Accommodation

The Delphi Club overlooks an idyllic beach called Rolling Harbour on the east coast of Great Abaco, about half an hour south of Marsh Harbour.

Secluded, tranquil and surrounded by dense vegetation, the Lodge stands some fifty feet above sea level and offers panoramic views over the Atlantic.

The Great Room at the centre of the house features an enormous dining table (which can seat twenty-four people), a discreet honesty bar, abundant comfortable seating and, again, stunning views from its many glass doors. With fine antiques and an overhead gallery full of fishing paraphernalia, the Great Room is full of character and atmosphere.

The adjacent library is well-stocked with a wide choice of books and features (with some reluctance) the Lodge’s only TV in case of sporting emergencies or global financial melt-down.

Six of the Club’s eight bedrooms are on the ground floor. There are two more on the third floor. All have lovely ocean views and there is a choice of super-kingsize beds or queensize twins.

Outside, the landscaped gardens feature bougainvillea, frangipani, oleander, hibiscus, ficus and a wide variety of palms and other shrubs. There’s an attractive infinity pool and patio with comfortable sun loungers.

The Club’s food is some of the best in the Bahamas. The head chef has worked in several top restaurants in Europe and the Caribbean. His food is simple, fresh and delicious, making optimal use of local ingredients. And the Lodge has an exceptional wine list that is very fairly priced.

The general manager of the Delphi Club is Max Woolnough, who has spent more than a decade in the hospitality industry. He is also a fanatical angler with extensive experience of flyfishing around the world.

The Lodge is run in the style of a country house party, where the characters change from time to time. Everyone generally eats together at one big table from a set menu, with limited choices. There are no bell hops or room service – it’s just a relaxed gathering of kindred spirits in a spectacular location with the best of everything.

The Club is also popular with family or corporate groups wanting to take the whole lodge for a private but fully catered house party, perhaps to mark a special occasion. This can be a remarkably inexpensive option for a group of 12 to 16 people.

Due to its highly secluded location (it can only be accessed by a mile-long forest laneway and there is only one other house within a one mile radius), the Club is also an ideal hideaway for those wishing to escape the glare of public life. The small staff is reliable and discreet.

Sporting

The Bahamas are the bonefishing capital of the world.

The fishing on Abaco is of top quality and far less crowded than on the better-known island of Andros. The famous Marls on the west side of the island offer over 200 square miles of first-class bonefishing flats which also give anglers an occasional shot at permit and tarpon in the summer. On the east side the sandy flats at Cherokee Sound provide more great bonefishing options, including some gorgeous white-sand wading flats.

Whether wading alone on the flats, paddling a kayak or poling gently through the mangroves in a guided skiff, fishermen will enjoy many opportunities to cast to these most powerful but stealthy of fish.

The Delphi Club’s guides are all experienced professionals and there will be few excuses for anglers not nailing a handful of bonefish from two or three pounds and up. While blank days can happen (in cloudy or windy conditions spotting the fish can be tricky), the bonefish are always there, year-round and feeding. And unsuitable weather rarely lasts for long.

The excitement and anticipation of bonefishing has no equal in the flyfishing world. Stalking these spooky fish in beautiful shallow waters, casting delicately to a cruising shadow and then trembling with tension as the reel screams out line to a fantastically powerful five-pounder is one of the most complete fishing experiences.

And visually bonefishing is a glorious enterprise, with diverse wildlife on the flats, stunning colours and frequently exquisite weather. Even if the fish are moody and disinclined to play, the whole experience of being out on the water, far away from civilisation, is deeply rewarding.

Bonefishing is a year-round activity, although it is generally best in good sunny weather, with not too much wind, when visibility is optimal. The Bahamas has a very benign climate throughout the year, with average monthly low/high temperatures ranging between 65 and 88 degrees farenheit.

As with any fishing, one can be unlucky with the weather for a few days, but cool, overcast or windy spells rarely last long in the Bahamas. Difficult weeks are possible, especially in the winter, and there are occasional hurricane threats in the summer. But for the great majority of the time the conditions for bonefishing are good or excellent

Activities

Conventional wisdom suggests that fishing lodges offer little to do apart from fishing. In the context of Abaco and the Delphi Club, that is complete bunkum. Abaco is one big unspoilt wilderness, with pristine seascapes, virgin forests, a fascinating history, tremendous wild life and a vibrant colonial heritage. It is unspoilt by mass tourism and yet it’s a thoroughly civilised island with good infrastructure, plentiful air links, friendly people and a wide variety of activities for the restless, the curious and the bone idle.

The Club was designed to be one of the world’s great fishing lodges. But from the outset it also aimed to please the non-fishing fraternity just as much, with its emphasis on superb food, a beautiful location and a wide-range of options for passing the time on this most charming and cosmopolitan of the Bahamian islands.

FOR THE RESTLESS
• Scuba diving over wonderful reefs*
• 2-mile jogging circuit through the woods
• 1.5-mile beach walk
• Guided snorkeling trips*
• Body-boarding on the Club beach
• Sea kayaks on the Club beach
• Golf at Treasure Cay and maybe Winding Bay*

FOR THE CURIOUS
• Boat charters to the colonial settlements on the outer cays*
• Ferry trips to Hope Town or Green Turtle Cay*
• Day trips to the famous beach at Treasure Cay for lunch at Treasure Sands
• Guided birding nature tours by minivan (limited walking)*
• Shopping and lunch in Marsh Harbour
• Scuba lessons*
• Birdwatching – everywhere
• Snorkelling off the Club beach
• Private sailboat and powerboat charters*
• Offshore sportfishing charters*
• Private flyfishing tuition (if you can’t beat them….)*
• Self-drive trips in the Club car

FOR THE IDLE

• Lunch at Pete’s Beach Bar & Gallery (30 mins)
• Lounging by the pool (heated when necessary)
• Massage in your room by a brilliant masseuse*
• A very well-stocked & eclectic library
• Miles of beachcombing on beautiful sandy beaches
• Multi-channel satellite TV in the library
• Universal free wi-fi and guest computer/printer
• Sun beds on the all-but-private beach

…and there’s a very well-stocked bar & wine cellar

* Extra charges will apply and some activities/trips may be subject to sea conditions, but all recommended external activity providers are quality professional operators.

Property location