More photos and update from George Town

We are now in our second week of high winds. Last week we had moved to a great protected spot when the winds were around 40 knots. This week, they are lower - 20-30, so we are in Elizabeth Harbor with all the majority of other boats here. Counts have been lower this year. Usually it is around 300 the last 4 years, but this year the counts have only been as high as 270. Still enough people to have a good time.

There was a big registration day for all the events of the regatta week. Our friend Sharon on My Sharona was in charge of the Texas Hold'em Tournament and a 50-50 raffle.

 

Sharon with the money for the raffle - neither of us won it.

 

This is the now famous "Chat n' Chill" on the beach of Stocking Island (or regatta central). It was shown on the Today Show in early February.

 

Dinghy dock of the St. Francis Resort where Texas Hold'em games and tournaments are held.

 

This little guy was all dressed up for the Pet Parade.

 

This is Callie, dressed for the Pet Parade. Callie is owned by Sharon and Wayne on My Sharona.

During the opening ceremony, several of the men put together a fake synchronized swimming skit that was just hilarious. Wish I had it on video for you.

 

Men's synchronized swimming event.

During the opening night show at sunset, all the conch horn players came on stage and blew. It sounds so pretty at sunset across the harbor, but all together on stage it really was horrible as there is no way to tune these.

 

Our friends Janie on Pirate and Robin on Cookie Monster are on the end playing.

One event is called the Coconut Challenge that consists of three events. The first is to take an un-motorized dinghy with 4 people using only swim fins as paddles to paddle out and retrieve as many floating coconuts in a small anchorage. The second is to have one team member toss a coconut to another who tossed it over their shoulder and it is to be caught in a trash bag held by two members of the team. The third event is to toss a coconut into a circle and see how many you get. Scores for all events are them totaled.

 

Our friend Janie getting ready to do the first part of the event.

 

Mass chaos at start of the race.

 

Time to count the coconuts

 

Janie and team member getting ready to catch coconuts.

 

Cloverleaf, the race committee boat for the in-harbor race.

We think we are the only country that spends money on "Bridges to Nowhere." This bridge was built to connect a island known as Crab Cay to the main island of Exuma, but the funds for building it ran out. So now it is just a pretty bridge that goes nowhere.

 

Exuma's Bridge to Nowhere

 

Ron on Sea Dancer getting ready to run the bases at the Cruiser's vs. Bahamians Softball Game - always a blast.

 

Team photo of the cruiser's team - Yukon-Burbons. Apparently the sponsor owns a taxi in George Town that used to be a Suburban, but is now a Yukon, thus the origin of the name.

 

Our good friends Bettye and Dennis of Miss Bettye (formerly of Son of a Sailor), arrived in George Town just in time for the Texas Hold'em Tournament.

 

Bob and I ready to play at the tournament. Bob hung in longer than I did that night.

 

My Sea Glass Jewelry on display at the Arts and Crafts Show at Regatta central

 

Arts and Crafts Show

 

One of the sand sculptures on the beach of a sailing catamaran.

 

This was the winning sand sculpture. They even includes eggs that don't show here.

 

Our friend Matt on Mattina out wind surfing in Elizabeth Harbor on a very windy day. Boy was he flying!

 

This was a poker game on Riff Raff. Shown are Chris as guest on Ox, Sharon on My Sharona, Penny on Pretty Penny, Bettye on Miss Bettye, Vivian on Second Chance, and Wayne on My Sharona.

 

Ron and Karen on Sea Dancer in the Dinghy Parade.

 

Jim and Janie on the Pirate Dinghy. It was too windy to take their Parrot along for the parade.

We are now waiting for a weather window to cross over to Long Island south of George Town.