Black Point Settlement, Great Guana Cay, Exumas

There’s always something happening in the exciting Exumas!

Great Guana Cay is centrally located in the Exuma island chain, just south of the busy hub at Staniel Cay. But it’s a world apart from Staniel in character and represents a true slice of life in the Out Islands. The small town at Black Point Settlement sits on a wide bight facing west over the vast banks stretching to the Tongue of the Ocean. It’s an easy destination across the bank from Staniel Cay to the north or Farmer’s Cay to the south. You can also enter from Exuma Sound at Dotham Cut or Farmer’s Cay Cut, after which it’s a short distance across the bank to Black Point.

While there are no slips or moorings here, this is one of the largest and best anchorages in the Exumas. Most boats will anchor off the town and fairly close in, but there’s plenty of room to spread out between Dotham Point and Black Point. Come in close for a shorter dinghy ride, or stay out further for more breeze.

There’s always a rush to Adderly’s for fresh produce. Photo credit: Rex Noel

The anchorage at Black Point Settlement attracts cruisers on the hook. Photo credit: Rex Noel

Ocean waves crash on the rugged Great Guana shoreline. Photo credit: Rex Noel

The residents of Black Point are among the friendliest you’ll encounter, and the community is heavily geared toward serving the needs of visiting cruisers. There are two good dinghy docks—the government dock and at Rockside Laundry—with plenty of room for all. Take a leisurely stroll through town to get acquainted. During the day you’ll most certainly find some local women sitting under trees weaving baskets, hats and other items from palm leaves. Trash can be deposited in a trailer at the government dock (please leave a donation), and fill your jugs with free reverse osmosis water at a faucet just a bit south of the dock.

Adderley’s Store has a good inventory of basic grocery items and will have an excellent selection of produce when the mail boat arrives. Among long-term Bahama cruisers, Rockside Laundry is famous as the best in the Out Islands. The proprietor, Ida, also has a small selection of marine supplies and delicious pastries, as well as showers available for a fee. Free Wi-Fi is available to patrons.

There are three terrific places to eat in Black Point—DeShamon’s, Lorraine’s and Scorpio’s. Listen on VHF 16 for special events and happy hours nearly every day. Try DeShamon’s for the pizza you’ve been missing or Lorraine’s for a full, traditional Bahamian meal. Scorpio’s has great pub food and the best happy hour deal in the Exumas. Ask Lorraine to take your order for bread to pick up the next morning.

A short fifteen-minute walk northeast from the government dock will take you to a beautiful ocean beach across the island. Turn left at the dock, then right on the dirt and gravel road that leads across the island. At the top of the hill on the left is a natural blowhole. Big swells that run on Exuma Sound vent spectacularly through the hole. A little further up the road, you’ll drop down onto the beach. It’s a nice spot to catch some sun and do a little beachcombing.

Spend time in Black Point and you’ll easily make friends, and it’s a sure thing that you’ll be invited to attend Sunday church services. Many cruisers stay here for weeks and come back again and again.

Travel advisory issued
The Bahamas announced the first confirmed case of the Zika virus on New Providence in early August, although the virus was contracted elsewhere. But later in August, several additional cases were confirmed, and at least two of these individuals were locally infected. A number of suspected cases have also been identified. The U.S. Center for Disease Control issued an advisory late in the month urging travelers to “practice enhanced precautions” to avoid infection. The Bahamian government has taken steps to combat the virus, including additional fogging for mosquitos in New Providence and elsewhere. See the CDC website for detailed suggestions on prevention. cdc.gov/travel/notices/alert/zika-virus-the-bahamas

Navigation Updates
The Aids to Navigation Section of the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) has advised mariners that the entrance lights and range lights in the harbor at Driggs Hill, South Andros, have been serviced and relit. Any discrepancies with this or any navigational aid should be reported to the RBDF by calling either (242) 362-3091 or (242) 362-4436, or by e-mail to aton@rbdf.gov.bs. It’s becoming common for the RBDF to apprehend large groups of illegal migrants from Cuba or Haiti on makeshift boats and rafts in Bahamian waters. Recently, a total of 112 men and women were found on a single sloop just west of Barraterra, Exuma, and were transported to immigration officials for processing. If you happen to spot anything similar in your travels, for their own safety, please contact the RBDF immediately.

