Yes, They Have No Bananas

The view of Black Point harbor.

While at Black Point we got laundry and the blog done at the newly renovated Lorraine's Restaurant.  The next day we played a bit, by walking to the beach where on the way I took this shot of the harbor.  It was taken directly into the sun which makes it look like a black and white shot.  Sometimes black and white is all you need for a great shot and how appropriate for a place called Black Point! 

Our sea glass find.

At the beach Al and I searched for sea glass. We got a pretty good haul that day which I needed to make some more sea glass candle holders for the benefit auction at Staniel Cay.

The pigs come to see the tourists, or is it the other way around?

We returned to the Staniel Cay area the following day and to the Big Major spot, where we once again anchored not far from Pig Beach. People come to see the pigs on tour boats from resorts and tenders from all the huge mega yachts that come for the holiday week . The pigs love to be fed and I am sure the mega yachts have plenty to share with them. This year the huge yachts seem to be more plentiful than ever. At one point we counted seventeen of them.

Just one of seventeen!

The yachts are not so bad, but it is all the play toys they bring. Some have more that two tenders, most have several jet skis that their passengers zoom around the anchorage creating wakes going every which way and so do our boats!

Just some of the play toys on a smaller yacht.

To get away from all the wave action, we took our dinghy over to Staniel Cay to walk around and see if there was any fresh produce to be had. Unfortunately, the boat was due in the next day. But I did get two oranges and a box of oatmeal. We checked out Staniel Cay yacht club which had recently added an addition.

Newly remodeled Staniel Cay Yacht Club

They were prepping for their Pirate Party that night but this is all we saw of it.  We were too far away to come in after dark.

Aargh!  Too bad we could not make the pirate party.

Later in the afternoon we had a happy hour on Middle Beach which our friend Marty called over the vhf and got a pretty good crowd to come.

People coming in for the Happy Hour on the beach.

The supply boat, the Captain C arrived around 9:30am the next day, so around 11:30am we went to Isle's General Store hoping the food would be out but it wasn't. Just as we were about ready to leave, the pick-up truck came with the first load. The owner a Bahamian woman said it won't be long. She would not let us in until all was unpacked and that included the second truck load as well. So about an hour an half later (that is the Bahamian for “not too long”)we finally got to shop. People were waiting outside because the boat did not come in Christmas week due to too many people taking off for the holiday week so there had not been fresh food for two weeks. We returned to the boat with our fresh supplies except for bananas. Yes, they had no bananas, just like the song says!  Two weeks without bananas, I don't know if Al can survive!

Tourists and cruisers arrive for auction and dinner.

About 3PM the benefit auction started at Staniel Cay Yacht Club. Cruisers donate items and businesses on and around Staniel Cay donate services to raise money to pay for the free dinner and drinks attendees and the prizes for the regatta winners.

The auctioneer taking bids.

 I donated two of my sea glass candle holders that I made (and forgot to take pictures of) and two small purses that I had made at home. My candle holders went for fifty dollars and the purses for fifteen so I was pleased with the results. After the auction they put out a free nice meal and free rum punches or beer for all who attended.

Ladies dish out the food.

The meal was delicious with barbecued chicken, fried fish, conch fritters, conch salad, and chicken salad. While waiting for the food you can entertain yourself by watching the sharks and rays that swim around the pier.

One of the many entertaining sharks.

The next day was the Bahamian Boat Regatta. Two Bahamian Class A boats that compete with at least two Bahamians on them and the rest crew made up of cruisers. We have never tried it because we are not racers and second, we don't want to climb out there on those boards and hang out!

Not for us!

We will let that for the younger folks! I would rather try to get some decent pictures of them. It wasn't easy being in the dinghy because it was blowing 17-18 knots and the waves were kicking up. However, I think I got some decent shots.

Lady Muriel soaring by.

I actually got both in one picture!

When we got back after the first race, I did have to rinse the salt water out of my clothes and other items. There were three races in all with Lady Muriel beating Tida Wave in this regatta.

Several of the cooks for New Year's Eve

That evening was New Years Eve so 10 of us got together on Runaway for drinks and dinner. We had a ham, turkey breast, garlic mashed potatoes, salad, homemade bread and carrot moush? (mashed carrots and plantains). Of course we started with drinks and appetizers and ended with cherry cheese pie and oatmeal raisin cookies. Pretty good meal for being on boats! We did not quite ring in the New Year at midnight but more like cruiser's midnight which is 9PM! Al and I did wake to hear the boat horns blowing at midnight. Welcome 2016!

The next day was the Cruiser's Regatta which is when cruisers enter their boats in the races. Al never does that because he says it is our home and he isn't going to take any chances. He has crewed on others boats before, but the weather was to improve to head south which is what he wanted to do. So we left and anchored at Cave Cay for the night.

The next day we hauled anchor and headed to Georgetown. We passed by Musha Cay heading out which is the island David Cooperfield owns and “disappears” to once in a while.

David Copperfield's house on Musha Cay.

Chris Parker, the weather guru, said it was going to be the mildest day for a while. It it was the mildest, I am glad we left, because it wasn't horrible but not easy either.

Where oh where are the mahi?  Not where Al is!

Al fished but all he caught was a barracuda which luckily he gaffed and was able to pull his lure out without getting bit!


 
We anchored off of our favorite spot called Monument Beach. It isn't very crowded yet, so there was plenty of room.

It feels good to have made it to Georgetown where we can relax for a while.