Saturday February 28, 2015

Back on track  - The Bight on Norman Island was our last scheduled stop.  Before breakfast we slipped our mooring lines and were off on a 5.5 nm sail under jib through the Indian’s and Pelican Island into the Bight.  We had the perfect wind to carry us to the harbour entrance where we doused the jib and had a pick of the the many available moorings.  We choose one near the Willy T’s Pirate ship.  After breakfast, we dinghied ashore to the beach club at the other end of the mooring field.  After exploring, Eric and I left the ladies to snorkel and returned to the mothership.  Two hours later they called for a taxi and i picked them up in the dinghy.  Gwyn and I prepared dinner and Eric was on the BBQ (Steak). I had a veggie burger.  Our dinners were washed down with a nice Chateau Margeaux. Eric (aka Sir Spins A lot) played tunes from his vast iTunes storage. There was no need to go to Willy T’s.  

Note: Very bad cell coverage, thus, no internet.

Friday February 27, 2015

Tito and Kenny were on the dock to guide us off, but unlike all the other boats that came and went, I believe, we were special  as they shook our hands and wished us a return visit.  With ease, we slipped away and exited the Gorda Sound with the first red on our port side making the entrance to Leverick and the two set of red and green cans leading us away from the reef and Mosquito Rock.  We knew that there was weather heading our way but didn’t expect it so drastic and so soon.  By this point in the charter we were pretty quick and efficient in getting the main and jib up.  As soon as we got them up there was a white squall behind us.  We did as any responsible sailors should do.  We headed down wind away from the land and the islands known as "The Dogs" (Seal Dogs, George Dog, & Great Dog)  Just like most tropical storms this one eased off as quick as it came.  We tacked and were back on course with clear visibility.  We sailed to the mouth of Cooper Island, our destination, and dropped the sails before entering the popular harbour at 12:30.  All the mooring balls were taken for the day.  We could have easily anchored but decided to go to the nearby island, Peter Island.  We had a beautiful dinner on the boat.  They had BBQ pork chops and Gwyn made me a tofu rice dish second to none.  

Peter Island - Great Harbour

Thursday February 26, 2015

Again, we decided to stay put on our slip at the marina.  

Gwyn made Eggs Benedict for breakfast with enough to give the two dock workers Tito and Kenny.  Eric and I have been watching these guys over the last couple of days.  Tito directs large boats in and out of his marina with confidence. We were amazed with how slick he can untangle a thrown line from a boat and before it hits the ground he has a bowline tied or how he can whip a bow line securely around a cleat within 5 seconds from a standing position, walk astern and do the same with the stern line all while telling the driver what to do next.  

We wanted lessons from this guy.  Perhaps the eggs benny helped that we shared with them this morning but he took on a couple of eager students in the afternoon.  Well worth the stay. 

As quick as Tito was able to secure lines Gwyn was back on the boat and in no time quickly produced a nice spread of cheese, crackers and wine for our afternoon snack.

Dinner tonight was topside on the boat pasta, garlic bread, and wine.

Sadly we are planning our last couple of nights on the boat as we begin to sail closer to our home port, Road Town.  The last charters, upon finishing, we have had inventory of all our supplies left over.  This time, we are strategically planning our meals with hopes of a more efficient use of supplies. 

Tomorrow - Cooper Island, Saturday Norman Island, Sunday - The Road Town Marina.

Wednesday February 25, 2015

Over breakfast we decided to stay on the Leverick Bay dock for another night.  I got caught up on a few emails, Eric did the same while Lisa Marie, Mikeaka and Gwyn went snorkelling in the Baths.  The Baths are a series of caves and snorkelling holes centred around huge rock formations.

Cocktails on the boat before going to the beach bar, Jumbies, for dinner.  We all pretty much decided on pizza and It was good but the meal and service could not compare to the product from the upstairs dining room.

Tuesday February 24, 2015

When I got up Gwyn was already preparing breakfast .  "There is coffee in the thermos and will a vegetarian burrito be ok for breakfast”,  she asked. Who am I to argue?  As breakfast was finishing, Eric and I readied the boat for what was planned to be a 3 hour sail from Jost Van Dyke to Gorda Sound, approx 20 nm. We dropped our mooring and exited the harbour at 9:30AM.  After raising the sails we kept Sandy Cay on our port side and  began our journey.  We only made a little headway on each tack.  At 2:00PM we flashed up the iron spinnaker (the engines) and dropped the sails on a direct course to our waypoint, Mosquito Rock. At 3:30PM we pulled into the Leverick Bay Marina for the second time on this charter. Cocktails - Nap Time - Dinner.

Dinner did not disappoint.  I had the Blood Orange Salad followed by the Vegetarian Plate and then the Creme Brûlée.  Yummy!!

Gwyn

Vegetarian Entree

Monday February 23, 2015

We slept in and and had brunch on the boat before jumping in the dinghy for an afternoon ashore.  We bar hopped, bought some souvenirs and a few groceries and repaired back to the boat for nap time and dinner prep.  

