The 'You Gotta Regatta' ~~ or ~~ Kids, What you Parents Are Really Doing When They Think You Are Not Looking

“Strike one!” the Umpire intones as the ball flies over the catcher's head into the backstop. The Bahamian batter turns incredulously to the Ump. “Strike?”, he challenges meekly. “Yeah, strike, and the next one's a strike too!” as he confiscates the bat as “illegal” and hands him a broom. “Use this!” The Umpire imperiously directs the next batter, a right hander, to the opposite side of the plate, forcing him to bat left handed. The batter dribbles a ball to the shortstop, who, with men on 1st and 2nd, quickly tosses it over the head of the 3rd baseman for an attempted forced out. The game announcer, mike in hand, keeps up a constant patter as he trots onto the field, deftly fields the overthrown ball with his free hand and throws it to 3rd for the out. “You're out!” shouts the Ump. “Everybody's out!” He commands, even though the scoreboard shows there were no outs prior to the play. And so, the game between the Bahamian home town team and the “Cruisers” continues. The Cruisers come to bat. Gabrielle, the right fielder, struts to the plate humming, “Do-wah-diddy-diddy-dum-diddy-do”, leans over with her balloon enhanced, curvaceous form, obscuring fully ½ the strike zone and provocatively wiggles herself into some semblance of a batting stance. All the while, her designated “runner” prepares to sprint to 1st. It's all a part of the two week long Georgetown Cruisers' Regatta.

What else would you do when you are 'stuck' in Georgetown during Regatta Week except take in the festivities: coconut races (running with a partner with a coconut between your bodies~~no hands allowed), sailboat races, talent shows, softball games, dances, arts and crafts, sandcastle competitions, volleyball tournaments, scavenger hunts and more. Ah, visions of Pine Mountain Church Camp~~except we're not having a 'backwards day'. Here we are, truly 'stuck' in Georgetown: suffering through 70* temperatures, aquamarine water, and monotonously clear skies; 'stuck'... awaiting parts for the generator. Actually, we got the part yesterday, but it didn't do the trick. However, Customs was nice enough to charge us import duties: On a $60 part, they charged us $100 duties, plus duties on the cost of the expedited overnight Fed Ex package that took 5 days to arrive! It would have been cheaper and faster to fly to back to the states, get the part and return. Well, live and learn, they say.


'Coconut Race'

Clearly, in spite of the frustrations, being 'stuck' in Georgetown during the Regatta has it's good points. The Georgetown Cruiser Regatta is to cruisers what Margaritaville is for serious drinkers. It's where you want to be. In addition to sailboat races, it offers games for the kids, weather seminars, beach side church services, yoga classes and AA meetings(for Margaritaville burnouts). But almost everything has a family flavor. A young couple and their 7 or 8 year old daughter pulled alongside us in their dinghy last Sunday afternoon. They were on a scavenger hunt. They were looking for red things: such as a ketchup packet, a red high heel, a red feather boa~~all those things you have on-board in great abundance! We were able to help them out with the ketchup packet and a picture of Captain Jack Sparrow with his red bandanna.

But, back to that softball game, probably the best thing for me so far. What a hoot! The umpire (who had to be one of us, judging from the way he cheated for our team) wore a black suit, white shirt, black tie with his pants pulled up around the bottom of his suit jacket, revealing his white socks and his Keen sandals. When our team (the “Cruisers” ~~ called very loudly by a French-speaking woman sitting next to me the “Losers” (and she was on OUR side! Apparently a Toronto Blue Jays fan!) ~~ began to get way behind, the umpire started taking bribes from our team. When a bribe from the home team was not forthcoming, he would handicap them outrageously; like the way he made them bat left handed and called them out, taking away points when they hit a home-run! I don't know who was controlling the scoreboard, but when we would make a run, the score went up by 2 points. When the Bahamians made a run, nothing happened. It was reported the next day that the outcome of the game was still in dispute! The 'natives' however, are very gracious and I don't think it will go to the commissioner of baseball for a settlement.

Monday evening brought the talent show with a mixture of island and cruising people. A lack of talent didn't deter the performance of and enthusiasm for a wide range of skits, songs, and dance routines. As with the ball game, however, it seemed that most of the talent rested with the local Bahamians. Still, it was all great fun: reminiscent of church and summer camp. This whole thing is a fund raiser for the islanders regatta later this month.


Bahamian Dancers, Georgetown

Still 'stuck' is 'stuck'! With good company, wide ranging activities, a safe anchorage, free potable water and good provisioning, and a good excuse, it's hard to get 'unstuck'. We met a guy the other day who came to Georgetown last January, not intending to stay more than a few days. He's still here. In addition to waiting for stuff, attending whacky events and working on the boat, this time presents an opportunity to make new friends (and see old ones). There is definitively a sense of community here. Every morning volunteers host a 'Cruisernet' on the VHF radio. Weather, general information, announcements (like “the propane tanker will be arriving next Thursday or “the lower part of a bikini has been found; to be returned to its owner on Honeymoon Beach at 10:00 tonight, come alone.”), and advice sought and given regarding boat repairs, computer problems, etc. For example, based on an announcement, we started meeting with a group of people who, like us, plan to continue on south. We had a wonderful get together Thursday and plan to keep in touch by radio as we continue towards the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. There were probably 8 or 9 Americans, 3-4 Canadians, one Austrian and two couples from New Zealand. Its a really eclectic and representative group. It consists mostly of middle aged couples but some young people as well. It includes both rich and poor, experienced and inexperienced. Boats range from 70' custom built motor yachts to 29' 1970 era production sailboats. Common experience, interests and concerns bring all together. We share weather and route information and make sure we keep an eye on each other as we travel. We check in every night at 6:30 on the single side band radio (like a HAM radio). Among the most popular topics of discussion, other than where you have been and where you plan to go, is boat repairs and insurance, constant concerns.

Even though there's alot going on, in the absence of movie theaters, shopping malls, TV, 24 hour news, and the hectic pace of nearly every place else, we actually have time to read... like...books! ! I got really excited because we went to the library yesterday and I have 5 new books. We read constantly. All cruisers do, because you need a break from boat repairs! Anyway, all down any coast at any marina, yacht club, etc., you will find lending libraries where you bring in your old books and take whatever you want from the library. When you finish, you can exchange at your next port of call and get something new. It's just a way of sharing that works very well. And reading takes the edge off of being stuck.


Sunset from Our Anchorage off Honeymoon Beach

So all things considered, being 'stuck' isn't all that bad. We do need to get moving...but maybe we should stay just a little longer. You know, the Family Island Regatta starts here in a few weeks. I mean when will be get a chance to see that again!