After saying goodbye to our friends on Navigant (who are heading back to the US), on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, four of our ships – Casstaway, EWWE2, Ellen Ruth, and Holokai, made a short motor sail from Big Majors Spot to Black Point, the only settlement on Great Guana Cay and the second most populated in the Exumas after Georgetown. Black Point is one of Casstaway’s favorite haunts from our 2019 trip, with its large laundry, trash drop off, and several nice restaurants serving rum punch that we remember fondly. The short trip and easy anchor provided Todd with an open afternoon to again make water.
Thursday, April 14 was laundry day for Holokai, Ellen Ruth, and Casstaway. Black Point is known for its laundry, where you can also buy sundries, take a shower ($5.00 for 8 minutes) and even get a haircut! Afterwards, EWWE2 joined us for lunch at Lorraine’s, whose mom bakes fabulous bread so we knocked on her door and bought both white and coconut (which later turned out to be two coconut). Dawn Treader arrived later in the day and we all celebrated with happy hour at Scorpio’s – the BOGO rum punch ensured it was an early night for the Casstaways.
Blackpoint was hosting it’s annual Regatta while we were there. It was fun to watch the boats up close and personal as they weaved their way through the course which was set right in our anchorage. Lady Eunice, the leader, capsized and we watched her crew work to haul her out of the water from our dinner table at Emerald Sunset View Restaurant, where we were celebrating Martha’s (S/V Ellen Ruth) birthday. All sailors but Martha ordered the five course Grouper special: conch fritters appetizer, green salad, grouper, mac and cheese, and peas (beans) and rice, and pecan pie. The fish was fresh and delicious and the batter light, so we weren’t too disappointed even though we had expected grilled fillets. Martha however, was not so fortunate. She opted for the other entree option, steak and lobster. The lobster was battered and fried in bites just like the grouper. Again, unexpected but very tasty. The steak on the other hand? Jerk seasoned shoe leather with grilled onions. But she was a good sport – after all, who really orders steak in the Bahamas?!
Saturday, April 16, was Admiral Tanya’s birthday, so the Casstaways spent a relaxing day aboard ship, then headed over to EWWE2 for a special edition of our traditional weekly steak dinner. David brought a delicious birthday treat wine and mashed potatoes, and Wendy made zucchini boats in homage to Tanya’s keto diet.
