Page 56 - LIVE BAHAMAS - Nassau Edition

WHALE CAY
The Private Island Made Famous by Oil Heiress Marion ‘Joe’ Carstairs
In the biography The Queen of Whale Cay, author Kate Summerscale writes that Standard Oil heiress Marion “Joe” Carstairs left London at
the age of 34 to become the self-appointed ruler of Whale Cay, an historic private island located in the Berry Islands in The Bahamas. For nearly 40 years thereafter, Carstairs happily spent her days smoking cigars, racing motor boats and entertaining the likes of The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, and legendary actress Marlene Dietrich.
Although Carstairs sold the island and moved to Miami, Fla., in 1975, her legacy lingers as do the homes and infrastructure she built during her “reign.” Today, the island’s nearly 12 miles of coastline continues to attract worldwide attention for its celebrated fly-fishing, big game fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, but also the sanctuary it continues to offer.
“The Bahamas has long been known as the top
private island retreat in the world,” said George
Damianos, President of Damianos Sotheby’s
International Realty, which has an exclusive listing
for the property. “But it’s not simply the crystal-
clear water and year-round sun that is attractive
with the ability to stay closely connected to the world. Miami is only a 30-minute flight away.”
“The Bahamas has long been known as the top private island retreat in the world. Private islands in The Bahamas offer seclusion and security combined with the ability to stay closely connected to the world."
— George Damianos, Chief Executive Officer Damianos Sotheby’s International Realty
Situated between the Bahama Banks and Tongue of the Ocean, Whale Cay’s total acreage is estimated to be 711 acres and includes a 4,000-feet paved airstrip which can accommodate charter flights and small private jets. Additionally, on the northern side of the cay, there’s a two-and-a-half-mile long natural waterway that, if dredged, could provide excellent anchorage and marina for boats.
“Whale Cay is one of the largest, contiguous, fee simple island in the Caribbean,” Damianos said. “And with no Crown Land, the island is uniquely unconstrained for development.”
to investors, it’s the fact that private islands in The
52 SIRbahamas.com
Bahamas offer seclusion and security combined