For many years Exuma has been recognized as the sailing capital of the Bahamas. Each year, starting in November, sail boats arrive and drop anchor in Elizabeth Harbor. Some come from Canada to escape the cold winter, some are live-aboard cruisers from the US come to enjoy the weather and the social life for the winter, while others are long term cruisers aiming to sail round the world and stop in Exuma for an extended period.
By January the number of sail boats in the harbor will number
between 400 and 500 each proudly flying their country flag
from the stern. The live-aboard's are a very social group and if
you have the opportunity to listen to a VHF radio at 8am you will
hear their entertaining radio broadcast. First they have a
detailed weather forecast, then the broadcast invite local
businesses to advertise their services, then the sailors report
any problems they may be experiencing and invite others to help
solve their problems, finally their is a thought for the day;
sometimes religious, sometimes amusing.
By the afternoon groups will meet on different beaches to discuss
their future plans, teach others to play a guitar, play bridge, or
most popular of all, to meet on Stocking Island where there are four volleyball courts, all busy with players and spectators.
Every March they have the cruising regatta. This is a week long series of events for all ages. There will be a coconut harvest where swimmers have to collect the most floating coconuts in a given time. Another event is the sand sculpture on Volleyball beach. The teenagers have their own contest to build their own dinghy and then race against their peers. The highlight of the week is the Round Stocking Island Race. Here you will find about 50 boats, ranging in size from 20ft to 60ft, monohulls and catamarans, race around Stocking Island, part in the calmer waters of the harbor, part in the Atlantic.
By Easter the numbers start to dwindle, as some return to the US and Canada for the Summer, some into the Caribbean, some into the Gulf of Mexico to traverse the Panama Canal and on into the Pacific for the next part of their adventure.
