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Davis Channel, Powell Point, Eleuthera, Northern Bahamas

The following chart and text is from The Northern Bahamas Guide by Stephen J. Pavlidis

Powell Point

Powell Point - ¼ nm W of entrance to marina:
24º 50.23’ N, 76º 21.09’ W

Powell Point is a popular jumping off spot for cruisers bound for the Exumas and points south or those bound from Exuma northward along the shore of Eleuthera to Abaco.  Cape Eleuthera Marina is an excellent and inexpensive place to hang out and wait for weather and is a Port of Entry for The Bahamas, ask for the forms when you arrive.

Navigational Information
A waypoint at 24º 50.23’ N, 76º 21.09’ W, places you approximately ¼ mile west of the entrance to Cape Eleuthera Marina which sits almost ¼ mile south of Powell Point as shown on Chart EL-3.  The entrance is straightforward, simple, and deep, a draft of 12’ can enter here at low water (there is a hole at the entrance that I have sounded to a depth of 49’ that it is full of big fish awaiting the chance to offer themselves up to your dinner plate; there are some similar holes just off the beach lying south of the marina entrance).  To enter the marina pass between the entrance jetties and follow the water around to the south where the marina opens up.  There is an unlit range at the entrance on a bearing of approximately 90º but the entrance is so easy as to make the range unnecessary.  The fuel dock sits at the southeastern end of the harbour by the small bridge.  Cape Eleuthera Marina sells diesel, gas, and water and takes major credit cards. 

In late 1970, work began at Powell Point on the $35 million development that came to be called Cape Eleuthera.  Originally seen as a 20-year project it was originally owned by Avon Harbour Ltd. and included 5,000 half-acre residential lots, a hotel and marina complex, beach club, and a golf course.  Today a few condos and houses are privately owned, some on a time-share basis, and the rest of the facilities lie dormant.  More recently, construction began to make this marina the bustling place it was designed to be.  Now you’ll find Barracuda’s Beach Bar and the Bahama Coffee Company ashore while new power boxes and showers are found on all the docks.  The marina can handle 55 of trhe largest vessels with drafts to 12’ and offers a deli, baker, provsioner, market, spirits, ice, propane, and a business center with internet access.  This modern marina is a far cry from the days when Cape E was little more than a ghost town.  Well done!

Just south of the entrance to the marina is No Name Harbour as shown on Chart EL-3.  To enter take Chub Rock well to port and steer generally eastward staying in the deeper water between the shallow rocky bars to your port and starboard.  The entrance is not easily made out from Chub Rock, you’ll probably have to pick it out with the binoculars.  Once inside you can anchor well up any of the fingers, some of which have 13’-25’ in them with only 6’-7’ between the deeper parts.  No Name Harbour was dredged out by the owners of the Cape Eleuthera project and the harbor is in essence owned by them.  This means that they can charge to anchor here, the same rate as at the marina.  No Name Harbour offers excellent protection and could even be considered as a possible hurricane hole.  The only problem with the harbor is the fact that it is dredged out.  This creates some sheer rock walls and less than ideal holding.  The best spot in a hurricane would be in the upper northeastern finger.  Skippers will have to tie to trees and probably set an anchor or two ashore on the land to be secure in here and even then a major storm surge could decimate the place.  Bugs are definitely a problem here as at Cape Eleuthera Marina and Davis Harbour Marina.  Look for a lot of home construction here in the near future.

On the northeastern shore of the Cape Eleuthera property, east of Powell Point (Chart EL-3), are some dredged harbours that face north and east.  These have 7’-9’ of water inside but the entrance is guarded by shallows that restrict entry to vessels of less than 6’ and only at high tide.  I do not recommend anchoring in here and only mention them as alternatives.  I believe No Name Harbour and Cape Eleuthera Marina offer better protection, however, if there’s a place to hide from a storm, you need to know about it.

What You Will Find Ashore
Just inland from Powell Point is the community of Deep Creek.  Deep Creek sits on the edge of Deep Creek, which is definitely not that deep.  Initially hurt by the closing of the Cape Eleuthera resort, Deep Creekers now have a stable economy again.  If you want to visit Deep Creek, or any place in Eleuthera for that matter, you can call Friendly Bob on VHF ch. !6 (Bob rents cars and has a taxi service as well as a liquor store in Deep Creek). 

At the top of the hill as you come into town from Powell Point is Pinder’s Marine, a Yamaha dealer.  Here owner Trevor Pinder repairs outboard engines and has a nice supply of marine supplies and necessities and will deliver to Cape Eleuthera Marina and Davis Harbour Marina.  Next to Pinder’s is Hilltop Liquors.  At the bottom of the hill on the right is Shiril’s Restaurant with some of the best cracked conch you will find in The Bahamas.  Across the street from Shiril’s, in the concrete building with no sign, is Friendly Bob’s Liquor Store, Car Rental, and Taxi.  If you need a rental car, call Friendly Bob.  One of the hottest spots in town is Arthur’s (with satellite TV) at the top of the hill just off the main road.

Between Deep Creek and Rock Sound lies Green Castle, the largest and oldest of the communities on the southern end of the island.  Some of the inhabitants of Green Castle are the descendants of freed slaves from the Rock Sound and Gregory Town areas.  The name of the town comes from a house that looks like a castle and is painted green and yellow.  In town you’ll find Freddie’s Convenience Store, a Shell gas station, Brown’s Superior Food Store, Breeze’s Restaurant, a liquor store, and a BATELCO office. 

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