Black Point Settlement

Date:  Jan 26 & 27, 2020          

Arrival Time:  1130                          

Location:  Black Point Settlement

Weather:  A few showers, little wind, 70’s           

Sea State:  calm

Total Engine Hours:  1475                                             

Crew:  Greg and Ruth    

Mileage Log:  1343

Nurse Shark at the Lorraine's dock

Comments:  After 3 days with no cell service, no wifi, limited fresh vegetables, limited clean cloths, no anchoring and no fishing, it was time to move on.  The Land & Sea Park is a beautiful area and fortunately they intend to keep it that way.  We released the mooring ball at 0730 and turned the ship south.  The 25 miles covered was pretty uneventful. Though 2 fishing lines were deployed once we were out of the park boundary, no sea creatures were slain.  However, there was much talk on the VHF.  My ears perked up when I heard someone calling Distant Shores III, then a reply from Sheryl Shard who owns the boat with husband Paul.  I’m not one to feel star struck but I actually felt that way when I realized they were very near.  Paul and Sheryl were the original sailing video gurus, on cable TV, way before all of the "YouTubers," and I’ve been following them for probably 10 years.  We also had a conversation with Val aboard Eyra and saw a few other boats we’ve been schooling with.  We anchored at Black Point Settlement near 1130 and waited for a rain shower before deploying the dinghy and heading to town.  Most places were closed because it was Sunday; but, we were able to empty trash, for a donation to the local school, and score water for a donation to the local regatta.  We stopped by a couple establishments and saw several large nurse sharks; one directly under the dinghy on the return trip in about 5 feet of water.  They seem to hang out around docks perhaps to eat scraps.  

The world famous Lorraine's Cafe

Spotted Eagle Ray at the Laundromat dock

We made it our mission Monday to visit the local laundromat, grocery store and eat at the famous Lorraine’s for lunch.  Lorraine’s mother also cooks fresh bread in her home behind the restaurant which is next to the laundromat.  I picked up a loaf of white bread and a loaf of cinnamon raisin coconut bread which was being pulled from the oven when I entered.  Lorraine and especially her mother are extremely lovely people.  On my return to the laundromat, I was robbed of about ¼ of the loaf of cinnamon raisin coconut bread from someone I didn't get a good look at.  Or, that was my story to Ruth and I’m sticking to it.  No police report was filed.  We saw an abundance of sea life again today, including several sting rays and spotted eagle rays and many nurse sharks.  Many of the establishments have their own dinghy docks where most of the sea life like to hang out. 

In the afternoon we made a trip to the post office and a couple other minor stops.  On the return to the dinghy, we passed a couple coconut palms and inquired of a gentleman working nearby if they were up for grabs.  He took off his shoes, climbed the tree and removed a couple coconuts.  Then without asking he grabbed his machete and started chopping on them.  So we drank a little coconut water from one and brought the other back to the boat for tomorrow. Coconut water is very good and what's more natural?

Nice people here in the Bahamas!!