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The Sister Islands are part of the Cayman Islands. They are located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica. Approximately 85 miles east by northeast from Grand Cayman is Little Cayman and about 20 miles further Cayman Brac. There is much to see in what is called the Sister Islands but they are rarely visited by cruising sailors. They are the lost islands of the Caribbean. As a result you will find them pristine in every respect.

The best time to visit them, for a cruising sailor, is from mid March through June. This because they are affected by northers coming down from the states during the winter months.
Because the current flows westwards in the Caribbean and the prevailing wind is easterly, the trip to the Cayman Islands from any port east of them is usually good sailing. Add to this that you will be sailing under the lee of Hispaniola and Cuba and you should encounter excellent sailing conditions.
The Cayman Islands (pronounced CAY MON and not Cay Man) are part of the British Overseas Territory and thus part of Great Britain.

There is certainly an undertone of English culture; however due to their proximity to the United States, the American Influence is strongest in many ways. Because there were no sugar plantations on the islands, there was no slavery and as a result the population of the island, while diverse, lives without acrimony. You will find people to be extremely civil and very helpful.
What makes a trip to the Sister Islands valuable and desirable is that they are untouched and they are very safe. Add to this the fact that they have some of the best (if not the best) snorkeling and scuba diving in the Caribbean, white sand beaches, nature preserves and rock climbing and you have to wonder why they have been overlooked. Essentially the entire northwest Caribbean has been overlooked and thus these being the smallest of the islands in that sector, it is not remarkable that they have been missed.

CAYMAN BRAC Lat 19 46.0 N Long 79 44.4 W
( 1 mile off NE corner~Booby Point)

Brac is Gaelic for the English word bluff. It was given by Scottish fishermen who settled on the island in the 17th century because the northeast tip of the island has an enormous bluff. There are less than 2,000 people living on the island and the people who live there are called “Brackers.” The island measures approximately 14 miles long by an average of 2 miles wide.
You will find the local populace so friendly that you
may think they all drink something that makes them that way. They are affable, social and civil and if we could export their social behavior to
different parts of the world, we would have a monopoly on a scarce
commodity.
The bluff rises out of the sea almost 50 meters and is quite imposing.
There are many limestone caves and many who climb the bluff do so to see them although you can also visit them from atop.
The largest of the caves is called Great Cave which has a number of sub
caves.
The island hosts great diving opportunities and in particular at
Scott’s Ancorage where you can scuba or snorkel as many of the sites are in 15’ of water. One of the big attractions is the M/V TIBBETS which was sunk in 1996 and is loaded with sea life. To visit it you will find the three mooring balls which are attached to bow and stern of the ship. There is also great wall diving here in 100’ of water.
Bird Watching is wonderful as well and there are nature parks that have
bird sanctuaries and parrot trails.

CLEARING IN
You can clear in at The Creek at the NE end of the island. You
call Port Authority on VHF 16 and they will direct you to a dock (put out
good fenders as the dock is concrete). The approach depth to the dock is more than 10’. You can also pick up the mooring close to the town dock if you think that it is too rough to dock or that your boat will not dock well against the dock facility which is quite high. If this is your first stop in the Cayman’s and you are not coming from Grand Cayman, you will be visited by Immigration, Customs and Mosquito Control.
The north side of Grand Cayman is good to anchor on although it can, at times, be rolly. Somehow the easterly seas work their way around the island and unless the wind is blowing strongly from the east, you will start to roll.
At the southwest end of Cayman Brac is a bay called Dick Sesinger’s
Bay. You can find the entrance at 19 40.84 N Lat and 79+ 53.12 W Long which will place you about ¼ mile off the entrance stakes. DO NOT ATTEMPT to enter this bay if conditions are rough or at night. The anchorage is to the east after you enter. It is preferable to enter after 1PM to have the sun behind you. That way you will be able to spot shoals. Stay in the middle of the channel between the stakes. You will see a dock and some moorings that belong to Divi Tiara Resort. You can call on 16 VHF to see if they have a mooring available or else anchor in 6’ to 7’ of water. If you anchor do not let out too much scope or you will swing onto a shoal. You will find this anchorage very secure from wind and seas.

The island has a few grocery stores, the largest ones in the Stake Bay
area. There are also a number of restaurants; all informal and reasonable.
There is a hospital on the Island called Faith Hospital. There are no buses or taxis on the island and you will need to walk or if weather permits dinghy to your destination. There are scooter and car rental agencies for those so inclined. The island has many, many dive locations that are exceptional. You can consult the local dive businesses for information. The dives are well worth it––they are exceptional.

CLIMBING “THE BRAC”
Rock climbing was developed beginning in 1992 when it appears the
first organized climbing began. The island is now known as a world-class climbing destination. One must be somewhat experienced to climb here as the terrain is steep. Many times the climb is what is called “over vertical” and best left to advanced climbers. The island offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the Caribbean. Today climbers come from all over the world to sample superb limestone climbing on Cayman Brac.

LASTLY, do you remember the 1968 Sunday Times Golden Globe race, a singlehanded round the world race? Do you remember the strange story of Donald Crowhurst and his boat Teignmouth Electron?
Well it seems that the wreck of the boat ended up on Cayman Brac and if you get there soon enough you can see it if you are interested.
.

LITTLE CAYMAN Lat.19 43.15 N Long.79 56.68 W
(1 mile east of East Point)

From the east side of Cayman Brac to the Southwest Point of Little
Cayman is approximately 23 Nautical miles. However, the two islands are at their closest points no more than 4 miles apart.

Little Cayman is about 10 miles long and about a 1 ½ miles
wide. If you are looking for solitude this is the place for you.
The permanent population of Little Cayman is less than 170 people. The truth is that there are many more iguana on the island than there are people.
Unlike its sister island, Cayman Brac, the island is quite low.

Bloody Bay Anchorage
On the northwest side of the island you can anchor in 15’ of water.
This is a fair anchorage in normal trade wind conditions, although at
times it can roll especially if the wind lets up; usually at night. This is no place to be in a norther or northwester and in those conditions one can go to Owen’s Sound at the SW corner of the island.

At the southwest side of the island there is a channel that enters into
Owen’s Sound. The entrance is simple and straightforward between the
markers. The channel doglegs to starboard after entry. You can anchor in 5’ to 7’ of water. However the water shallows to 5’ as you go east. If you draw more than 6’, you will need to anchor at or near the entrance. The channel entrance carries about 6’ to 7’. Do not try to enter in rough conditions. There are two lit markers, a red and a green at the entrance. They are privately maintained.
On entering, the less your draft the further east and the closer to Owen
Island you will be able to reach. However, watch out for shoals while
navigating. They are easy to spot. You can go further east in your dinghy to explore South Hole Sound.
On most charts the main settlement is shown as South Town, which is called today, Blossom Village. It is at the southwestern end of Owens Sound. The Custom’s officer is located here. If you need to hail him, try VHF 16. To visit Little Cayman you must have cleared in at Grand Cayman or Cayman Brac.
At the village there is a car rental, gas station and a nurse if you need one.
The Little Cayman Museum is a pleasant place if you are interested in the history of the island.

Perhaps the Iguanas will come out to greet you as well!
The main road is called Guy Banks Road and it goes right around the island.
There is a Nature Reserve (Booby Pond) which is a sanctuary. It is the largest of its type in the Caribbean.

It is well worth the effort to stop at the Sister Islands~the lost islands of the Caribbean!