Boat Harbour at Abaco Beach Resort

Boat Harbour in Marsh Harbour is a special place for us. We had visited the marina a number of times to either stock up, complete open water dives with Keith from Dive Abaco for my open water scuba certification, amongst other things. The most important reason why we hold Boat Harbour dear to us is because a number of families whom we had the privilege to meet made Boat Harbour their home base. Interestingly the ties with some of these folks began at our onset of our adventure at Sailfish Marina in Florida.

Brant and Elinor Vitek hailing from Virginia on Lazy Bones were docked across from us at Sailfish. As we settled in and prepared our boat to make the crossing for December 18th I often wondered if that couple on Lazy Bones were preparing as we were. One often hears that many boats stage at Lake Worth Inlet area prior to crossing. Fortune would have it that we actually began our friendship as we heard Lazy Bones on VHF 16 approximately 22 miles off West End. They kept on referring to us as the family on “Tad Pole”! A number of other vessels made their way across the Gulfstream that day too. Robert and Carolyn of Gypsy Common from Georgia, Les and Candy from Anejo, Rod and Lisa from Lucky Peek. We also met Phil and Trish Littman on Buoy N Sea who were the adventurers of the bunch. They worked hard getting the boat ready and completed their journey all the way to Turks and Caicos.

Upon our arrival at Boat Harbour in the beginning of January we were greated by Robert Wilson of Gypsy Common. We immediately became part of a cruising family known as the Royal Marsh Harbour Yacht Club. With Boat Harbour as its base we came to befriend many other long time cruisers of the central Abaco area. We met Patty and husband on Full Time, Walter and Maryanne on Downtime, Margo and Dennis on Wanderer.We met the Atherholts on Escape Velocity, who were to proceed around the world. We also met Chris and John and their 2 sons on Legal Limit, 40' Cabo who actually live in Noyak on the North Sea on Long Island.

One particular family-John, Elizabeth and Joey from Westport, CT were also spending 3 months in this area. Instead of staying on their boat this year, they decided to try something different. They rented a pink house - ”Rum Runner” - with beautiful bourgenvillas gracing its arbors. Joey and Jillian became particulary close and were often found in the pool, at the playground or at the beach together.


Joey and Jillian

During our last visit to Boat Harbour, we met another family from Westport, Ct who were staying on the Post sportfisher 'Bounty Hunter'- Elizabeth, John, Emily and Jessie. They were visiting the area for Feb break and that was one reason why we spent another enjoyable week at Boat Harbour. Normally Boat Harbour in January was realively quiet, but this week the place was alive. Jillian, Lex, Emily and Jessie were inseparable for the whole week-playing clubhouse, dancing, and swimming the whole week.


Lexie and Jessie


Jillian and Emily


Bar where Jillian and Lexie enjoyed many a strawberry dacqueri and pina colada. They also became experts at the 'ring toss'.

After saying our goodbyes in Boat Harbour we set our course North toward home. We have forged very fond memories, proving that it is the people not the place that make the difference ....