We stretched into the day with morning yoga again at Regatta Point. Amy coached us through a challenging and balancing flow of vinyasas, even adding in an inversion head stand that got our blood going for the day.
The yoga crewed walked down the one road that winds through town past houses with locals weaving out front, past the All-Age School with its empty basketball court out nearest the street and into Lorraine’s for our daily visit with her and other cruisers stopping in to lunch and catch up on their digital lives. It was a special treat as Raven and Sharniece, from Kids’ Church, stopped in on their school lunch break for a snack. Their eyes lit up when I darted out of the computer room for big hugs and my heart overflowed for having seen them once more before leaving the Settlement.
During yoga, Amy and I had the idea to have a full moon party (any excuse will do) at Regatta Point with a potluck dinner early enough to enjoy the sunset from the deck. As the day went on, we passed word along as we met up with friends throughout town and put a general announcement to the anchorages out on the VHF radio. With plans set for 4:30, it was back to the boat to start prepping. I started gathering party supplies (candles, paper goods, chairs) and cooked a few dishes to share while Matt was above deck moving Kaleo back around to Castle Beach anchorage where we would be ready to leave for Little Farmer’s Cay in the morning.
After helping him set the anchor, we changed into evening wear (out of running shorts and into khaki shorts) then dinghyied over to “Storyville”, where “SYL” was side tied. Rusty had graciously offered to ferry the entire Texas Navy, plus some new friends on “Dare Too”, in his 33′ foot dinghy (which is actually his catamaran) over to Regatta Point. Everyone jumped onboard and with the country tunes cranked up, we motored around the point, arriving on the scene as floating party straight out of Texas.
Many cruisers had already gathered as we tied up to the dock and adjusted the satellite radio station to better suit the crowd. A blend of cruisers and locals were mingling as sounds of laughter and sea stories floated out over the water. Even Lorraine and her precious little boy, Josh, were able to come and all the cruisers were delighted to feed her for a change.
Upon setting down our dishes, our eyes connected with our stomachs over the Thanksgiving-size spread of offerings brought for the party. A range of chips and salsas, crispy crab cakes, colorful Hawaiian piaia, chilled chicken salad, warm rice pilaf, fresh spring rolls, bright veggie pizza slices, classic Mac & Cheese, zesty lemon bars, and on and on. Their flavors mingling together in the air accenting the ever-present fragrance of the ocean.
As sunset approached, Rusty was found hoisting his main sail and setting up the projector on “SYL”. The crowd gathered on the deck of Regatta Point to take in the majestic sunset and search for the ever-elusive green flash. Then, just after the sun dipped below the horizon, “SYL” turned into a first-class, floating drive-in theater as “Captain Ron” (a cruiser classic) lit up the main sail. Quotable lines like “if it’s gonna happen, it’s gonna happen out there boss” and “Naturals! Everyoneaya, Naturals!” filled the warm night air.
As the credits rolled and we said goodnight to new friends, the Navy boarded “SYL” to return to our anchorage on the other side of Black Point. The party continued for some time into the night as we side-tied “SYL” to “Storyville” and talked of our time spent in this settlement that we’d grown to love and with warm, yet heavy hearts, made plans to sail to Little Farmers Cay the next day.
We can’t say enough about Black Point Settlement. It is an absolute gem! It has great, protective anchorages, a true authentic Bahamian community, and it’s home to the best Cracked Conch (thanks Lorraine!) and Coconut Bread (thanks Lorraine’s mamma). The community is filled with some amazing kids that have huge hearts for God and a thankful outlook on life. The most attractive thing about the settlement for us is the people – warm, outgoing, inviting and generous of their time and talents to cruisers.
What a great day … yoga, local children, party and a movie! Another day in paradise!