Rex Noel, Southern Boating Magazine November 2016

Fishing, Festivities and Fees

The Bitter End Yacht Club (BEYC) is one of the world’s best resorts for sailors, from its nearly always placid North Sound Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands setting to its over 100 vessel fleet of monohull sailboats, performance catamarans and windsurfers. It’s in this vein of catering to sailors of all skills that the BEYC started its Pro Am Regatta 30 years ago. The event is set for October 22-29 this year and pairs professional sailors with amateurs during a week chock-full of festivities that includes fleet racing, team racing and match racing. “We are pulling out all the stops for our 30^th anniversary,” says John Glynn, vice president of sales and marketing. “The skipper’s list includes past winners like Ed Baird and Taylor Canfield, plus crowd favorites and industry legends like Dave Perry and Dave Ullman, plus three to five other skippers to be announced.” The event is sailed in IC 24s, a modified J/24 design, with four guests per boat and a rotating pro sailor on the helm. In addition to the racing, guests and pros can mingle at nightly dinners, cocktail cruises and entertaining gatherings. Guests can ask the pros pointed questions about the America’s Cup, Olympics, One Design Racing, and other topics at the highly anticipated Scuttlebutt “State of the Sport” Forum. Cruisers are welcome at the cocktail functions and, in some instances, can join the racing fun. The Pro Am’s Defiance Day coastal races to The Baths for lunch and back are open to all boats, including cruising catamarans. beyc.com/compete

Fishing on B.V.I. charters

As of July 1^st, The Moorings power catamaran fleet in the B.V.I. are registered fishing vessels, which allows charter guests to fish after obtaining a proper fishing license. The decision to register the yachts followed a reinforced fishing policy by the B.V.I. government. Fishing in the B.V.I. is highly rated with plentiful amounts of tarpon, kingfish and barracuda. moorings.com

U.S.V.I. mooring fee increase

Unchanged for more than 20 years, annual costs for anchoring and mooring in the U.S.V.I. were increased in May to $10/foot for pleasure craft, $15/foot for liveaboards and $20/foot for commercial craft. Visiting craft can still moor or drop anchor for free for up to 14 days per year; moorings in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John still charge a fee for overnight use.

Trio of Billfishing Tournaments

Whether you’re cruising to the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles or further south to the ABC islands this month, you’ll find a great billfishing tournament. The Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament takes place October 1-8 out of the same-named port on the northeast coast of Jamaica. The week of angling for big blues is punctuated by a native canoe fishing tournament on the layday plus nightly parties. Next up is the Varadero Aruba Caribbean Cup set for October 20-23 out of Varadero Marina & Boatyard in Aruba; the opportunity to catch a Grand Slam has long hooked anglers on this event. Finally, the St. Lucia International Billfish Tournament is scheduled for October 25-29 out of Island Global Yachting’s Rodney Bay Marina on St. Lucia. Newly placed fish aggregration devices (FADs) should increase the likelihood of fantastic fishing as well as an opportunity to break the island’s 707-pound blue marlin record and win a new car. jamaicasportsfishing.com; preschallenge.com; facebook.com/slugamefishingassociation

By Carol Bareuther, Southern Boating Magazine October 2016

Striper 270 CC

The new Striper 270 CC (27’2″ LOA, 9′ beam) is a center console that takes its shape, lines and contours the brand introduced in 2012 from the launch of the popular 22-foot series, including an aggressive bow flair, deep freeboard, tall gunwale cap, and a broad and assertive stance.

Built with the Little Falls, Minnesota-builder’s one-piece Fibercore™ hand-laid composite stringer system, the 270 CC runs solid on the V-Trac™ hull design. This allows for maximum steering control while minimizing shaking or porpoising. The 270 CC is powered by twin engines ranging from 300-500 horsepower in total—enough muscle to take anglers offshore.

The 270 CC was designed to fish. Large port and starboard 34-gallon in-floor fish boxes come standard and are flanked by two 12-gallon, blue-painted, aerated livewells found in each corner of the cockpit. The cockpit can be rigged for comfort and the possible long cruise to the “spot” with optional fold-down bench seats port and starboard. The helm is protected from the weather with a standard fiberglass T-Top with rocket launchers, spreader lights and flat spots to add optional outriggers. The center console pod offers 73 inches of standing room, a lockable storage compartment and room for a porcelain head.

striperboats.com; (320) 632-5481

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016

The Invincible 39 Open

Invincible 39 Open (39’2″ LOA, 11′ beam) runs on a Michael Peters-designed hull form with the patented SVVT design, which provides an exceptionally low drag coefficient that aids in the boat’s overall excellent seakeeping ability. When powered with triple 350-hp outboard engines, the 39 Open runs in the low 70-mph range and achieves excellent fuel efficiency at a cruise of 45 mph, getting 1.2 mpg.

