International Yachting Community

As the yachting community amass in Grenada and Trinidad to wait out the hurricane season we are offered an interesting over-view of the group as a whole.
Several features have become obvious:
1) We've shrunk! Our 35 foot sloop that seemed adequate when we left the Great Lakes has now become one of (if not) the smallest boats in the bay. Most yachts we encounter are on average 45-50 feet; mega-yachts are in abundance, many 65 plus feet. Approximately a third of the yachts are catamarans.
2) The Americans are not here or are at least keeping a very low profile. We note a disproportionate number of foreign flagged vessels in relationship to Americans, in fact it is a rarity to see the stars and stripes flying.
3) South African vessels abound. We have witnessed and been informed that one of the only methods possible to get funds out of South Africa or Zimbabwe is to put one's money in to the construction of a yacht and sail it away.
4) The European community and Britain is very well represented. Some of the flags we've seen so far are from - France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, the European community flag, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Australia, Bimini (the Marshall Islands), Bikini (the Marshall Islands), Hawaii and the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Newfoundland and Canada, the Fleur de lei, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.
We are truly in an international community!