Green Turtle Cay White Sound

Approach and Entrance

White Sound lies on the northwest side of Green Turtle Cay, accessible from the Sea of Abaco through a marked channel. The entrance is the deepest of Green Turtle Cay's three harbours, carrying four to six feet at mean low water depending on exact course and recent weather.

Approach from the west, identifying the entrance markers and favouring the center of the channel. The sound opens up inside with depths increasing once past the entrance. First-time visitors should enter on a rising tide and proceed slowly, watching depth sounder readings carefully. Local knowledge from the Abaco Cruisers Net or marina staff can help with current conditions.

Holding and Protection

White Sound offers excellent all-around protection once inside. The sound is nearly landlocked, providing shelter from wind in all directions. This makes it a favoured hurricane hole for vessels caught in the Northern Abacos during storm season.

Mooring balls are available and recommended, as the holding in the sound is reported to be poor due to grass and marl bottom. The Green Turtle Club maintains moorings, and Bluff House also offers balls for guests. Contact the marinas on VHF for availability before planning to anchor on your own tackle.

What's Ashore

The Green Turtle Club and Marina anchors the sound's facilities, offering fuel, water, ice, electricity, and full marina services. The club's restaurant and bar have hosted generations of cruisers with a reputation for gracious hospitality and excellent cuisine. Bluff House above the sound provides additional dining with panoramic views.

New Plymouth, the historic settlement on the cay's eastern side, is a short walk or golf cart ride from White Sound. The Albert Lowe Museum documents Loyalist history and Abaco boatbuilding traditions. Galleries, gift shops, and waterfront restaurants like Pineapples and McIntosh Restaurant fill the narrow lanes of this charming village.

Nearby Attractions

From White Sound, cruisers can explore all of Green Turtle Cay's treasures. The cay has multiple beaches, including the beautiful Coco Bay on the Atlantic side. Black Sound on the southern end provides an alternative anchorage, and Settlement Harbour offers direct access to New Plymouth.

No Name Cay with its swimming pigs lies just southeast of Green Turtle Cay, an easy morning excursion. Manjack Cay's stingrays and nature trails are four miles to the north. The cay's central position makes it an ideal base for exploring the Northern Abacos before heading to Great Sale Cay for Gulf Stream crossings.

Getting there

Green Turtle Cay lies approximately five nautical miles northeast of Treasure Cay and 25 miles northwest of Marsh Harbour. From the Sea of Abaco, approach White Sound from the west, identifying the entrance channel markers. The entrance carries four to six feet at low water. Enter on rising tide for extra cushion. Green Turtle Cay has ferry service from Treasure Cay for crew changes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I anchor in White Sound or do I need a mooring?

Moorings are strongly recommended. The bottom is primarily grass and marl with poor holding characteristics. Contact Green Turtle Club or Bluff House on VHF for mooring availability before arrival.

What is the minimum depth at White Sound entrance?

The entrance carries approximately four to six feet at mean low water, making it the deepest entrance of Green Turtle Cay's three harbours. Enter on a rising tide and proceed slowly while watching your depth sounder.

How do I get to New Plymouth from White Sound?

New Plymouth is about one mile from White Sound. You can walk the road in about twenty minutes, rent a golf cart from the marina, or dinghy around to Settlement Harbour for direct access to the village waterfront.