The Bahamas - Getting there and enjoying the islands

Elective Class | Available

Beginner
10/9/2025 (one day)
12:30 PM-3:45 PM EDT on Th

The Bahamas - Getting there and enjoying the islands

Elective Class | Available

Getting There - Are you preparing to cruise to the Bahamas for the first time? Can you properly calculate a Gulf Stream offset? What should you expect from grocery stores? What is proper dinghy etiquette? Do stores and restaurants take credit cards? Do you know how to find a doctor or a veterinarian?  What is the best way to get internet or cell service?

Enjoying Island Hopping while there -

Now there are over 700 islands waiting for you to decide where to go and what to do. After a month exploring the Abacos you get restless and start looking at points south—but when you check the charts for Little Harbour you grow a bit nervous, and it only gets worse when you hear horror stories of The Whale and Don’t Rock and Devil’s Backbone and Current Cut.

This class is for you, and John’s navigating strategies will help you no matter your direction of travel.

Take a bird’s-eye trip through the Bahamas, as you navigate from the Abacos to Eleuthera, Long Island, and Conception Island. Learn about Current Cut, Fleeming Channel, Devil’s Backbone, Cave Cay cut, and the Whale. Anchor inside Hogsty Reef and learn what you can expect in the Raggeds.

John will walk you through these questions and so many more in this fun, fast, and photo-intensive course.  Make your first Bahamas trip a success by learning how the seasoned traveler does it.

Herlig, John
John Herlig

After bringing the storied world cruiser Ave del Mar back to life, John started sailing the US east coast. In the years since, he has spent time sailing Haiti, Jamaica, the Bahamas from the Abacos down to Great Inagua, as well as the greater Caribbean from Guatemala to Grenada.

He is the creator of the “Handy VHF Reference” sold on Amazon as well as the online course “VHF Radios: Everything You Need To Know,” which helps new cruisers get prepared for radio basics and helps experienced boaters get more out of their radio’s advanced features.

As a published poet and magazine columnist, odds are you’ll find John writing when he isn’t on a sailboat delivery. His energetic storytelling combines with his love of sailing simple to create an entertaining and fast-paced classroom experience.