Georgetown Revisited

Clockwise: Chat 'N Chill beach, The hurricane hole where we will leave our boat in December, view from Klevelly House

We glided into our anchorage off Stocking Island about 3:00pm after a wonderful sail from Long Island with a broad reach and following seas. Only one frightening incident altered this otherwise perfect day--but it was a doozy. During an accidental “jibe” Vince got caught up in the handful of thick lines running just over his head diagonally across his back to the traveller. But as he leaned back, just as the jibe occurred, they positioned themselves in front of him with the ropes catching him cross the upper chest and neck! As the boom suddenly swung outwards, he was jerked right out of his seat and thrown against the life line where he was pinned half in and half out of the boat! Fortunately, his hand just happened to be positioned at his throat when this occurred allowing him push at the ropes--keeping them away from his neck. Had he not been in a position to do this, the sudden and enormous thrust of the boom against the ropes at his throat would easily have snapped his neck!! After pulling him off of the lifelines, back into the cockpit, and freeing him from the taut imprisoning ropes, he was able to climb back behind the steering wheel and bring the boat under control. It was an extremely sobering incident. We continued on in stunned silence for the rest of the journey--each immersed in our own thoughts. Vince pondering possible modifications to the traveller and I seething with how such a simple oversight on his part almost brought us to a quick and tragic end.

As we sailed past the hundreds of vessels still anchored in Georgetown, we were saddened to realize that most of our old friends had moved on--their boats now replaced with others having unfamiliar names. But since we were continuing northward the next morning, it didn’t really matter. We launched the dinghy, motored into town for last minute supplies and prepared to settle in for an early evening. A couple from the boat “Meredith” came over to welcome us into the anchorage and to invite us to a bonfire beachparty planned for later that evening. But we declined, knowing we’d need a solid nights sleep before the next leg of our passage. Half an hour later the dinghy from “Joana” also motored over to repeat the invitation. After recognizing her owners, Wade and Diane from an encounter with them in Nassau many weeks before, we began to reconsider our decision to move on and decided to stay just a little bit longer. We had promised to say a proper good-bye to both Blue Blazer and Brydil Ankar when we returned from Long Island. And if it now meant missing the rest of this weather window and staying put till the next one, then so be it. We went to the party and had a great time. The next morning we motored over to “Peace and Plenty” for a big breakfast and later met up with Majlis and Don. We made some phone calls home and returned happy and relaxed for an afternoon on the boat. Majlis had invited us for dinner the next day but the weather turned, bringing with it huge waves and wind and Blue Blazer was anchored too far away to make the journey possible without getting completely soaked! And so, for the next few days we made the best of it, keeping in touch with friends over the radio, baking a cinnamon cake and inviting our close neighbours from both “Meredith” and “Joana” over to help us devour it, and reading our novels. (Rod, if you’re reading this, Meredith’s captain is Bob Benner, a lawyer from Lucan who knows you. Small world!) It was also during this time aboard that I wrote the previous blog--Cabin Fever. Sunday morning we awoke to more settled waters and wasted no time getting ourselves to shore to make the most of the day. And what a day it was! We spent the morning beach combing, gathering up the shells washed up on the sand from the rough waves that had imprisoned us aboard our boats the past few days (there is a silver lining.) Then we dinghied over to “Klevelly House” where, after a tour of their hurricane hole, the cottages for rent, and the gorgeous grounds, we made arrangements to leave our boat for the upcoming month of December there, allowing us to be home for Christmas this year with family and friends. Then it was off to “Chat ‘n Chill” for their Sunday pork BBQ and a visit with many of our friends at Volleyball Beach. At 6:00 we dinghied over to Hamburger Beach to socialize with “Meredith,” “Joana” and 6 other cruisers who were enjoying a pot-luck dinner and finally retired happy and tired to bed. The winds kicked up the next day necessitating banishment to the boat once again. But we were so wacked from the previous days non-stop action that we were content to relax aboard alone with our radio, novels and each other.

The next morning we headed off with Meredith and Joana for breakfast in Georgetown and reprovisioning. I bought a lovely birthday gift for Julie and some items in the straw market for myself. We have been invited over to Brydil Anchar for a farewell visit with Satya, Phil and their kids this evening and tomorrow we’ll say goodbye to both Meredith and Joana who are heading south for Cuba and beyond. They’ve asked us to come with them but the pull to both family and friends in Canada is too strong. The winds look good to continue north at the end of the week. Blue Blazer should be back by then and Beltane wants to head north too. Hopefully we’ll have them both as boat buddies for the passage out of Georgetown.