The Opa-Locka, Florida-based builder’s 39 Open features amenities for both anglers and families, all designed for a great day on the water. The side-entry console provides ample room below for the head/shower combination as well as many custom additional seating possibilities. The helm and dash area is more than large enough for just about any combination of electronic equipment and is configured custom for each client. The hull-side dive door with built-in ladder offers easy boarding and debarking for sandbar days or when diving and also aids when boarding the boat at the dock.

The flush-mounted windlass system is a great option that doesn’t affect the sleek lines of the Invincible 39 Open. An optional bow thruster gives the operator additional confidence in tight docking situations. Each Invincible 39 Open is built to the customer’s exact specifications, giving every boat its own individual identity. invincibleboats.com; (305) 685-2704

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016

The Century 2901 CC

Century’s 2901 CC offers the versatility and ride that today’s center console buyers demand. The Century 2901 CC (29′ LOA, 8’6″ beam) is packed with standard equipment and also offers plenty of optional upgrades to tailor the boat to any specific need. The 2901 CC combines fishing, performance and luxury family amenities for offshore on Friday, the sandbar on Saturday and ready for dinner on Sunday. Century Boats, based in Zephyrhills, Florida, offers a tradition of excellence in boatbuilding that spans over 90 years. The 2901 CC’s deck provides plenty of walkable space and room for floor storage—two insulated 277-quart fish boxes and a 62-gallon baitwell system with two Power Stream Venturi Aerators. The boat also features six gunwale rod holders, an enclosed electric head, freshwater shower at Century Boats, based in Zephyrhills, Florida, offers a tradition of excellence in boatbuilding that spans over 90 years. The 2901 CC’s deck provides plenty of walkable space and room for floor storage—two insulated 277-quart fish boxes and a 62-gallon baitwell system with two Power Stream Venturi Aerators. The boat also features six gunwale rod holders, an enclosed electric head, freshwater shower at

The boat also features six gunwale rod holders, an enclosed electric head, freshwater shower at Century Boats, based in Zephyrhills, Florida, offers a tradition of excellence in boatbuilding that spans over 90 years. The 2901 CC’s deck provides plenty of walkable space and room for floor storage—two insulated 277-quart fish boxes and a 62-gallon baitwell system with two Power Stream Venturi Aerators. The boat also features six gunwale rod holders, an enclosed electric head, freshwater shower at

The 2901 CC’s deck provides plenty of walkable space and room for floor storage—two insulated 277-quart fish boxes and a 62-gallon baitwell system with two Power Stream Venturi Aerators. The boat also features six gunwale rod holders, an enclosed electric head, freshwater shower at transom, and a four-battery management system. There’s also an adjustable entertainment table forward as well as ample forward and aft seating with plush cushions. A fiberglass hardtop with spreader lights, rod holders and Fusion speakers complete the standard and optional features of this family fishing machine. Powered by twin 300XCA Yamaha outboard engines, the boat runs to a top speed of 54 mph.

centuryboats.com; (813) 236-8879

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016

Albury 27

Willard Albury’s handcrafted hull provides the legendary ride customers have come to expect in the Albury 27 (27′ LOA, 9’6″ beam). Built at the company shop on Man-O-War Cay, Abaco, Bahamas, the Albury 27 tops out at 53 mph with a pair of twin 250-hp outboard engines while still being able to stay on plane at 17 mph. The Albury bottom design yields a softer ride and a more gentle motion in rough seas, and spray is controlled with a fitted rail that runs from the stem to amidships. The bottom design also makes the 27 extremely stable at rest. The 27’s interior volume—due in part to the wide beam—compares favorably with boats three feet larger. That makes the boat easy to walk around, with excellent visibility over the center console dash and lots of cockpit space. The head area is roomy, and the ergonomic forward seats are comfortable. The aft bulkhead is raised and features a livewell and walk-through incorporated with a new, pleasing transom shape that’s functional for swimming, fishing and diving.

alburybrothers.com; (561) 863-7006

By Doug Thompson, Southern Boating Magazine July 2016

Day One: Cooper Island

Cruising day one of our great vacation has come and gone! It began with finishing up provisioning for both of our boats, so we can start cruising towards Cooper Island. The journey was short with beautiful views including the spectacular multiple-shades of blue water. The most difficult decision of the afternoon was definitely picking out which moorings to tie up to, just kidding!