Long Island
The Explorer
Throughout the year each of the main islands of The Bahamas hosts its own sailing regatta. My favorite of these is the Long Island Regatta, for as much what you can do away from the regatta as watching the regatta itself.
Salt Pond is a crescent shaped bay that hugs the turquoise waters of the sailing site. The smaller boats always start the day's races culminating with the larger A-class boats in the late afternoon. The sloops are all made locally in the different islands and have a very lazy yet graceful way of sitting and moving through the water.
After a couple hours of being entertained by the animated regatta crowd its time to go "up south" as the locals say. To most people "up" is north, but the term in these islands originated from the days when sailing was the staple mode of transportation and up was heading in to the prevailing wind which blows from the south.
Long Island stretches 80 miles from one end to the next and the only way to explore the island is with a rental car. There is one main road that covers the entire distance with hundreds of side roads leading to quaint settlements like Clarence Town and Mangrove Bush, secluded beach coves, caves, world famous blue holes, dramatic cliffs, quaint restaurants and cozy rental cottages.
The people of Long island are its greatest asset. Widely known as the most industrious people in the Bahamas, your presence alone will ritually earn you a "good morning" or wave from passers by. The resorts of Long Island are all owner operated and guests are treated like a part of the family.
At the northern end of the island is Cape Santa Maria which is one of the most spectacular beaches in the Bahamas and the great way to end the day with a sunset swim.
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