Meandering slowly up the Abaco's we found another South African boat, Vagabund and heard our friends on Panache
were in the area and heading our way with two other South African boats! We had a wonderful evening with Zach and Magdo on Vagabund. They told us a South African reunion was on the cards. The plan was to meet at the Manjack beach anchorage on the 31st May! This happened to be Republic Day!
We met up with Vagabund and Panache at Tahiti Beach and we heard their friends from South Africa on Island Explorer were also on the way.
We had, in the meantime, discovered a boatyard here that could haul us out for anti fouling! marsh Harbour yard agreed to take us out first thing Tuesday morning as the Monday was a holiday here! The deed was done and went fairly smoothly with just a few shouts and screams! But all ended well and as promised they splashed us at 1700 hrs on the Friday 29th. We headed over to spend the night at Man o War Anchorage to start our sail north to Manjack the venue of the South African Armada in Bahamas!
Saturday arrived and we got a perfect wind, hoisted sails and four hours later we dropped sails and motored through North Manjack Cut. Anchored in the bay were seven South African boats, our boat made eight! It was incredible boats had come from all over. Our friends on Alleycat and Shiloh could not resist the call to party and had come all the way back up from Nassau!
1. Rat Catcher from Gordon's Bay Yacht Club:)
2. Alleycat with Alan and Marita from Royal Cape Yacht Club
3. Shiloh with John and our honorary South African Holli!
4. Panache with Gideon and Bret from Zululand Yacht club, Richards Bay.
5. Khaya Moyà, with John and Shirley from Richards Bay
6. Island Explorer with Doug and Ursula from Durban
7. Island Khaya with Riaan and Brenda from Durban
8. Vagabund with Zack and Magdo from Zululand
9. Leon and Wendy arrived on Sundy morning on a Motor boat they are delivering to USA!
We had arrived just in time for a good 'Talking Heads' session and we all dinghyed over to the beach, dipped down into gin clear water with Sting Rays and fish between us listening to the laughter and chats!
Sunday morning the dressing of the boats began! South African flags as well as sailing flags and bunting. They looked amazing! The picnic Braai area was dressed with flags and table cloths and the party was set to begin!
We actually had one pack of genuine Boerewors that was carefully braaied and cut into about 2 cm lengths so everyone got to sample it and drool! Pap tert, bean salads, braaivleis and much more was the main meal. The cooks had outdone themselves for pudding there was Melktert, Souskleitjies and bread pudding. The only regret, our stomachs were not bigger to pig out more on the Fare!
As some us wallowed in the water stroking and feeding the resident Sting Ray others played Boules on the beach!
The two huge pools of flowing water like the tears of those left behind running endlessly into the Pit! One cannot remain untouched as you read the names of the people lost that have been cut into the frames surrounding the pools! People who expected to be home that night! Despite advanced technology 40% of the victims remains have not been identified! The names have not been added haphazardly, family members, friends and coworkers are grouped together as they would have been in life! 
Amongst the crowds around the pools was a big group of youngsters, I would guess aged somewhere between 15 and 25 years, all dressed in black. They captured my attention, they all looked so young and beautiful and the black a fitting tribute to the site! I approached and found out they were a group from England who would be performing in the memorial chapel in the museum. Sadly the line of people to get in was a good hundred strong and there was no way we would get in in time to see the performance. I would have loved to! I believe this was in memorium of the bombings in London on 7th July 2005, July 7th being the day we visited! 
Having paid our respects we climbed aboard the 'hop on hop off' ferry and headed for Wall Street! No visit to NYC would be the same without visiting the New York Stock Exchange building. We posed with 'The Bull' and I could not miss the opportunity to cup the golden balls, shone to a golden hue by others who did the same.
The ferry took us around past the Brooklyn bridge, a cable-stayed suspension bridge and one of the oldest in the United States. It was designed by a German immigrant by the name of John Augustus Roebling. Construction began in 1869 but John and his son were hounded by misfortune. First John had his foot crushed against a piling by a ferry.
Times Square! What a mind blow! Ginormous screens advertising everything from make-up to travel destinations. The stores here are incredible, imagine a three floor 'Toys R Us' incorporating a Ferris wheel, screens showing movie shorts. Willy workers chocolate land. Jurassic park land and much more! Three floors of Victoria Secret sexy undies!
my head. This leads to Washington Square Park. The two main features are the Arch and huge fountain. It was great to see people shoes off sitting cooling their feet in the fountain and little children swimming under the watchful eye of Moms. It is truly beautiful! On a small stage an orchestra was playing.
Cay! Tradition has it one creates a sign with your boat name and visit date and hang them in one of the trees. We were ready! Zach was nominated, being the tallest to climb the tree to hang our signs up high! The deed was done!
Moraine Cay was our next stop! With cottages to rent we were lucky to find it uninhabited. Two beautiful beaches, one on each side and the reef off of it one of the best snorkel spots we found.
This took us to Grand Cay. A friendly colorful little village. We spent the afternoon exploring, stocked up at Rosie's little store. Drank beer and discovered Jollys aquarium! His oldest inhabitant is a turtle who has been in there eight years and a Goliath Grouper who has been there four years. While it would not pass any requirements by environmentalists it was interesting to see. A late lunch and early supper of Cracked Conch was delicious at a nearby take away!
