Black Point Settlement
Black Point · Great Guana Cay settlement anchorage
24°04.32'N 76°23.70'W
Depth
2–4m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Fair
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m for fair holding on sand/grass in 2–4m. Grass patches reduce holding — use maximum scope (7:1) and test anchor with engine. The 0.8–1.0m tidal range creates noticeable depth change in shallow water — recheck holding at low tide. NE trade winds create some chop into the anchorage from the exposed east side.
About This Anchorage
Black Point Settlement on Great Guana Cay is the most significant community in the central Exuma Cays — a small but lively Bahamian village with a post office, small grocery stores, a bakery (Lorraine's Café bakes fresh bread and cinnamon rolls), laundry facilities, and Louise's restaurant serving Bahamian home cooking. For cruisers who have been self-sufficient in the northern cays for days or weeks, Black Point is a welcome re-supply opportunity. The anchorage has fair holding in a mix of sand and grass — the NE trade wind exposure makes it less comfortable than the bank-sheltered anchorages to the north. The 0.8–1.0m Exuma tidal range is very apparent in the anchorage shallows.
Protected From
N · NW · W · SW
Exposed To
E · SE · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring
- Permitted in sand
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- Yes — Cruising Permit ~$300/3 months
Restrictions: Cruising Permit required; respect the working community dock — give priority to local fishing vessels and the mail boat; no anchoring in the mail boat channel.
Hazards
- !Fair holding with grass patches — test anchor thoroughly; increase scope to 7:1 minimum
- !NE trade wind exposure — prevailing trades create chop into the anchorage; not ideal for overnight in strong trade conditions
- !0.8–1.0m tidal range — depths are shallow; recheck anchor at low water
- !Mail boat channel — weekly mail boat to Nassau uses the main dock channel; maintain clear passage
Skipper's Tips
- →Lorraine's Café opens at 07:00 with fresh baked bread and cinnamon rolls — the best breakfast in the Exumas; arrive early as they sell out fast
- →Louise's Restaurant serves some of the best Bahamian home cooking in the islands — call ahead on VHF 16 for dinner reservations
- →The laundry service in Black Point is a Exumas institution for cruisers — drop off your laundry in the morning and collect in the afternoon
- →The 0.8m tidal range creates a strong tidal current past the settlement dock — timing your dinghy landing to slack water makes landing easier
Facilities
Lorraine's Café (fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, Bahamian breakfast — open early morning). Louise's Restaurant (Bahamian home cooking: grouper, lobster, peas and rice). Small grocery stores with basic provisions. Laundry service available.
Nearest provisions: Black Point Settlement stores and Lorraine's Café (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
November–May. Best in calmer conditions. The NE exposure makes it less comfortable in strong trade wind periods. Essential provisioning stop in the central Exumas.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
The Exumas' 0.8–1.0m tidal range and extremely shallow banks make anchor alarm monitoring essential — even a small drag on the Exuma Bank can leave you aground. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors continuously through every tidal cycle.
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