August 29 2012
The first true light of the Bahamian sunrise slowly breaks the horizon on a surfer's beach at Elbow Cay, Abaco. With a cool sweet breeze wafting out of the east and I'm thinking, "nothing wrong with this picture". Sipping my first cup of coffee I am reminded how good it is to be back.
For over 20 summers our time in the Bahamas has been a treasure to look forward to all during the year and come July these islands take on a different flavor.
Sure it's hot...but the snowbirds have long since gone north, the breezes are cool, the waters are warm and still gin clear and the diving and fishing is great. A fresh grouper or hog fish on the grill at day's end with Carribean ice tea in hand (Mount Gay & tonic w/lime) makes this pleasure worth all the pain.
Each summer takes on a slightly different look as the kids are a year older, new friends join in, and unexpected adventures always unfold.
The hurricane season hasn't begun to heat up yet and Regatta Time is here. The native Bahamian sloops race with the visiting fleet and sailors can often find crew positions for the next day's race at the Regatta parties thrown on a different island each night....if they can remember in the morning which boat they're on.
Our favorite Abaco haunts are still beckoning and serve up the barefoot island life usually on the grill with something cold to wash it down smoothly.
An added surprise this year was meeting several of LUKE BROWN's happy clients, friends, and owners at the regatta parties. They were cruising their 62' Nordhaven's in company through the Abacos and loving it all.
They remembered in detail how Andrew Cilla, our leader, had found them the right boat and negotiated hard to help them get to the finish line at a very favorable price for buyer and seller.
Not hard to figure out that we hope to be in that number next summer. Hope we see ya' there.