After more than a month of cleanup and restoration, Old Bahama Bay Resort & Yacht Harbour in the West End at hurricane-torn Grand Bahama has announced that its marina is back in service.
About 75 nm from Palm Beach, the marina is a destination for sport fishing enthusiasts and a way-station for Abacos-bound cruisers, who use the marina to clear into the country. Returning cruisers often shelter at the marina waiting for a weather window to cross the Gulf Stream.
In a statement, Old Bahama Bay president John MacDonald said on-site bars and restaurants were to have been reopened over the weekend. He said other amenities are expected to be online by Nov. 1.
“It has been a month that has truly shown the strength of our staff and stakeholders here at Old Bahama Bay. Everyone worked together to meet today’s goal,” McDonald said. “Old Bahama Bay has been ground zero for the distribution of humanitarian supplies. With over 1 million pounds (600 tons) of supplies being delivered and distributed throughout the islands, our organizational skills were put to task and I am proud to say that throughout all of this, we have shined.”
Basil Smith, executive director of the Association of Bahamas Marinas, said the Grand Bahama Yacht Club is also back in operation after repairs as well as the Bradford Marine shipyard at Freeport in Grand Bahama.
Smith’s organization has been working to promote marina availability in areas of the Bahamas unaffected by Hurricane Dorian, which severely damaged marinas in the Abacos, including Treasure Cay Beach Marina and Golf Resort, the Leeward Yacht Club and Marina, the Hope Town Inn and Marina, Bakers Bay Golf and Ocean Club and Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour.
Quoted in the Eyewitness News of the Bahamas, Smith said there was one exception. “To the south of Greater Abaco, the Abaco Club at Winding Bay experienced no or negligible hurricane damage,” he said. (It is) now operational and receiving electricity from the nearby power station.”
Meanwhile, Massachusetts cruising couple Greg and Susan Costa have provided an up-to-date guide of what is open and what is planned in the hurricane ravaged Abacos and thereabouts. Download their Abacos and Grand Bahama updates here.
