Bellatrix

23 February 2016

Georgetown, Exuma, Bahamas

Robin’s Mom had a great visit, (we hope), she brought a cold with her but Robin did her best to have the sun and beach get it out of her.

After Betty left we cruised down the harbor a ways and anchored in “Redshanks” an area where there were few boats. It is very protected from the strong winds that were projected. We stayed 6 days, snorkeling and laying on the beach.

We have been enjoying the Georgetown Cruisers camaraderie, the cruisers are a wonderful group of people. We all have the same desire to have a good time, and have similar problems which all are extremely willing to help each other with. People watch each others boats, dinghies and property and jump right in if there are issues. People with boat problems, motor issues, electronics are quick to find someone willing to help. Each morning on the Cruiser’s Net people needing help will ask and there are numerous responses. A guy yesterday announced on VHF 68 he was having trouble getting his anchor up, immediately there were dinghies running to his boat. One jumped in the water to dive the anchor to assess the situation. The anchor was stuck under a coral head, (not the living kind) they quickly put a line around the anchor to pull it backwards and the guy was away, no harm done. If you have a problem with refrigeration, there’s someone to help, electronics, someone will help, need a part, again someone either has it or knows a workaround. This is a community unlike any I’ve known.

We’ve had many beach parties. A few weeks ago a guy announced that he was having a Conch Horn making lesson. People gathered conch, bleached the shells and brought them to the beach. Ends were cut, holes filled with bondo, and edges polished. That evening conch horns all over the harbor announced the sunset and every evening since. Yesterday there was a bake, clothing, and crafts sale to benefit the local community Red Cross. $1100 was raised.

I have mentioned before, a local historian, Cordell Thompson, gives a Bahamian history lesson every Sunday after the Beach Church. He also owns land near Georgetown and grows fruit and coconut trees to help repopulate the trees on neighboring islands whose trees were devastated during hurricane Joachim. When cruisers are traveling to those islands, they call Cordell and he will have a flat of small plantings for them to take with them. Cruisers visiting those islands also help with rebuilding homes, churches and schools.

The Georgetown Cruiser’s Regatta begins this week, tomorrow is the dinghy poker run, there will be tug of war, sailboat races, a coconut collecting contest, pet parade, talent contest, scavenger hunt, kids games and alcohol consumption. More to come as we experience it.