Every year on July 3rd the Stranded Naked clothing line company throws a huge party to kick off the Abaco regattas, they are kind of famous for the Cheeseburger in Paradise party. We have only been to one before and it wasn’t so much our thing, but we kept being told things like “you aren’t a real cruiser if you don’t go to the party”. So we went to the party to meet the other “cruisers”.
Maybe we have a different idea of what cruisers are! All we found were rich kids that came over from Florida to party. So it wasn’t what we were looking for, but it still made a spectacular day of dumb-and-drunk people watching! The party is held on the beach and all the boats (hundreds of boats) came piling in at the start of the party which so happened to be high tide (of a full moon extreme tide). Keith and I pulled up shortly after the start in the dinghy because no way we’re we going to bring the big boat anywhere near the chaos! We wandered around dumbstruck by how many people let themselves and boats get completely blocked in, they couldn’t leave if they wanted to-like if a big squall came through. Then Keith started giggling “wait till the tide goes out, it’s going to be a mess in here”. We didn’t wait in the long line for our free hamburger, instead we went back to the boat for peanut butter sandwiches (I am working on those simpler meals you know). Curiosity got the better of Keith and a while later and we dinghied back to the party. The “stranded” part of the party was holding up. Boats everywhere were high and dry. Unfortunately my camera battery ran out before I could capture some of the best scenes. Whole crews of drunks tugging and pushing, only a few successfully. Many of the boats had their motors running in only a few inches of churned-up sandy water to keep the batteries charged up and the radio on. Keith says their is going to be a lot of repair bills in the near future. Even many of the sailboats in the anchorage were hard aground from trying to get up too close. Great people-watching day! Not so good cruiser-meeting day.
V
^^by the afternoon the catamaran in that photo was completely aground.
J
^^i love the guy in the water still drinking his rum.
Wright Away Sails Away 
Thanks for letting me follow along. I love your blog and this was an especially good post … and funny too! I’ve only sailed on weekends and vacations in the Chesapeake Bay, but I can appreciate how appealing the lifestyle is. Your boat is absolutely gorgeous. Continue to have a wonderful time and thanks again!
Well, Thank YOU for following. Keith and I started sailing in the Chesapeake Bay and it is where we met, there is a lot of good cruising ground there- though you know we do love that clear water! Happy sailing.
We think people watching is better than anything on TV. We once watch some college kids on spring break trying to grill hamburgers on the beach. They had no idea the fire had gone out. It was hilarious.
Mark and Cindy
s/v Cream Puff
Cruising East Coast USA
Ha Ha, that is funny! The best scene from the party was watching the owner of a triple engine tender whose boat was very aground try to direct the operations. He got out of the boat and stood behind it, the props (all three) were only half in the water and the guy at the helm gunned it. The owner got blasted with a huge spray of water and sand right in the face. Every bit of him was soaked and his drink was filled with sea water. It was too funny. We also liked watching the ones that had passed out, some had good friends who propped them up kindly in the shade, others did not and they were going to have one heck of a burn!
Hey Keith and Debra. We really enjoy your blog. It was so nice meeting you guys at Manjack Cay. We are back home but wish we stayed longer. Anyway, that party looks way too crowded for us, but good for people watching.
Take care and enjoy the Bahamas.
Larry and Jan
SV Heron
I’m so glad you looked us up! We had a wonderful dinner on your boat and enjoyed seeing all the hard work you both have done to get her ready, you’ve done a beautiful job. See you over here again soon!
Ha Ha I remember the year I sold Tee shirts for them and still have the one they gave me. The people watching is unbelievable how crazy people can be there. Looks like a lot more people this year but mostly NOT cruisers. It is a wonder that no one gets badly hurt. Thanks for the pictures.
Glad you are seeing so many baby turtles, I love them…..Yeah Deb finally got your own fish on a spear!
Yeah, that was a fun year, keith helped make the rum punch, he won’t drink it now. We couldn’t believe no one got hurt either, and no fights! But still, no cruisers. I think of you every time we see the turtles.