Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Georgetown, Exuma, Bahamas
23.31.160N
75.45.475W

Finally, the wind has dropped below 20 kts in what seems like forever!  Though, its only for a couple of days and then its back up to 25-35 kts when the next front rolls though.  So, there’s lots of movement in the harbor taking advantage of the lull to move somewhere else. 

Yesterday we dinked into Volleyball Beach and attended a talk about what went wrong for a first-time, single-handed sailor (although he had been a commercial fisherman) who lost his boat when he went on the rocks in the Flamingo Cays, southwest of here, followed by a question and answer period.  It was an interesting series of events that led up to the grounding and we did learn a couple of things we might want to adopt with our own procedures (like creating an abandon ship checklist to put with our bag and to make sure to take gloves and shoes).  The long and short of it, I felt really bad for the guy because it concentrated on all of the things he did wrong.  He was fortunate that another boat came to his rescue and the islanders were extremely gracious to him, giving him, food, shelter and clothing until he could make his way here. 

While there, I met a nice lady that I mistook for someone else but had the same name.  What are the chances of that?  Anyway, she was here on vacation with her extended family and we had a nice chat in spite of the fact I didn’t know who she was.  She was surprised that all of the people gathered were actually living on their boats and that we attended a “beach church.”

Today, Dale dinked across the channel 3 times to get water and I attended a “ladies’ luncheon”.  It was a great way to get to meet new people and learn a little about them.  The lady who organized it arranged a strategy to meet a new person and then you “interviewed” each other, learning name, boat name, how long you’d been sailing, where you were originally from, where you last lived and what you enjoyed about cruising.  I said “staying alive.” 

I also learned that there are basket weaving classes on the beach everyday at 2pm.  We’ve been here for how long and I’m just learning about this?  We’ve always said that George Town was summer camp for adults.   I want to learn how to weave baskets—particularly if we have to sit here another week!!  The only thing is, apparently you need a cork and we’re not wine drinkers.  There’s always U-Tube I suppose (to learn)--and the lady who hailed from New Orleans who lived to party (for the cork).

Guess that’s it for today.