George Town

Elizabeth Harbour—the harbor at George Town on the island of Great Exuma—has a lot to offer. It is 7 nautical miles long and over a mile wide. The bottom provides great holding for the anchor and there are numerous anchorages, where boaters can find protection from any wind direction if they are willing to move. There is an active social scene and a daily cruiser’s net on the VHF radio. There is a decent grocery store, two laundromats, several restaurants and bars, a gas station, and an airport that has flights directly to the US. There is a very nice dinghy dock behind the grocery store and access to free water. All of these advantages make the harbor—usually referred to as George Town—a very popular place. There might be a few hundred boats in the harbor during the busiest time later in the winter. The crowds count as a disadvantage for us. As does the large size of the harbor. It is so large that wind can make it very choppy. A dinghy ride across the harbor can be quite wet and wild. 

We left Cat Island at 5 am yesterday morning and set sail for George Town. We had just enough wind for a nice sail with the wind on the beam. This afternoon we took a dinghy ride to town to buy diesel, gas, and a few groceries. The dinghy ride back—just a 1/2 mile—was bouncy and wet, especially for George. We had to rinse his clothes, which are now drying in the cockpit. 

Part of Elizabeth Harbour at George Town. Very few boats here at the moment. We expect there to be many more within a few months. At the top of the hill on the far left you might be able to see a monument. The trail leading to the monument is just one of several hiking trails. 

Sunrise as we left Cat Island yesterday.