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Boating

New Providence Island

From Chub Cay -- one of the Berry Islands 35 mi north of New Providence -- to Nassau, the sailing route goes across the mile-deep Tongue of the Ocean. The Paradise Island Lighthouse welcomes yachters to Nassau Harbour, which is open at both ends. The harbor can handle the world's largest cruise liners; sometimes as many as eight tie up at one time. Two looming bridges bisect the harbor connecting Paradise Island to Nassau. Sailboats with masts taller than the high-water clearance of 72 feet must enter the harbor from the east end to reach marinas east of the bridges. On the Nassau side of the harbor, Nassau Yacht Haven (242/393-8173. www.nassauyachthaven.com) is a 150-berth marina -- the largest in the Bahamas -- that also arranges fishing charters. Brown's Boat Basin (242/393-3331), on the Nassau side, offers a place to tie up your boat, as well as on-site engine repairs. Nassau Harbour Club (242/393-0771) is a hotel and marina on the Nassau side with 50 slips. Sixty-five-slip Hurricane Hole Marina (242/363-3600) is on the Paradise Island side of the harbor. The marina at Atlantis, Paradise Island (242/363-3000) has 63 megayacht slips. At the western end of New Providence, Lyford Cay (242/362-4131), a posh development for the rich and famous, has an excellent marina, but there is limited availability for the humble masses.

If your children would enjoy sitting in a row on a rubber banana and bouncing along behind a motorboat, ride the big banana at Premier Watersports (242/324-1475; 242/427-0939 cellular), at the beach at the Sheraton Grand and Atlantis.

Grand Bahama Island

Grand Bahama Yacht Club at Lucayan Marina Village (Midshipman Rd., Port Lucaya. 242/373-8888. www.lucayanmarinavillage.com) offers complimentary ferry service to Port Lucaya; the marina has 150 slips accommodating boats up to 175 feet long, a fuel dock, customs and immigrations offices, swimming pools, and a bar and grill.

Old Bahama Bay (West End. 242/350-6500) has 72 slips to accommodate yachts up to 120 feet long. Facilities include a customs and immigration office, fuel, showers, laundry, and electric, cable, and water hookups.

Port Lucaya Marina (Port Lucaya Marketplace. 242/373-9090. www.portlucayamarina.com) offers a broad range of water sports, free wireless Internet access, and has 106 slips for vessels no longer than 190 feet. Customs and immigrations officials are on-site full-time.

Xanadu Beach Resort and Marina (Sunken Treasure Dr., Freeport. 242/352-6783 Ext. 1333) has 400 feet of dockage and 77 slips; it's an official port of entry.