Provisions are a little low. Not much food available in the small store at Mayaguana and all the fresh stuff has been run out for some time, so the main town of Georgetown is a welcome sight. The tiny access for dinghies and local boats under the main road leads to a dock by the grocery store, Exuma Market. Fortunately the supply ship arrived yesterday, unfortunately the containers are not yet unpacked. Nevertheless bread that we don't have to bake, even if a little dry, and the remnants of the cold store tomatoes look appealing. The anchorages here swell in size during the winter season with hundreds of boats spending time with access to grocery stores, internet and bars. Now at the end of the season a dozen or so boats linger in the anchorage taking their chances in the hurricane routes while unloading of fresh-ish food takes place.

A couple of cays further north, the famed swimming pigs are available for impromptu photo shoots. Apparently their numbers depleted by inappropriate drinking of beer, unkindly left by touristing visitors. They do swim. Hearing the dulcet sound of approaching engines they trundle to the waters edge with varying degrees of enthusiasm to see what titbits the visitors might provide for them to eat. Being a little cautious and wary of causing further depletion to the island stock we elect for a few veggies to offer as tempting treats. Piglets of all sizes approach with their huge parents muscling in, enthusiastically nibbling the dinghy cover and outboard propeller while ignoring the healthy snacks offered.

The clear shallow waters become more common place although sailing with less than a metre under the keels still feels a little uncomfortable, and 10cm under the hulls at times if you want to find the best anchoring spots. The sightings of huge nurse sharks, sting rays swimming a little close for comfort, turtles surfacing continue, as does the kite surfing.…Friends on African Affair share the anchorages, kites and note worthy discussions regarding jumping technique and board short styles.

Leaving the AAs to do their stuff the relatively short distance to Florida involves stops at Nassau (not really our cup of tea) where we anchor in an uncomfortably rolly anchorage just off the unfortunately named Paradise Island and Atlantis (not how we’d imagined it) and the Berry Islands (very pretty and pretty shallow). From here, a slog against the Gulf Stream current curling around the Northwest Providence Channel past the Eldorado Shoal. Finally approaching Florida’s coast, the loom visible in the distance through the night while skyscrapers floated into view as day broke and suddenly the pace, scale and focus of life changed.

Florida - Power boats proliferated, speeding through the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) but considerately slowing through the No Wake Zones before accelerating with enormous rooster tails of water, huge homes with accompanying private docks, NO ACCESS signs, loud music and weekend gatherings of the people who want to be seen, with friends. However, a ‘new to us’ sail is picked up, arriving from Australia so quickly and taking so long to be delivered the final 20 miles. So a little time is spent waiting and a little of Florida is experienced. The last race of the Americas Cup is watched with Americans.