Long Island Back to George Town

We had a beautiful sail from Long Island back to George Town,  Exuma,  April 15^th.  Our friend and sailor,  Fred Heltenen,  flew in from Traverse City to join us for the Family Island Regatta and the trek back to the States.   15 to 25 knot winds  have  kept our dinghy rides wet and lively while providing great challenges for the racers.   Bahamian music, delicious street food, and visitors from all the islands made Regatta Week quite interesting!

 

As of April 28^th, we’re still here.    25 – 30 knot winds (and impressive waves)  are keeping more than 100 cruising boats tucked safely into the nooks and crannies of this harbor.  We gather for beach feasts, hikes, snorkeling in a few protected areas,  dancing to the local Rake and Scrape music…when the wind settles, there will be a mass exodus to the north.  Fred has been a good sport about these limitations.  We hope some wonderful sailing will happen before he needs to fly back to Spring in Michigan.   

Still in the Bahamas

The photos in this post are as follows...
1. Dietrich's tuna, after the shark took his portion
2. Friends, Sheryl and Brian, finessing the coconut relay in Georgetown
3. and 4. Georgetown harbor at night and dinghies by day
5. Dietrich's winning race photo for the Cruisers' Regatta
6. Buzzy Rolle, Georgetown's famous boat builder and racer
7. Gin-clear water over sand dollars
8. The sharksucker, who lurked beneath and played around our boat, at Staniel Cay
9. Friend, Brian, admiring a lobster
10. Seaquarium in the Exuma Sea and Land Park - snorkeling was a thrill
11. Lorraine, of Lorraine's Cafe and free wireless service...we returned to Black Point many times, always looking forward to Lorraine's warm welcome and conch salad
12. Lorraine's mom, Paymon, during a rare moment of quiet plaiting...Lorraine's Mom's Bread is THE BEST in the Exumas! Her coconut bread is fragrant with fresh coconut paste, folded into dense, sweet dough. We always picked up our order at her kitchen counter.

We are headed back to George Town for the Family Islands Regatta (Bahamian sloops, Classes A,B,C, and D), Music and Food Festival. When it's over, we really will need to get on the move toward the States and home.