OK, when I retired, I thought I would be putting an end to schedules, highly organized activities, and staff meetings.  Georgetown isn’t that far from the corporate world.  They (the cruisers) have a very organized lifestyle there.  They have a “staff meeting” every AM at 8:00 via the VHF.  They follow a much regimented broadcast that covers everything of importance…and much that isn’t.  The times and locations of the day’s activities are outlined, there will be announcements of future activities so you can plan your week, local businesses will announce various specials and, at times, menus, then the meeting has a large section of “new business” where boaters come on and announce that they have an “extra” battery, or are in need of a part.  They will also ask for ride sharing to the airport as well as mail in need of being taken to the US, or Canada.

There are between 150 and 350 boats in Georgetown over the winter months.  Some people actually stay there for 3 months.  Some never re-anchor.  We were there for 7 nights and didn’t re-anchor, even during the big blow.  I found it amazing that some boats re-anchor every couple of days.  In some cases it’s to get closer to the beach cocktail party on Hamburger Beach.  Mind you, none of these beaches are more than a mile from each other. 

Another thing that baffles me is that some of these people actually believe they have staked a claim to a certain spot where they like to anchor.  They believe that is their spot, and no one else can anchor there.  I would have liked to have that happen to me…but it didn’t.  We anchored about a half mile out of the “main” anchorage in Sand Dollar Beach.  It was a great spot with 17 feet of depth and good holding. 

Most of the activities are on Volleyball Beach.  There are large picnic tables where they hold bridge playing, basket weaving, yoga classes, dominoes playing, beach church choir practice, as well as the “special” seminars like fishing and ham licensing.  Sometimes I wonder what these people do back north in the summer.

Another very interesting phenomenon is the amount of Canadians down here.  It’s amazing, but many anchorages have them outnumbering all other countries combined.  It is also an accepted fact that the French Canadians have a very bad reputation…I think, in some cases, it is well earned.  We have, however, met some fantastic French Candians.  The boat "Coxily" has a family of five that are lots of fun to be around.  They are enjoying life here in the Bahamas.

We usually start the day with the weather at 8:00.  That is a critical aspect of the cruising life as it dictates most of your activities…and must be heeded.  After that, we do a couple of projects while charging the batteries.  We clean the boat a little and then usually go ashore, to the beach, or snorkeling.  Depending on where we are, there may be “special” activities.  When in Black Point, you will do laundry.  If you’re in G-Town, you go the market.  If you’re in Big Majors, you go to Staniel Cay for shopping, or drinking at the Yacht Club, or to the beach to see the swimming pigs.  If you’re in Warderick Wells, you go ashore to tour the Park.  If you’re in Allan’s Cay, you go the see the Iguanas.  If you’re in Normans Cay, you go to MacDuffs.  And finally, if you’re in Emerald Bay, you go the spa showers.  They were Kim’s highlight.  Depending on what we did, we would return to the boat and do some “relaxing” until 5:00 and then have sundowners and plan the evening.  The evenings really vary.  Sometimes we eat on Fine Lion.  There is usually a beach cocktail “event” if it’s a populated anchorage. 

Many times Kim and I just go to the beach and walk around.  When we go ashore, we go where the locals go.  They are the nicest people.  As they say, “It’s better in the Bahamas”…”Yeah, Mon”!

All of this changes during a big blow.  We’ve had a few days where you don’t leave the boat.  It’s would be too rough for a dinghy ride…way too wet.  One of our last days in G-town was like that.  I have a picture, but it’s always difficult to show waves in a picture.  Anyway, on those days, we just hang out on the boat and “rock and roll”.  They are usually >25 kts. with 3 ft seas in the anchorage.  They are always after a very still night.

We’re now back in Black Point.  Kim flew out on 1/29 for two weeks.  She had a long standing Dr’s. appt. in Greenville, NC. and is going to Colorado for a few days.  She returns 2/11 to Black Point.  While she’s gone, I’ve got a couple of projects like changing the oil, re-arranging the storage lockers, patching the dinghy, cleaning the boat, laundry, snorkeling, and going to the “Festival in Farmers on the First Friday in February”.   It’s an annual event that is well publicized.  It’s held at Little Farmers Cay.  There will be lots of partying, along with Bahamian C-Class racing.  Farmers is located about 10 miles south of Black Point.  I’ll have pictures…if they’re printable.

Below are pictures of the “Big Blow” in G-Town and of Kim’s departure from Black Point.  The “Airport” here is on the small side, but then there aren’t any crowds.  The departure times are really sort of an estimate, but she got out safely and even got into Oriental early as she got an earlier flight out of Charlotte. 

Oh, I was asked about laundry.  Well first of all, you're in a bathing suit most of the time.  Getting "dressed up" means a clean t-shirt (one that has been worn less than three times).  I haven't worn long pants in the Bahamas yet.  Shoes are flip flops or Crocs.  Protocol is that you do not wear shoes on people's boats.  You get used to wearing clothes multiple times.  Everybody else does, and you need to have a "defense" against the others.  At the end of the day...we brought too many clothes...and not enough money.

That’s all for now as I have to go do laundry…a Captain’s work is never done!

Steve