Cruising with the Buckleys: Hangin out in Georgetown

We usually try to be here in time for the Family Islands Regatta and this year we arrived a few days early in order to make the ocean passage before the winds build once again.
As many as 300 cruising boats call Georgetown home for the winter since heading further south calls for long overnite ocean passages thru some very remote islands. This has earned it the nickname "Chicken Harbor". This small town welcomes the influx of boaters and offers all the amenities a cruiser requires. The local grocery is well stocked boasting easy access with a large dingy dock and also free R/O water. The harbor is actually what is called a roadstead and is quite large at 1 mile wide and 2 miles long. Depending on the wind direction boaters can find protection in it's many anchorages but as winds shift the "Georgetown Shuffle" begins as boats reanchor in a more sheltered spot. Stocking Island is mostly uninhabited with numerous beaches and hiking trails and this is where most of the action is. Yoga, water aerobics, poker, volleyball, trivia, open mike and lectures are but a few of the activities organized by the cruising community. The problem with this Island anchorage is the dinghy ride to town is at least a mile and when the wind is up it makes for a wet ride.


another secluded beach- Elizabeth Is

Family Islands Regatta
This year marks the 66th year this event has been held. The regatta lasts 5 days and is a festival that attracts thousands of Bahamians to participate in the shoreside activities. Over 70 traditional sloops from all over the islands participate in 5 days of racing in classes ranging from the E class 12 ft boats to the A class 28 footers. The festivities go on well into the night with live concerts and we have learned to anchor well away from town.


starting line- anchors set, sails down


our vantage point off the stern of friends boat- to close for comfort


hiking out class A

Crab Cay Anchorage
One of our favorite spots that gives us the serenity of a quiet anchorage but is still less than a mile to town is the abandoned harbor at Crab Cay. This development was started about 20 years ago but has been basically left to the elements after construction of a beautiful stone bridge, dredging a 40 acre harbor with a canal to nowhere, miles of roads with buried utilities and a stunning welcome center.
We spend much of our time hiking the miles of roads and trails, enjoying beautiful beaches and exploring ruins dating back to the 1700's.