Port Howe - General Info
Description:
This island is probably one of the less developed islands of the Bahamas chain and is worth a visit for that very reason. The highest point of the archipelago is on this island at 206 ft with a famous landmark and well worth the climb to the top. Cat Island is not a sophisticated island so don’t expect to re-provision except for local products.
Port Howe is an old mail boat port on the southern coast of the island. It ceased to be used as a port when roads linking the various settlement were built 50 years ago.
It is the site of the Deveaux Plantation, which was once the scene of splendour and luxury. Today, it lies in ruins. It was the home of Colonel Andrew Deveaux, who settled with his family and slaves on Cat Island in the 18th century. It’s worth seeing to experience the local history and the spectacular setting.
Position:
24° 09’18″N, 75° 19’57″W (anchorage)
Read and Post Related Comments
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Clearance
Related to following destinations: Bahamas, Cat Island, Port Howe
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Bahamas
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
Taken from the blog of SV Pas de Deux: http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/pas_de_deux/1/tpod.html
To enter Reef Harbour at Port Howe, set up a virtual range between reef entry waypoint 24*08.773 N /075*21.347 W and the single-story house with a red roof on the beach ahead. This will result in a bearing of approximately 10* magnetic. In good light, you’ll see the reef opening, which is quite wide. Turn east after entering the lagoon, but favour the reef side. Shallows extend far from shore and should be well depicted on your charts. We observed a new moon tidal range of over three feet here.
Along with this course inward we always had at least 25′ MLW. In minutes, however, you will find yourself in an expansive area of good holding sand where the depths will decrease to 12 ft and you will want to be thinking about where to anchor as you continue your approach in good light to avoid an occasional shallow coral head along the way. We anchored in 6 feet MLW on an expansive sand bottom near the private moorings directly off from “town” with the conspicuous ruins of the Deveaux Plantation and a concrete boat ramp nearby.
But this places you only about 200 yards inside the outer reef and subject to swells at high tide (we had no wind-driven chop with less than 10 knots true wind during our stay). It might be slightly calmer to anchor a bit further west (not directly in front of town) and closer to the first of two private moorings you will readily see in this harbour.
This would place you closer to the only place we would recommend taking a dinghy toward shore where a beachfront remains fairly accessible at low tide and near the road we described above, just to the west of a blue-roofed stone house with carport (and probably lots of large fishing floats hanging from nearby trees).
Above the crest of the beach, the road will lead to a mustard-coloured house (it has an adjacent patio with a green thatched roof) just northwest of the beach stone house. Do not expect to anchor very close in. This anchorage should be very good in a norther.