SAND BANK YACHT CLUB NOTES

April 1999 Table of Contents - Current Issue of The Abaco Journal - Abaco Bahamas' Home Page

SAND BANK YACHT CLUB NOTES
by John Lacey

The period from mid-February to mid-March was a busy one for Sand Bank Yacht Club members. 87 members and eight guests celebrated St Valentine's Day by dining the night away at a mystery location which had, by departure time, become the source of much speculation. The few who guessed correctly took great pride in their perspicacity. Those who did not remained silent.

Members convened at 5 o'clock on the Royal Palm Deck in Treasure Cay for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, organised by Betsy Bracey and skilfully bar tended by Nelson Radwan. At 6 o'clock members boarded buses, trailed by a small convoy of cars, bound for the mystery destination revealed to be the Below Decks Room at the Abaco Beach resort in Marsh Harbour.

There they were greeted by nostalgic love songs of the post World War II that permeated a room beautifully and lovingly decorated in a design conceived by Betsy Bracey and implemented by Woody Bracey, Myrna Floyd, Patty Radwan and Brian and Nadine Sheehe. Each eight-person table was romantically bedecked with red St Valentine's Day helium-filled balloons and red candles, and the walls were resplendent with appropriate decorations. Cocktails were served for those still thirsty. The dancing began with music arranged by Woody Bracey and played by him on the Resort's stereo system.

Chef Dietmar Uiberreiter then proudly supervised the serving of a delicious repast: lobster bisque with cilantro mousseline; assorted garden greens with cucumber and tomato; prime rib of beef with twice-baked potato and shallot sauce; or roasted duckling a l'orange with braised red cabbage, potatoes gratinée and orange sauce; or coconut and sesame seed-crusted wahoo with whipped sweet potato and yellow curry sauce; crème brûlée and coffee. The food was outstanding and the service matched it. Chef Uiberreiter and his staff truly earned our gratitude for an outstanding evening, and we thank them sincerely for that.

Members took to the dance floor between courses, and for several hours thereafter, to recapture memories of yesteryear. Regretfully, the hour grew late and, with our willing bodies reluctantly thwarted by our aging bodies, it came time for us to turn from our cherished memories to the reality of the long journey home.

The first Random Rendezvous in Sand Bank Yacht Club history took place on 8th February. 25 members in boats skippered by Woody Bracey, Bill Bulger, Bill Glasgow, Dick Prince and John Williams met for lunch at the Bluff House on Green Turtle Cay. The Bracey boat then gunk-holed in the inland waters of No Name Cay. The other boats sought, and I hope found, their own diversions. The Random Rendezvous to picnic and Manjack Cay on 22nd February was thwarted by bad weather.

On Wednesday 3rd March, 66 members and 23 house guests signed up for a boat trip to Green Turtle Cay with lunch served at the Green Turtle Club. 20 or so members arrived by Lowe's ferry from the Green Turtle Ferry Dock. The rest, on an otherwise beautiful but breezy day, braved the choppy waters of the Sea of Abaco in their own boats.

Members explored the island before lunch, then dined on their choice of fish and chips (locally caught grouper, deep-fried in a house batter with french fried potatoes and a tossed salad), or grilled Chicken Caesar (seasoned, grilled chicken strips served on Caesar salad) or Bahamian cracked conch (cracked conch served with french fried potatoes and a tossed salad), or fresh fruit salad. Key lime pie and a choice of coffee, hot tea or decaffeinated coffee followed. A discounted cash bar was available for those who required a different libation. The Green Turtle Club staff, under the very able and cooperative supervision of Cindy Roberts, met our needs very well and a good time was had by all. We thank them for that. We also wish Ed Newell, the Green Turtle Club manager, a rapid and complete recovery from his recent surgery.

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