Hatchet Bay Yacht Charter: Protected Harbour, Caves & Central Eleuthera

Located on the western coast of Eleuthera near Alice Town, Hatchet Bay is one of the most protected yacht anchorages anywhere on the island. The almost landlocked harbour is entered through a narrow man-made cut in the limestone shoreline, creating an unusually calm refuge from the open waters of the Bight of Eleuthera.

Unlike Governor's Harbour or Harbour Island, Hatchet Bay is not primarily about resorts or polished waterfronts. Its appeal comes from secure anchoring, easy access to a small local settlement, and nearby natural attractions such as Hatchet Bay Cave, one of Eleuthera's most impressive underground systems.

For yacht guests cruising the western side of Eleuthera, Hatchet Bay also works exceptionally well as a weather refuge. The harbour's nearly complete protection makes it particularly valuable when stronger conditions are forecast, while its central position allows easy onward cruising toward Governor's Harbour to the south or Gregory Town and northern Eleuthera to the north.

Hatchet Bay is reached through a narrow artificial entrance cut through the limestone cliffs. The entrance is deep enough for many cruising yachts, but the confined width requires careful maneuvering and good awareness of opposing traffic. Recent cruising reports describe the entrance as roughly 100 feet wide.

Once inside, the basin opens dramatically and becomes much easier to navigate. Yachts should still use current charts, depth monitoring, and local knowledge, particularly close to shore where depths decrease quickly. The harbour itself is deep in the center, while shallower areas and dense turtle grass become more common toward the edges.

Hatchet Bay is widely regarded as one of the best-protected anchorages in Eleuthera, with near all-around shelter and depths generally around 10 to 20 feet across the principal anchoring area. This makes it especially useful when unsettled weather or strong winds make more exposed Eleuthera anchorages uncomfortable.

Holding can vary substantially because dense turtle grass covers large parts of the harbour. Anchors may skate over the grass unless they reach clear sand, so careful placement and a firm set are important. Most of the former public moorings are no longer present, although limited private moorings remain on the eastern side of the bay.

Hatchet Bay Harbour was originally created by cutting an entrance into a landlocked pond as part of the former Hatchet Bay Plantation, which operated a large cattle and agricultural project. Several distinctive concrete silos from that era still stand between Alice Town and Gregory Town and remain visible landmarks from both land and sea.

Nearby Hatchet Bay Cave stretches for around one mile, with chambers filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and centuries-old charcoal markings. The Bahamas tourism authority recommends exploring the cave with a guide, making it one of the most interesting shoreside excursions for yacht guests spending a night in the harbour.