Georgetown...still!
05 March 2015 | Georgetown, Exuma
It is almost a month since I last posted and I can't believe we are still here in Georgetown. It has been so easy to fall into the routine - lazy mornings on the boat, volleyball, basketmaking or just visiting on the beach in the afternoon, happy hours, ARG meetings and dinners with friends. Although it has been very windy, the temperatures are high and most every day is sunny.
When we arrived on January 24th we dropped anchor and for the next 35 plus days we stayed at anchor. We moved around the harbour a few times, either for a better spot out of the wind or to be closer to town when the harbour was too rough for the dinghy. We even moved a couple of times to be closer to a boat hosting Happy Hour - it's a big harbour! We did discover that being anchored that long, we really need a third solar panel or a wind generator to keep things running.
One afternoon, we went snorkeling with Mark and Jo (Truant) and Donnell and Bob (Grand Cru). Just as we were getting back into our dinghies we saw a Hammerhead Shark take a Spotted Eagle Ray! Although they say Hammerheads aren't dangerous to humans we haven't snorkeled here again! Mark did spear a Lionfish - they are an invasive species and they encourage you to spear them.
On February 19th, the Regatta began. It is more land events than sailing, but lots of fun, beginning with Opening Night - skits, songs and dance by both cruisers and locals. It happened to be one of the coldest nights we've had since arriving in the Bahamas. For the next week there were competitions in Trivia, Texas Hold 'em, volleyball, bocce, baseball, beach golf and more. Evenings were filled with dances, and special dinners.
We entered Northern Spirit in the two races; the first was around the marks in the harbour and we placed fifth. We were placed in a class with boats as large as 44 feet so we were happy with our placement. The second race was around the island and we moved up to fourth place in the pack, behind the 44 foot Grand Cru which placed third. Following each race was a party for the racers and crews. Our crew, besides Ron and I, was Caitlin and Wes who were visiting their parents Mark and Jo aboard Truant. They were great crew and we wouldn't have done so well without them. It was fun to have young folks on the boat!
On the final night that Grand Cru was in the harbour, they hosted a rum tasting aboard their boat. Bob had 20 kinds of rum divided into categories - white, spiced, aged, gold, dark, cheap, expensive and sipping rums. We snacked throughout the evening as we tried the different rums. Interestingly, the most expensive weren't necessarily the favourites. It was a great evening and we were sorry to see them go the next morning. We should see them again in the Abacos.
On Wednesday morning, March 4th, we discovered that our alternator had quit. There is no one on the island able to repair it and we can't sail without it. Bill on Charisma kindly let us the use his Honda Generator to keep the fridge and freezer going until we found a solution. After many calls to Nassau and talking to folks on shore and other cruisers, we found a place in Nassau that could ship on Bahama Air today and have it arrive here in Georgetown tonight. Pretty good service for an out-island! If all goes well, we'll be on our way in just a day or two.
Now that Regatta is finished here in Georgetown there is a mass exodus...many folks beginning the long trek north to the Abacos before heading home. We will be among them - Abacos for a few weeks before crossing the Gulf Stream back to Florida.