Trip to Town: Black Point Settlement

Keel repairs: Black Point sailing vessel.

After fueling at Staniel Cay in the Exumas, we sailed south to Black Point Settlement on Great Guana Cay for provisions.

With a population of around 400 people, this place reminded us of a more traditional Bahamian town as opposed to our recent experience at Compass Cay and the mega yachts of Staniel Cay (although we did see tour boats from Nassau stopping in for lunch at the local restaurant in Black Point).

Go fast tour boats from Nassau drop by the settlement for lunch.

Like many of the settlements in the islands, we found the residents of Black Point to be very friendly and welcoming.

After walking down Stella's Drive, the main street, we stopped at Lorraine's Cafe for lunch. Lorraine's kitchen is clearly the hot spot for the island's kids at lunchtime, and they stopped by to pick up their boxed meals before running off.

Black Point Street Directory. No need for Google Maps.

Black Point is typical in many ways of the Bahamian settlements that we've experienced so far: each community has a government health clinic (though it appears that medical staff may be on hand only periodically), a public school (all grades), a government administrative office, a police station, at least one small grocery store, and a government dock that serves as the center of activities.

A recent addition to most local communities has been the installation of BTC cell towers. With a BTC SIM card for our cell phone, we can utilize the network for our calls and data.

Black Point fishing boat with fish traps.

The old Batelco public phone booths are no longer needed;
BTC cell towers are now in most Bahamian settlements.

Almost every settlement that we've walked through has a Government health clinic.

S/V Pandion at anchor off the Black Point government dock.
We were the only boat in the big anchorage during the three days that we stayed  there.

Exuma native sailing sloop.
The annual regatta for this Class C sloop is held off Black Point in August.

We were able to complete our provisioning while there. Once again, we were lucky enough to time our visit with the arrival of the weekly supply freighter. Fresh tomatoes, romaine lettuce, apples and oranges, potatoes, onions, and a few cold beers. Life is good!