Bellatrix

3 March 2016

Georgetown, Exumas, Bahamas

It has been a busy week, “The 2016 Georgetown Cruising Regatta.”

Cruising sailboat racing, alcohol, Dinghy Poker Run, alcohol, Pet Parade, alcohol, Boat Decorating Contest, alcohol, Coconut Challenge, alcohol, Beach Golf, alcohol, Volleyball, alcohol, Scavenger Hunt, alcohol, Alcohol Research Group, alcohol, and of course alcohol.

The Regatta started with a talent show of cruisers and locals.

Bellatrix did well in the regatta races, we placed first in our class in the harbor race and third in the around the island race. Prizes were 2 burgees, two bottles of rum and two bottles of Kalik.

Yesterday we participated in the Coconut Challenge. Dinghies are stripped of motors and gear, 4 persons per dinghy and you must wear a life jacket (any way you want). You must paddle the dinghy with a swim fin. They release more than a thousand coconuts in a lagoon and everyone starts at the same time to collect as many coconuts as possible then row back to the shore to have your coconuts counted. We got 94, each coconut counts as 1 point, there were two coconuts which were painted gold worth 10 points. You kept 2 coconuts per person. At the volleyball court they had bulls eyes on the other side of the net. Each team would toss their coconuts at the same time to try to hit bullseyes and scores were tallied. Then you had one tosser, one feeder, and two others with a large garbage bag. The tosser turned his back to the catchers and tossed coconuts over his head and the catchers tried to catch as many as they could in the garbage bag. We finished fourth, about 30 points out of the prizes.

The Alcohol Research Group met last night on the beach, bring a dish and you favorite drink.

I met a couple of guys at the Redboone Cafe (pronounced Redbone) Rake and Scrape last week. Two guys in really good shape, short haircuts, military types. John and Jeff, retired New Jersey State Police, SWAT and Scuba. Both really nice guys. Jeff is an entertainer, part of a band on the Jersey shore and he participated in the Talent Show. John introduced us to his mother Grace which describes her perfectly. Grace has a home here on Exuma and she and John invited Robin and I to dinner. John picked us up and drove us to Graces home on the water, beautiful barely describes it. John cooked pulled pork roasted for 24 hours, the best Pina Colatta you’ve ever tasted, and pizza appetizers. Also as guests were some neighbors and the Magistrate. I can’t describe how pleasant these people are, I hope to meet them again sometime. Look up Suspended Justice, if Jeff is any indication this must be a magnificent Rock band.

I have realized something interesting about cruisers…

Most of my friends are the cool, handsome, interesting people. Frequently the nerdy, people unsure of themselves, who can’t dance or don’t dance well kind of keep to themselves and sit on their stool and watch. Cruisers on the other hand don’t seem to care. They embrace life, enjoy every minute and care what people think of them as friends, helpers, sailors, but not how they look or how they dance. The least “Cool” people are the ones having a ball, dancing their hearts out, sharing with others, enjoying life.