Alice Town and Hatchet Bay are 13 miles southeast of Harbour Island and 22 miles east of Current Island. Dramatic and bold, the entrance to Hatchet Bay can be intimidating, but the passage is deep, with 23-foot depths along its length. The formidable stone barrier in front of the harbor protects it from the south. Only very strong (think gale) west winds can get uncomfortable in the anchorage.

Start your initial approach to Hatchet Bay at waypoint 25 20.690N 76 29.609W. and then set a course of 25 degrees true for about .3 mile, which will run you right into Hatchet Bay. The anchorage inside is among the most well protected on Eleuthera, as it is enclosed for its entire length, sand the inlet on its western side.

Depths inside Hatchet bay average about seven to 25 feet with favored anchorage on the west wide. Ashore is a grocery store that also sells beer, wine and spirits, a place to buy water, a couple of good restaurants and a marine electric repair shop.

See our “Local Notices to Mariners” blog for updates on the latest conditions and advisories for this area.