oceanside golf course.

As landlubbers , though frequent travelers, we always felt safe and secure when traveling with the Steeles. Captain Jim's navigational skills were always precise and timely. And, oh yes, Maggies' culinary skills and the couple's knowledge of excellent eateries, gorgeous beaches, and interesting sites were bonuses.

Bob & Loretta

Joplin, MO

Loretta, Maggie & Gail snorkeling in the lagoon at Compass Cay, Exumas

Bob contemplating life on Compass Cay

Jim and Bob posing on the amazing golf course at Emerald Bay, Great Exuma

Gulf Stream Crossing Cruise

After crossing the Gulf Stream, you are transported into the dazzling world of the Bahama Bank, where the shallow, turquoise water glistens as far as the eye can see.

The trip across the stream is a thrill.  It can originate from either Ft. Lauderdale or Palm Beach, FL, as you ride the current across to Grand Bahama Island.  The trip itself takes only several hours, depending on speed of both the boat and the current, arriving at the beautiful Old Bahama Bay Resort or Ocean Reef Club near Port Lucaya.

Suggested fly-in:  Ft. Lauderdale or Palm Beach
Suggested departure:  Freeport, Grand Bahama
Suggested length of your vacation:  5-7 days
Rate:  $400 per day for two people  (25% discount for a single or 25% increase for 3rd person), includes accommodations in luxurious guest cabin with queen bed and shower/tub, 2 delicious meals per day on board, fuel, snorkeling and fishing gear, and much more.

Please contact Maggie or Jim yachtbluetang@yahoo.com to design your Gulf Stream adventure.

Day & Sunset Cruises

What unique, enchanting sunset is waiting for you?

Besides island and harbor-hopping cruising, we welcome and enjoy chartering short trips suited to your interests.

Whether it's snorkeling in the afternoon sun above some of the world's most beautiful coral reefs, or soaking up the tranquility of the ocean as the sun goes down, we are happy to tailor a boating experience you will always remember and cherish.

Please contact maggie@yachtbluetang.com to begin designing your adventure.  Rates for a 3-hour cruise begin at $300.

This vivid sunset in Nassau captured our imaginations as it seemed encompass the whole sky with swirls of gold.

Just right for The Bahamas.

Blue Tang has proven to be just perfect for exploring the hidden pearls among the 700 islands of The Bahamas.

A 42-foot motor-yacht, with plenty of living and sight-seeing spaces, along with comfortable amenities for 4-5 people, it is a cozy, safe, and fun way to experience the islands.

                     Huge flybridge equals panoramic views

Spacious salon equals relaxation

 Teak woodwork equals beauty throughout

Elegant master cabin equals luxury

Cozy dinette seats five comfortably

Although these photos don't show it, Blue Tang is equipped with two heads (or bathrooms) with showers, a computer station with two laptops, as well as a flat screen TV with built-in DVD, an ice-maker and blender on the aft deck, and numerous books, cards, and games for your enjoyment.