We started out from Emerald Bay on Monday as that was the last day with westerly winds predicted... and in fact the wind was shifting to NW even as we traveled. The difference that makes is that 1) we could sail all the way and 2) because the wind went more northerly as the day progressed, we had pretty "surfy" following seas. It was fun -- Parallax reminds me of her reserve buoyancy when the waves start to get beneath her -- she rides them smoothly, with more lift when they are larger. Still, it makes for some exciting noises and views both astern and off the bows! Not to mention speed...


Wave astern of us preparing to break a bit...


and another one...


Wave traveling forward from astern of us


What the waves do to our speed

It was nice to be able to sail until we got into the harbor! Our first anchorage was off Sand Dollar Beach with Flying Cloud and then Beach Cruiser (Barry and Barb and their wonderful Victory 35 catamaran) and Grace (George and Doris and their beautiful Prout Snowgoose, younger sister to ours). We were thrilled to see George and Doris again! They had been safely tucked into Red Shanks Anchorage for their repairs, but there is not good internet reception there, so they were into coming across to get online.

View from our Sand Dollar Beach anchorage

We went ashore at Volleyball Beach at the Chat 'n' Chill for cheeseburgers in paradise...


Some days it's quite crowded, but that day was very peaceful...

Derek at Volleyball Beach

The Chat 'n' Chill is interesting, almost all of the walls can be raised to let in breezes from various directions.

The Chat 'n' Chill
It had a very active drinking crowd and a couple of families. It generally has a very active drinking crowd -- but then again, this is Family Islands Regatta week! A couple of days later I couldn't recall the name correctly and accidentally called it the "Chill 'n' Swill," and Derek and Grant won't let me forget it -- that seems to be the name for it aboard, now. I'm just worried I'm going to say it that way in public and upset the owner!

We took a little walk from Volleyball Beach around the "holes" and found that most of these very protected spots are full of moorings (and houseboats for rent).

Walking around Hole #1

The next day we took the dinghy across to George Town and went to the Exuma Market (very cruiser-friendly, they have a dinghy dock with free RO water so you can buy groceries and get water in your jerry jugs -- they'll even receive mail for you!).


We also had to visit a bank... hadn't seen one since Nassau.

One of two banks in George Town

Then we went for a late lunch with Walt and Meryl to the Peace And Plenty Inn.



Peace and Plenty's historical marker

Pretty tasty lunch, but not inexpensive :-)

All around us, preparations were in full swing for the start of Race Week. Colorful shanties had been erected all along Government Dock and music was blaring from cow-sized speakers, bars were already open and food stalls were far behind them.

It was a wet dinghy ride back across the harbor, but with the wind from the east, Sand Dollar is a nice protected anchorage as well as being a beach with natural beauty. However, the wind was due to shift over the following few days and Derek had to fly back to the States, so he wanted to leave me in a "safer" place -- so that I would not have to move and re-anchor single-handed (Grant hasn't done much anchoring yet, we are trying to keep him from breaking any bones on this trip! He may start taking part even in anchoring, though, eventually -- it's just kind of heavy and dangerous).

So we wound up on a mooring just off Volleyball Beach. It's a center for Race Week activities, and the racing boats (including Lady Muriel, Red Stripe and Tida Wave) come here and tie alongside Nomad and Amazing Grace -- I think the crews are sleeping on those two large motor vessels with the owners hosting them. Lady Muriel has been doing especially well! Here's Abaco Rage practicing -- they are staying on Nomad but keeping their boat at anchor:


The third leg of the races sometimes takes them very close to the anchorage off Volleyball Beach...


Especially for those anchored rather than moored:


And some boats choose to practice over in the anchorage, especially the "up anchor while raising sail" maneuver (over and over). I guess they have some close quarters to work through in the races and can use the "crowded" feeling for practice.