{"id":2036,"date":"2013-04-28T15:42:54","date_gmt":"2013-04-28T19:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/svecho.com\/?p=2036"},"modified":"2013-04-28T15:42:54","modified_gmt":"2013-04-28T19:42:54","slug":"winding-down-in-georgetown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/svecho.com\/?p=2036","title":{"rendered":"Winding down in Georgetown"},"content":{"rendered":"

After a very enjoyable 3 plus months using Georgetown as our home base we are getting ready to cast off for new adventures. \u00a0 This area has been just great for hosting our visitors, enjoying the large cruising community, taking care of Echo while we were in the States for our Grand Canyon Trip, as a jumping off point to explore nearby islands, and a wonderful place to meet Bahamians and learn about their culture.<\/p>\n

Here in Exuma, the last major event of the winter season is the Family Island Regatta<\/a>. \u00a0This year marked the 60th running of a race that grew out of competition between Bahamian sailing work boats. \u00a0The boats are shipped via freighter from Islands throughout the Bahamas for this Championship.<\/p>\n

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The really exciting feature of these Bahamian Sloops is the fact that they are severely over powered and rely on the agility of their human crew to keep the boats balanced. \u00a0Each boat has one or two long planks that are deployed off the windward side. \u00a0As the wind builds, the crew progressively slides out the planks to counteract the pressure from the wind. \u00a0On the largest class, the “A” class, the boats are 32′ long and have a crew of 12. \u00a0As it gets windy, there will be up to 5 guys hanging out on each plank. \u00a0Pretty incredible!<\/p>\n

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The race starts from all the sloops at anchor with the sails down. \u00a0As the starting gun is fired, each boat hauls in the anchor as quickly as possible, hoists up the sails, and is off to the race. \u00a0This race was an out and back, out and back, course. \u00a0The following clip show the start, the boats rounding the first mark, and then the finish.<\/p>\n

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The Regatta<\/div><\/div>
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