Black Point 2.0

It's no secret--Black Point is one of our family's favorite settlements to visit in the Exumas. When we visited last year we found the people and island to be absolutely welcoming and beautiful, and we had a fantastic time with friends. This year was the same, yet different! What hasn't changed? Trash and water are cheap and easy, Lorraine's Cafe still has the best dang conch fritters, Lorraine's mom is still making some of the most amazing bread in all of the Bahamas, Scorpio's 2-for-1 rum punch will still make you forget half the people you met there, groceries are available if you aren't too picky, the laundromat has the best view of any I've ever visited, everyone is really friendly, and the holding is good!

Clockwise: Picking up bread at Peermon’s kitchen; a round at Scorpio’s with friends; 2-for-1 at Scorpio’s can be dangerous; local fisherman; the grocer; view from the laundromat 

But this year...this year was the year of KIDS! We were thrilled to have Kolohe and Arethusa continue on to Black Point shortly after us, and while we were there we met Pleiades. The result? Eight kids ranging in age from 11 to 16 hopping between boats and all over Black Point, only occasionally with a mix of parents sprinkled in. There were also other cruising boats we'd met along the way, making this stop a real treat. The kids hiked and swam together, our families visited the Blow Hole together, there were video game and swim dates, and a bunch of cruisers got together at Lorraine's for her famous BBQ buffet. So this year's trip to Black Point was just as memorable as last year's, but with the added joy of tons of kids. 

The crews of Lehe Paine, Kolohe, Pleiades, and Arethusa made fast friends in Black Point.

Visiting the Blow Hole and the White Horses

While we were here, my friend Ava on S/V Kolohe published a perfectly-timed blog about cruising with kids that I absolutely LOVE called "Cockpit Chaos Contentment." The decision to embark on this lifestyle can be full of different emotions and Ava's writing takes you along for the ride. You can follow their journey at https://www.sailingkolohe.com or on Instagram @sailingkolohe. 

✌🏼❤️⛵️

Rocky Dundas...revisited

With the blow over we weighed anchor and had a sweet sail north to Fowl Cay, just outside the souther border of the Exuma Land & Sea Park. Last time we came to this area we took a mooring inside the park, but we decided to give Fowl Cay a try as the forecast winds looked like they would work well for that spot and it would put us in close reach of a few of our favorite sites--Rocky Dundas, Rachel's Bubblebath, and Tom's Elkhorn Garden. We joined three other boats in the anchorage, set the hook, and had a quick lunch. 

We started with a trip to Rocky Dundas. The kids (and adults) LOVE these caves--they are ranked above Thunderball Grotto for us--and while the tide was rising and the surge was a little strong, we managed to get in just fine. We hit the large, north cave first. The surge was really making a washing-machine effect inside the cave and we didn't stick around too long. We left, snorkeled a bit on the coral heads outside the caves, but the current was strong so we headed for the southern cave, which is actually our favorite. The entrance to this cave is smaller and there is less "in water" area, but you can clamber up onto a shelf and walk and climb all over inside. Each time we've gone conditions have been a little different, but there is always some sort of timing a wave involved in getting in and getting up on the ledge! We spent about a half hour in there climbing and watching the waves. Somehow our visit was right between two other groups and we had the caves all to ourselves. 

Entering the north cave

Fun inside and outside the caves

While the kids wrapped up school on the boat, the adults hunted for conch (got nothing) and snorkeled the reef at the NW corner of Fowl Cay. As the afternoon wore on our neighbors all left and we were alone in the anchorage. With high tide approaching in last afternoon, we headed for Rachel's Bubblebath on the north end of Compass Cay. This site is "best" at mid-to-high tide with east winds. We didn't have much wind, so we went closer to high tide--it's the water rushing over the rocks that creates the effervescent bubbles. We didn't have perfect conditions, but we still enjoyed our bath!

While we had initially planned to go to the Elkhorn Garden the next day at slack tide, a rolly anchorage and friends arriving in Staniel Cay caused us to abandon that plan. Is it a great snorkeling spot? Yes. Are boat friends the best? YES! And so we left.

Shortly after dropping the hook at Big Major Cay the kids reconnected with their friends on Kolohe. Then to my delight, I FINALLY got to meet the crew of Arethusa in person after months of chatting online and cruising the east coast near each other! Our three crews met up at the beach so everyone could meet and we chatted until the sun set. I really enjoy meeting other cruising families and hearing their stories and seeing their kids experience this life, too. I think we are all happy to share more anchorages with these boats in the future!

Boat kids doing their thing

Finally reconnecting with friends!

We had a "normal" cruising night! With the blow behind us lots of folks converged on Cruisers Beach on Big Major Cay for a dessert pot-luck with kid boats. While it was way more people that I'm used to being around these days, we were all still able to spread out on the beach and safely enjoy each other's company. We reconnected with friends form last season, met friends we'd previously only "met" via the internet, and the kids met quite a few other teens. It felt good!

The teen hangout

The adult hangout

A great end to the day

More shade

While our dinghy woes had us hanging around the boat I decided to tackle a sewing project—more shade! Last season I knocked out a set of deck shades while we were at a dock on New Providence Island. That project left me with big, triangle-shaped scraps that I just couldn’t bring myself to send to a landfill. More than a year later, the scraps have been painstakingly  stitched together (5, perfectly symmetrical panels 😩) to make our new stern shade! This one will be awesome as the sun sets and we swing in the prevailing easterlies. Bring on the sundowners!

Sailrite tools:

- Ultrafeed LS-1

- Edge hot-knife

- Pres-n-snap tool

- Parasol (steel gray) fabric

- thread, snaps, grommets 

One windy night leads to a windy day

Well, the forecast held and well before sunset we were turned into the north winds. The anchorage is pretty packed, but well-spaced and we chatted with a few of the boats around us about scope so we would all be cozy as we moved about. Lines were secured, snubber chafe guards adjusted, anchor checked, and Luci lights illuminated at the bow and stern so boats around us could see our full extent.

I decided to sleep on deck. Why? I honestly love sleeping on deck, but also just to be able to peek around easily as I rolled about in the night. Considering the strong winds and sound of waves, I actually slept really well! I sleep on a super cozy Klymat inflatable mattress when I’m up there. The only real bugger was the rain that came at 0500 which was accompanied by a jump in the wind. I tucked into the companionway and watched the grey, gloomy sun rise.

We are staying here for the day, knocking out some school, reading, and playing some games. It’s kind of a nice way to spend a Sunday!