Georgetown

After waking early, listening to Chris Parker with the weather, the anchor was up at 7:15 am ready to head out Galliot cut to Georgetown.  We followed another boat, Shannondoah and saw her rocking back and forth ahead of us - not a good sign.  As we got closer to the cut, the waves were breaking and the winds were howling.  We went a little further and instead of it getting better, it only got worse. 

 Time to give Rylee a sea sickness pill and make sure for the second and third time that everything below is secure as it is going to be a rough ride.  The winds and wave height were not even close to what was predicted.  We had winds SE at 20 and waves 6-8 feet.  We put up both reefed sails and held on tight.  We bobbed up and down as the waves crashed over the bow and knew that if we turned back, it would be another four to five days at anchor waiting for the next weather window.  We decided that Makai would be tough and could make the six hour 38 plus miles to Georgetown where we would anchor for a week or so.  Georgetown is the final destination for a lot of cruisers who chose to spend the winter months here.  It has a variety of nicknames such as "Adult Day Camp" and "Chicken Harbor".  But it also has a lot to offer cruisers such as grocery stores, fuel, medical clinic, churches, liquor stores, laundry services, banks, restaurants, straw market, internet, water and trash disposal, all vital to a cruiser. 
 During a normal season, there are usually 300 or more boats here and as of today, 150 are at anchor with more arriving each day.  There are several prime anchoring spots, Volleyball Beach being the hub with Sand dollar Beach and Hamburger Beach to the sides, each representing their respective name.  Cruisers here are very organized to say the least, starting off each morning with a Cruisers Net on the radio announcing the days activities and events, weather, new arrivals, departing boats, etc.  If you are looking for aerobics, basket weaving, bible study, dominoes, arts and crafts, volleyball, basketball, Texas hold-em poker, trivial pursuit, music therapy, book study, sewing classes, ham radio classes - anything and everything is here just ask anyone and they will be more than happy to direct you to the right person.  It is a party place too --- lots of drinking, dancing, and more drinking until dark when everyone starts making ready for a good nights sleep to start the next day refreshed.