Black Point--with a spot of giving back

White Pepper sailed right passed Staniel's Cay on the way to Black Point, Exuma. We actually sailed as we were short tacking into a gentle SE breeze. That night as Jan and I were enjoying a traditional Bahamian dinner at Lorraine's Cafe, I was struck that I could not understand why anyone would prefer the world famous Staniel's Cay Yacht Club to Lorraine's. The food could not possibly be any better, although I suspect the wine list at SCYC beats the box wine at Lorraine's. I imagined that Donald Trump and Barrac Obama would prefer the Staniel's Cay Yacht Club, but given an honest choice Warren Buffet and Bill Gates would choose Lorraine's.

That is not to begrudge the Staniel's Cay people. Thirty years ago they started with a shack that looked and functioned much as Lorraine's does today. But with pluck and the accidents of geography they have build a world class franchise with the mega yacht trade. Still there is nothing White Pepper needs there.

The great joy of visiting Black Point is the children. They play in the street. There is only one road and no cars or trucks. They laugh and interact. They are not sheltered-in-place as in America--playing video games while being protected from roving pedophiles. On this visit Jan had bought a generous selection of children's books to donate to the school as well as a several dozens of pens and crayons. Also she added several sets of water colors. The principal was grateful, of course. We asked what her plans were. She said the greatest need was to find some way to educate the older island children on line so that they did not have to leave for Nassau to receive a high school education. From Nassau the kids often returned to the out islands with tattoos and a drug habit along with their high school diploma. We promised to help if asked.

Shandell looks at one of the new school books

Another joy is the laundromat. Lorraine's cousin Ida runs it. It is clean, efficient and all of the machines work (which is a rarity in the Bahamas). Also there you can get a hair cut, take a shower for $6, and buy supplies. I purchased a 2 quarts of much needed transmission fluid.

Black Point provides free water and garbage disposal to the boaters. Staniel's Cay charges for both of these. Water there is fifty cents per gallon. Garbage is $5 for a small bag and $10 for a large bag. Lorraine's and Scorpio's bar offer free high quality WI-fi asking only a modest donation or an order of a beer. Staniel's Cay Yacht Club WI-fi is $5/ hour.

Adjacent to the anchorage area is a beach that is only one or two feet deep for several hundred yards. The white sand reflects the sunlight. By late afternoon the water is bath tub warm. Jan and I took shampoo. After a romp and scrub we returned to White Pepper for a fresh water rinse—just heavenly.

Finally, there is the bread. Good bread is also available at Staniel's Cay. Home made Bahamian bread just does not have any equivalent in America. It is sweet and heavy. The bread is more like a study cake then the wimpy, wispy stuff we have at home.

Finally it was time to leave as the wind shifted into the SW. The next two days will be the jump to George Town, Exuma. George Town is the capital of Exuma and cruiser's paradise. More posts later.