Lots of Activities New Years Week at Staniel Cay

We returned to the same spot that we had been earlier at Big Spot Major near Staniel Cay and what a difference when the wind comes out of a different direction, now east and southeast.  It was much quieter and more pleasant.  We took our dinghy over to Staniel Cay and got voice mail added to our phones from Batelco (Bahma Telephone Company).  We got rid of trash at their dump and got connected to the internet although it was very slow at Staniel Cay Yacht Club. 

The next day some of the festivities started for the New Years Eve celebration.  They had Happy Hour at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, rum punches were two for one, and free appetizers. 

On Thursday, the mail boat brought in supplies so one of the first accomplishments of the day was to get to the store for needed fresh food such as vegetables, fruits, bread and milk.  We had two small bags and our bill was $38.  You just have to grab what you want and forget about the costs, because they don’t put a price on anything anyway and you need it!

Later in the day we went over to Staniel Cay Yacht Club for the auction of items donated by the cruisers to help support next year’s regatta.  They provided free drink and dinner of conch chowder, lobster salad, conch salad, macaroni and cheese and grilled fish.  It was all very good!

Hiking out on Bahamian Boat

Friday, New Year’s Eve day, was the day of the big Bahamian Race called “The Mixed Doubles.”  This race consisted of two Bahamian boats where cruisers and Bahamians can sign-up to be on one of the boats to race.  These boats are very similar to log canoe races we see on the Chester River.  They hike out on the boards to counterbalance the heel of the boat.  I guess AL did not feel agile enough to sign-up, but they are certainly fun to watch even not knowing the people on them.

We had a wonderful New Year’s Eve dinner on a boat called Bad Boy.  Doug and Sherry are from North East, MD.  We were there with the Mershons and Englers.  We each brought a dish to share and we had a wonderful Italian meal.  We made it to “Cruiser’s Midnight” which was ten o’clock which was the latest most of us had been up in a long time.

New Years day was the Cruiser’s Regatta.  People could enter their boats and get crew and race a simple course.  It was blowing a good 15 knots so it was a challenge to sit in our dinghy and get pictures while we bobbed around in the wind and waves.  Later we took time to explore the beaches on the other side of the island but did not find much in the way of beach treasures (sea glass, shells and bean pods that come across the ocean from distant lands.)

With the New Year’s Regatta over we decided to move down to Black Point where there is a laundry.  We have not done laundry for two weeks so right now it is a high priority for us and many other cruisers who have been at Staniel Cay for the past week.  We arrived to discover it is closed on Sunday so we will be staying over another day.  The past week was a busy week and I am looking forward to a little slower pace!