Athletics, the national sport
Track and field remains to this day the flagship sport of the Bahamas and the national sport. Bahamians are specialists in the sprint and jumping events (100, 200 and 400 meters, long jump, high jump and triple jump). In 2004, sprinter Tonique Williams-Darling won the gold medal at the Athens Olympics, and became world champion in the 400m the following year. She is the second individual Olympic gold medalist from the Bahamas after Pauline Davis-Thompson for her 200m at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the country won a silver medal in the 4x400m relay and bronze with Leevan Sands in the triple jump. In 2012 at the London Olympics, the 4x400m relay team won the only gold medal in the Bahamian record. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, it was athlete Shaunae Miller-Uibo who won Olympic gold in the 400 meters. She repeated this feat in Tokyo in 2021 for the postponed Olympics of 2020!
All sails out!
While the Bahamas is a mandatory stopover for cruise passengers, you can also enjoy on a private boat. For the archipelago is proving to be a real boater's dream. Everyone can sail to enjoy the clear waters with their own rhythm, deserted beaches, secluded anchorages, secret bays... Most boaters arrive in the Bahamas with their own boat. Marinas throughout the islands are very well equipped and have numerous berths. But you can rent a catamaran, sailboat or trimaran for periods ranging from a few hours to several weeks. It is also possible to hire a skipper and a hostess for your cruise. George Town (The Exumas) is renowned for welcoming yachtsmen from all over the world who come to spend the winter in the sun. Also noteworthy are the many themed cruises, which offer the opportunity to approach the archipelago from a very special angle. Diving, shark or dolphin cruises: the guarantee of an unforgettable stay.
Finally, numerous regattas are dotted around the Bahamian calendar, such as the George Town Cruising Regatta at the end of February, the National Family Island Regatta in April, the benchmark, with yachts built exclusively in the Bahamas, the Long Island Regatta at the end of June, and the North Eleuthera Sailing Regatta in mid-October. They are held on all the islands and attract yachtsmen from neighbouring islands and the United States.The fisherman's paradise
While the tradition of fishing has long been established in the Bahamas, Ernest Hemingway is no stranger to this reputation. The Bimini region, which he frequented, is indeed the setting of his famous novel The Old Man and the Sea, where an old Cuban fisherman named Santiago struggles with a huge marlin. And when it comes to fishing, the Bahamas can be described as an archipelago of all records! Here, legendary catches are legion and all types of fishing are practiced: subtle fly fishing in shallow waters, quiet inshore fishing, tonic deep-sea trolling, deep-sea trolling?
The islands most popular with fishermen are Andros, Bimini, Grand Bahama Island, the Berry Islands, and Les Abacos. In this region, the two channels of New Providence and Florida form a 3,000 m deep chasm characterized by an intense pelagic life. On many islands, the shallowness of theflats makes it possible to fish on foot, particularly in the Joulter Cays of the northern Abacos. Numerous competitions allow the finest lines and reels to compete.
Go out to sea. There are marinas on every island and in every marina there are boats for hire, well equipped for fishing with experienced captains at the helm who know the best spots. The experience of the skipper is the key to success. No difficulty in renting a boat. On the other hand, it is advisable to reserve your boat in advance. It is necessary to count approximately 500 US$ per day for one to four fishermen.
Grand Slam objective! Few lucky fishermen can boast of having successfully completed a Grand Slam. A mythical exploit in the world of big game fishing, it consists of catching in the same day a sailfish, a white marlin and a blue marlin.
Riding the wave
The Abacos, Eleuthera and Cat Island are the best places to go if you bring your surfboard, or if you plan to learn to surf on the spot: surfing can be practiced all year round, even if the ideal season is from September to March. The most experienced surfers will not hesitate to go away from the coast with a boat to take advantage of the exceptional waves offered by the coral reefs. But for those who prefer to keep an eye on the beach, Surfers Beach and James Point are the spots to be preferred on Eleuthera. On the Abacos, direction Hope Town, Garbanzos, Indicas and Rush Reef. On Great Guana Cay, place at Williwaw beach.
Take off in kitesurf mode
With its oceanic climate and lagoons as far as the eye can see, the Bahamas offers great opportunities for kiteboarding all year round. The Exumas are among the best spots in the archipelago. On this island of 365 cays, it is possible to organize your whole stay around kitesurfing: the school Exuma Kitesurfing offers complete packages with accommodation. On Cat Island, which is also very favorable to kitesurfing, the Greenwood Beach Resort offers lessons (in French!) and equipment rental. On San Salvador, the activity is within the Club Med Columbus IsleTrendy kayak and paddle
Ideal for navigating on the waves and along the coast, the kayak is an optimal solution for those who are new to the sea. There is no need for a thorough knowledge of the winds, nor any great need for know-how, it is a fun and often economical activity to practice alone, as a couple or with the family. For a little more challenge, opt for the stand-up paddle and test your balance; Rum Cay is one of our favourite spots for practicing this sport. Either equipment is available for loan or rental at almost all beach hotels in the Bahamas.
