Sailing Ohana

We knew we had to sail to Georgetown asap because the winds were picking up and we needed to get there to reprovision, clean up, and meet our friends from home, the Vasel family, who visited us last year. It ended up being a really rough passage, when the perfectly nice day got interrupted with squalls and big waves.

Fortunately it was not a long trip, and we arrived safely in Georgetown, where there was good protection from the wind. Evidentally every other boater in the area had the same idea…. Georgetown was crowded (but it always seems to be). We anchored in a good spot right in front of the Monument hill which offers excellent protection, and settled in for a windy week. We did boat school and listened to the cruisers’ net in the mornings, spent afternoons at Chat n’ Chill, and got soaked by the waves every time we took the dinghy out. Jackson and Spencer got some coconuts from the trees near Chat n’ Chill one day (after they asked permission from the restaurant), and drew the attention of a few other boat families as they broke them apart and shared the juice and meat. Some of the other parents specifically commented on Jackson’s skills and care with the machete. It was fun to learn the different techniques people use to open coconuts. Chat n’ Chill was closed for the last few days of our time in Georgetown, because someone reported health code violations and they were forced to close and clean up. Not surprising, actually… We never eat there for a reason.

During our nearly full week in Georgetown, we took several trips across the channel to go to the Exuma Market, Top II Bottom, Shell gas, and Napa Auto Parts.  Exuma Market has been improved since last season and has nicer produce and perishables now.

We returned to Crab Cay for our last couple of days, which was less peaceful than I remembered, but it was still nice to get away from the crowds. The boys jumped off the cliffs and we went to the beach near the ruins of the $800M resort that was never completed. The structures that are still there are beautifully made with high quality craftsmanship and detail. There is a resort map painted onto one of the walls, showing what was planned, and it would have been really cool. The boys explored the ruins and to our horror Jackson climbed onto the thatched roofs of the large pavilion and ran around. Needless to say we had some serious conversations about using good (or bad) judgment. We went for walks on the island, the boys practiced skimboarding, played in the sand, and Jackson made Spencer a bracelet from palm leaves.