Cruising has so many benefits.  On your boat, you can be as isolated as you want or need to be, or reach out and make friends from all over the world with other cruisers.   If you are interested in the social experience, here are some suggestions.   Come to the Exumas in January and spend lots of time cruising south, especially in the Exuma Land and Sea Park.   You will find the anchorages fairly crowded with many opportunities to talk to other cruisers.   Folks tell me that staying on a mooring at Warderick Wells includes (if you call ahead) cinnamon rolls and coffee in the morning.  It seems like a good time to meet a few people quickly, and hiking along the trails of the small island provides other time for discussion with cruising compatriots.

If you don't have lots of time to spend, probably the best way to meet other folks quickly is to plan on cruising during a special event time like the Farmer's Cay Festival or the Georgetown Regatta.  The Farmer's Cay festival is always held the First Friday in February and the Georgetown Regatta starts around the first week of March.

Get to Little Farmer's Cay and anchor at least by that Wednesday (before the first Friday in February) so you can attend the volunteer's meeting at the Ocean Cabin.  As a volunteer, you will meet other spirited, creative individuals and have a chance to work together on fun projects on behalf of the festival.   If you don't want to volunteer, you can just attend the festival's many events and meet people that way. 

By meeting people at Farmer's in February, you will have established some acquaintances by the time you get to Georgetown in March for the Annual Regatta there.  This year (2004) the Regatta is from March 9-15.  I looked at the social calendar for this year's Regatta and found that they have lots going on.  There is sailboat racing, volleyball and softball for the sports minded, a talent show, beach bonfires, cards & games on the beach, and classes in everything from getting your HAM License to painting your boat.  There are also activities for children.   If you don't have the time to spend both February and March cruising, and still want to act like a kid again, plan to attend either the Farmer's Cay festival or the Georgetown Regatta.

Hey, there is always the old fashioned way—meeting at sailor hangouts.  I'll be doing an article soon on  "The Best of the Exumas", but for those who can't wait and are interested in the best bars, though few and far between, here they are—McDuffs at Normans Cay, Club Thunderball or The Yacht Club on Staniel Cay, Ocean Cabin on Little Farmers (although I really liked the Farmer's Cay Yacht Club since they had a big-screen TV, a pool table and  a rather long bar to provide opportunities for people to mingle).  More later on this topic to include Georgetown.