We, hmm I, planned to spend July 4th quietly anchored off Manjack Cay... a little morning snorkeling then some afternoon putzing about the boat follow that up with reading more of Doc Ford's current adventure. The day started out according to plan... 08:15 listen to the Abaco Cruisers Network on the VHF. 09:00 load up the dinghy with the snorkeling gear. 09:15 swing by our new neighbor's Ennui Go...hmm was that part of the plan? Well we had seen Alan & Maxine's MV Ennui Go in a couple anchorages and we thought it was time for an introduction. Alan proved to be a wealth of information. We learned about the wifi connection at Manjack Cay and of the Green Turtle Cay 4th of July Party at New Plymouth. Wait that is tonight. "Not to be missed!" says Alan, "best Conch Salad your ever tasted and free drinks with live music." He had me at best conch salad ever.
We did continue on with our snorkeling adventure and found some nice reefs and fish just of the beach.
Returning to C'est la Vie, we raised the anchor and began motoring back SE for or return trip to Green Turtle. The Regatta boats were on the course and we were able to watch the action and listen to the committee boat conversations on VHF 78. It was a great distraction during the 45min motor back. Arriving at Green Turtle, it was apparent that we were not the only peeps planning to attend tonight's festivities. The anchorage was packed with vessels. Fortunately we found a spot fairly close to our previous anchorage. We knew this area proved to have good holding in this otherwise questionable harbor.
Things really began to pick up as the races ended and vessels began to return to Green Turtle. Boats rafted to boats. The anchorage went from full to bursting. The races concluded around the time of low tide. Watching multiple 45+ foot monohulls ground out while attempting to enter White Sound Harbor and Black Sound Harbor added to the building excitement. With all their fancy electronics and tacticians one would think they would figure out the tide cycle. The entrances to these harbors are NARROW. One large sailboat completely obstructs other traffic. So invariably the motor vessels get in the action. One MV will take a halyard and heel the SV over. A second MV will then attempt to pull the SV free. Anne and I observed this scenario multiple times.