New Bight: Cat Island's Cruising Heart Beneath Mount Alvernia

New Bight is one of the most rewarding yacht charter stops on Cat Island, combining a broad sandy anchorage with easy access to the island's most famous landmark. Located on Cat Island's western coast, the settlement sits beneath Mount Alvernia, the highest point in The Bahamas, making it an ideal place to combine a relaxed day at anchor with one of the Southern Out Islands' most memorable shore excursions.

Rising 206 feet above sea level, Mount Alvernia dominates the landscape behind New Bight. At its summit stands The Hermitage, a small stone monastery built in 1939 by Father Jerome using local stone. Visitors follow a steep path and stone staircase past hand-carved Stations of the Cross before reaching panoramic views across Cat Island and the surrounding sea.

New Bight also offers more of a local atmosphere than many remote Cat Island anchorages. The beachfront Fish Fry is one of the best-known places on the island for Bahamian food, while New Bight Beach serves as a community gathering place and hosts the annual Cat Island Regatta. For yacht charter guests, this mix of good shore access, island culture and natural scenery makes New Bight one of the most complete stops on Cat Island.

New Bight occupies the northern portion of a large bay on the western side of Cat Island, with Old Bight extending farther south. The approach is relatively open, but the bay becomes shallow toward shore and deeper-draft yachts should remain farther offshore. Small coral heads can occur within the broader approach, so good daylight, current charts and careful monitoring of the depth sounder remain important when entering.

The most useful shore-access area lies between the Fish Fry and the Government Dock. The road leading toward Mount Alvernia begins directly opposite the dock, making this one of the most convenient anchorages on Cat Island for guests planning to hike to The Hermitage. There is no conventional full-service yacht marina in New Bight, so visiting yachts generally remain at anchor and use the tender to reach shore.

The principal New Bight anchorage lies along the shoreline between the Fish Fry area and the Government Dock. Waterway Guide reports typical depths of around six to seven feet with good holding in sand. There is plenty of swinging room within the wider bay, although yachts with deeper drafts should anchor farther offshore as the seabed gradually shoals toward the beach.

Protection is best from approximately northwest through east-southeast, while New Bight remains exposed to winds and swell arriving from the west and southwest. This makes it an excellent anchorage during settled easterly conditions but not an all-weather harbour. Tender access is straightforward near the beach and Government Dock, giving guests easy access to the Fish Fry, Mount Alvernia and the settlement.

New Bight is one of the main communities in central Cat Island and functions as a natural base for exploring the island's southern half. New Bight Airport is located nearby and welcomes international travelers with Customs and Immigration services, which can make the area particularly convenient for charter guest arrivals and departures.

The settlement is also closely tied to Cat Island's cultural life. New Bight Beach hosts community gatherings and the annual Cat Island Regatta, while the Fish Fry provides an easy introduction to local seafood and Bahamian cooking. Combined with Mount Alvernia and The Hermitage immediately inland, New Bight offers considerably more to explore ashore than its quiet coastline might initially suggest.