Great Exuma Island, Georgetown, Bahamas

Moon reaches the tropic of cancer.

We set sail for Georgetown, the southernmost port in the Exumas, and happened to arrive just after the the big cruisers regatta. We couldn’t believe how many boats were anchored in the harbor, at least 300 – 400! But with the belief that there is always room for one more, we made our way in and set our hook in Elizabeth Harbor.

A view of some of the boats in Elizabeth Harbor as we arrive

Georgetown is the capital of the Exumas . It is located on Great Exuma Island. The Tropic of Cancer runs directly through Georgetown and approximately 900 people live in this seaport, a favorite spot for cruisers.

View of the hurricane holes from atop of the monument

Elizabeth Harbor is very large. About seven miles long and one mile wide with many different spots to anchor. If bad weather is coming you can find a safe spot within a mile or two of where you are, unlike lots of the anchorages in the Bahamas that offer only partial protection. We even found protected harbor that we later learned was called the “litter box”. We guessed that was because mostly only catamarans could navigate their way in there…once again great to have shallow draft! We were able to sit through strong winds for 3 days in perfect protection.

Hello there

Brian checking out the other side of the reef

We’ve had fun exploring and snorkeling. We anchored in front of Monument Beach and Sand Dollar Beach for a couple of days and explored Stocking Island. Our mornings are usually spent doing boat maintenance, going to town for supplies, laundry, dropping off trash or filling our water tanks. It doesn’t feel like we are cruisers here because it’s like being anchored in a city. Although it is nice it’s not the same when you can just run to the store and pick up what you need instead of becoming creative with what you have, and did I mention that there are lots of boats!!

View of the monument from our cockpit

Last time we were in Georgetown Brian’s dad met us here so we’ve been thinking of him as we have been exploring and revisiting some of the same places that we saw together with him…missed you this time Charlie!

On Stocking Island, you can hike to the salt stone. In ancient days, this monument was placed atop the highest point on the island to alert passing ships they could come here for salt and other supplies.

Brian using rope to help climb up steep slope to the monument

Exploring the rocky side of Stocking Island

Exuma Markets, a grocery store here, built a floating dinghy dock for cruisers to use inside Lake Victoria. There is a hose on the dock to fill your water tanks with reverse-osmosis (RO) water at no charge. Nice to have unlimited access to fresh water and we’ve once again been able to stay squeaky clean. Thank you Exuma Market!!

Dinghy dock behind the Exuma Market, Lake Victoria

St. Andrew’s is a more-than-a-century-old church on Kitt’s Hill. Andrew’s Anglican Church is undoubtedly the most eye-catching structure in Georgetown.

Since we’ve been here lots of boats have been heading out and on with the rest of their trips whether it’s back to their home ports or on with their journeys. So it’s been clearing out a little. Brian and I call this “High School Harbor”. If you were here you would see what we mean. The day starts at 8 AM with the morning Net where we get a weather update, cruisers information (like where the potlucks, volleyball games, poker games, or dance will be for the night) and then the VHF is afire for the day with boats calling each other to make plans for getting together and to see what the other is going to do for the day. This is a very social place! Lots of boats come here for the winter season and spend the whole time here in Georgetown. For everyone at home…we have snowbirds here too!

A couple of caves that we came across as we explored Stocking Island

Area off of Stocking Island beach called “the baths”

We just happened to be here for the 10 annual Heritage and Music Festival. This was a fun event and the locals really came out and had a good time. Lots of local music and food.

Local posing for us in front of the Festival entrance…nice guy too!

This is the Lazerith Family. Made of coconuts they are the ambassadors of the festival, seems that they have been around for some time per the man that created them, He said that there is a u-tube video of them too but we could not find it.

One windy day Brian decided to explore the island further and took a bike ride to Rolle Town. He was in search for some boat supplies from the boat yard that was up that way. He said that the ride was beautiful and brought back some photos to share.

Rolle Town Tombs.The largest of the three tombs is shaped like a stone double bed with headboard and footboard. The inscription reads, “Within this tomb is interred the body of Ann McKay, the wife of Alexander McKay, who departed this life on the first of November, 1792, at age twenty-six years old.”
Alexander McKay was a Scottish overseer who came to Great Exuma in 1789 after being granted 161 hectares (398 acres) of land for a plantation. His wife joined him in 1791 but a year later she and their infant child died. McKay himself died a year later — legend has it that he perished of a broken heart.

All in all we’ve had fun here in Georgetown. We ran into a old and very dear friend of ours that we met in Jamaica on our last travels. It was a great surprise to see our friend Lance and we got to meet his wife Colleen and granddaughter too. What a nice surprise!

Brian checking out the ledges

Brian is currently under the boat scraping and cleaning the bottom preparing for a cast off. We’re thinking of heading out in the morning towards Long Island. We haven’t made it to Chat-n-Chill yet on Stocking Island and this is a must stop for us so that will probably be for lunch today. http://chatnchill.com/

I’ll take some pictures and share them with you next time.

Take care all.

Jennifer and Brian