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South End, Long Island, Southern Bahamas

The chart and following text are from The Southern Bahamas Guide by Stephen J. Pavlidis

South End

Southern tip of Long Island - ½ nm S of:
22º 50.35’ N, 74º 51.70’ W

Many vessels, mine included, if headed for Crooked Island and points south, sometimes opt to take the route in the lee of Long Island instead of the usual Conception-Rum-Mayaguana route so favored by those in a hurry.  I will usually leave George Town, pass through Hog Cay Cut, take Nuevitas Rocks to port, and anchor overnight in Dollar Harbour.  I leave the next morning and work my way southeastward in the lee of Long Island to anchor just north of South End.  Bear in mind that this is only to be done with a weather window of two days or more (although Dollar Harbour and French Wells are both good harbours in any wind, you will be completely exposed from south through west to just east of north at South End/Gordon’s Anchorage).  Allow one day to get to South End, one more day to get to French Wells at Crooked Island.  I have gone from Dollar Harbour, around South End, and on to French Wells in 12 hours but it is a trip of about 60 or so miles.  It may be easier for some skippers to break that down into two shorter legs. 

Sometimes I’ll go straight to Gordon’s Anchorage from Nueviatas Rocks and get there at about the same time as other boats who left at the same time I did arrived at Rum Cay.  At this point I’m about 50 miles south of their position even though we’ve both traveled about the same distance that day, however they are about one mile further east. 

Many fishing boats and Haitian vessels use South End as a waiting spot for good weather to cross the Crooked Island Passage, this is verified by the three wrecks along the shoreline.  If heading south from Dollar Harbour to South End you can always turn east to anchor in the lee of Long Island at any time.  In some places the shallows stretch out a mile to the west of the shore and you must always keep an eye out for the occasional head, never attempt this at night though.  A favorite spot is at Calloway Landing where there used to be a light.  Once, all sorts of sailing vessels from Nassau called here, now hardly anyone stops.    

Navigational Information
From Crooked Island or points south, A waypoint at 22º 50.35’ N, 74º 51.70’ W, will place you approximately ½ mile south of the southwest point of Long Island as shown on Chart LI-8.  From this position head northwest around the southwest tip of Long Island giving the shallow, very visible reef a good berth.  Once past the reef turn to starboard and tuck in behind the reef wherever your draft will allow.  This is called the Gordon’s Anchorage and is a good spot in northeast through southeast winds although you may get some roll from strong southeast seas bending around the reef which breaks most of these seas.  If that happens you’ll probably want to rig a bridle.

If you are approaching from the north, say from Dollar Harbour, head for the above mentioned waypoint and about a mile before you reach it you will see the long beach and anchorage off the southwest tip of Long Island.  If headed to this area from Dollar Harbour, keep a good watch out for Comer Rock, West Comer Rock, and Long Rocks lying about two miles west of Long Island and about half the distance from Dollar Harbour to South End. 

What You Will Find Ashore
There are some creeks in the area, just off the anchorage area and about 1½ miles north that are worth exploring.  The upper creek leads to Gordon’s and Mortimer’s.  For a description of what little is available see the earlier section Thompson’s Bay to South End.  If you dinghy into the long beach you will see a table ashore that the local fishermen use to clean their catch.  Just north of this table is the end of Long Island’s main road that runs from Cape Santa Maria all the way to Gordon’s.  A short walk will bring you to a couple of residences and you may be able to bum a ride north if someone is headed that way.

When you leave South End headed across the Crooked Island Passage, bear in mind that conditions may moderate once you get out a couple of miles or so.  Often the seas “hump” up on the southern end of Long Island sometimes creating a false sense of what sea conditions are really like in the Crooked Island Passage.
 

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