We dropped the hook off the famous Chat ‘N Chill and headed ashore to begin our George Town experience. After a day or two, the mass of boats seemed normal, we got into a routine with the morning net, ran into some folks we’d met previously, and met lots of new cruising families!
We spent just under two weeks anchored off of Stocking Island (I’m starting to think two weeks is our limit in any one spot!). We anchored off C ‘N C and also in deep water between Honeymoon and Monument Beach and had great holding in both spots. Rather than chronicle everything we did, our thoughts...
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• Tons of options for anchoring. Even though it looked crowded, I never felt like there wasn’t room for another boat. (Though maybe that changes during regatta!) Folks kept good spacing for the most part and neighbors chatted.
• Supplies! Fresh produce was readily available and the farmers market was great. Propane, fuel, trash, and even water (via jerry can) were easy to get to in Victoria Harbour. A big dinghy dock and a wall to tie up to made access easy. Getting in and out of the harbour could be tricky in some wind/current combos, but we managed to make it each time!
• People! With this many boats, there are plenty of folks to meet/hang out with. We were in town for a party hosted by the tourism board and met a bunch of folks! (The food was awesome, too!) The kids managed to meet other teenagers, too, and that really made the stop worth it.
• Social events. It is way too easy to get overwhelmed if you try to do everything in the cruiser community of George Town! Yoga, water aerobics, ukulele lessons, rake & scrape, tours, Texas hold ‘em, kids meet-ups, bonfires, volleyball, church, daily Chat ‘n Chill gathering...when do we relax?!?! 😂 Seriously, you can't be bored.
• Friendly locals. Everyone we chatted with in town was nice and helpful. Special shout-out to Doe Boi who sent us on our way with an iPad cover to test its fit with nothing more than a hand-shake to bring it back or come back and pay for it.
• Outdoor fun. While you can’t hunt or fish in the harbor, there is plenty to do. There are some snorkeling spots close by (we didn’t get to try them due to conditions) and Stocking Island has a bunch of hiking trails that are easily accessed via dinghy.
• Community. I mean this in the “here to help” way. Every day folks would be reaching out for a part, expertise, or suggestions and they rarely had to ask twice. We were able to offer some water maker help/parts and were thanked with friendship and a bottle of wine! Long-time GT cruisers were a wealth of information and really helped out the newcomers, and ran a fantastic morning cruisers net!
• With an airport and frequent supply ships, you really don’t ever have to leave.
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• The robust schedule can lead to FOMO or just guilt if you ignore it all to relax.
• People! Haha, I (Jo) am an introvert, but there are so many cruisers here that you can get wrapped into that community instead of experiencing the local one if you’re not careful. And with so many people comes plenty of opinions (including a mom who thought my kid needed to hear her opinion of their cell phone use directly instead of coming through me). The morning net and FB page featured plenty of “mother-hen” comments and it started to sound like a bunch of people yelling, “get off my lawn!” It was decent entertainment, but...
• With an airport and frequent supply ships, you really don’t ever have to leave. With all of its conveniences, GT can suck you in and scrap all of your cruising plans!
The pros far outweigh the cons! We really did enjoy our time here, and may come back for a brief stop as we try to head for islands to the south and east. But for our first year of cruising, this stop was long enough!
Chat ‘n Chill fun—swings, volleyball, drinks, CATS!
Monument Hike. We took the steep “Intrepid Trail” up the back to get there, and the easier front path on the way down.
Town life! Shopping, dining, fuel, and parties!
Our 6-hour, 3-hour tour of Little Exuma. 😂
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