Mikaela - Eric - Gwyn - Lisa Marie

I don’t recall if I mentioned it before but Gwyn is a professional chef.  She is very comfortable in turning staples into menu items. Gourmet hamburgers with a homemade salsa and potato salad.  Mine, of course, were veggie burgers.  We stayed up a bit late listening to tunes.  Jackson Brown, Mat Anderson (Wagon Wheel)

Sunday February 22, 2015

Gwyn made a fratitta for breakfast utilizing some of the leftovers from dinner the night before.  It was then time to see off Eileen & AL (Captain Dinghy).  Eric and I brought them to the dinghy dock and as we approached the cab driver (Del) pulled up to take them to the EIS airport (30 min drive).  

We went back out to the boat to pick up Mikaela and Gwyn before hitting a couple of provision shops.  I tied the dinghy to the dock and we were on a separate ways.  I was the first to arrive back at the dock, a dock with out our dinghy.  Wait. there it is.  I guess my knots were not good.  I dropped my bags and ran towards the shore towards our floating boat.  There was a lady out swimming with her black lad.  I had talked to this lab for a while yesterday,  She realized that I was with the rogue boat and gave the painter to the dog who swam it ashore for me.  I jumped in the boat, pushed it offshore with an oar and started the outboard.  Back to the dinghy dock to wait for my crew.  

We readied the boat and exited the harbour and were soon on a 283M with our jib unfurled.. 2 tacks later (1 hour) we entered the harbour for Jost Van Dyke and picked the second last available mooring at 1:30.  Jost Van Dyke is a beach bar destination and has a few dock options that one can gain access to the land from.  We decided to pick the closest. It was a service dock for fuel and water, higher dock that would require a bit of a climb to access and a bit of a walk to the bars but we thought it was a good compromise, longer walk with shorter boat ride.  We went ashore and had a really nice dinner at “Coasairs”.  Kenny was our server and he had a great Caribbean type attitude.  The food was excellent, perhaps 4.5 stars but the prices were a bit aggressive.  After dinner we strolled down the street (beach) of bars and returned back to the fuel dock that secured our dinghy.  The dinghy had lodged itself under the wharf and the outboard was restricting it form freedom, caught between joists.  Mikaela stepped up to the plate.  She crawled under the wharf (on the boat) and pushed up on the bottom of the wharf enough to lower the outboard under the joists.  Thanks Mikaela.  

It was a dinghy day.

Saturday February 21, 2015

After a leisurely brunch on the boat the shore party, Eileen, Al, Lisa Marie, and I, visited the beach bars tastings their cool offerings.  

Eileen - Our Server From Last Night - Al

Pina Colada

What a good puppers. Every day is a beach day

Back at the boat it was time to turn on the AC and relax for a while (nap time).  I took this opportunity to catch up on a few emails and blog posts.  I can’t assume that there will be internet access in the next harbour or bay or cay that I might find myself in or the one after that for that matter. 

Dinner was also topside tonight. They, everyone but me, had steak that Gwyn brought from home while I had tofu.  Regardless of the entree, il was all washed down with a nice red wine.

Eileen and Al leave us tomorrow.  I will miss them.      

Fridy February 20, 2015

Al shuttled George ashore to catch the ferry to Trellis Bay for his 12:00 flight to Puerto Rico, onwards to the Dominican Republican. Later we pulled up to the service dock for a water top up and were soon on a north bearing between the Little Camanoe and Great Camanoe careful to clear the rock shoal on on the north-west side of the passage.  280M would bring us to the north side of Tortola were we will find Cane Garden Bay, our destination for 2 nights. 

We entered the harbour on 111M and sighted one set of the two described red/green cans.  We picked a mooring close to the dinghy dock knowing that this mooring would see a changeover in our crew.  Lisa Marie and Gwyn will be coming on later today and Eileen and Al will (unfortunately) be leaving us on Sunday before we set sail for Jost Van Dyke.

Cane Garden Bay

Lunch was on the books so we went to Quito’s Bar and while there reserved a table for the evening.  I took a cab to the west end of the island to meet Lisa Marie and Gwyn at the customs gate while the others awaited there arrival.  Shortly after sitting for dinner the band “The Edge” started up and sounded great.  The Edge is Quito’s band that he usually plays with on Friday nights at his and his sisters bar, Quito’s.  I became a fan of Quito’s after hearing him last year in the same place and had strategically suggested this stop on this night in order for a repeat performance.  Needless to say, I was disappointed when I learned that he plays with his band, at this bar every other week and this week was one of the ’not’ weeks.  The band, however, was great.  

We retired back to the mothership for a nightcap before hitting the bunks.

Quito's 

Wall Art

More Wall Art

Sun Set
Cane Garden Bay

Lisa Marie & Eileen

Thursday February 19, 2015

9:00 AM we readied the boat destined for Marina Cay.

Out through the marked channel leading from Anagada into the Atlantic, our sails were raised and the boat was soon on a 022M bearing.

Wicked sailing conditions where we peaked at 9.8 nts. even though this is as fast as i have gone under sail (I think) as much as I tried I could not hit 10. With two tacks we rounded Scrub Island and picked a mooring near the dock at Marina Cay.  The shore party (Al, Eileen, George and I) dinghied in for supplies and a stop by the"Painkiller Bar" before returning to the mother ship. 

Dinner reso 7:00PM at the Scrub Island Resort.

Sea Cloud

Wednesday February 18, 2015

Anagada here we come. 

We pulled away from the slip at 9:00 AM and exited the Gorda Sound at Mosquito Rock.  Like the day before we sailed a 006 course to Anagada peaking at 9.2 nt/hour.  This time we followed the red and green cans into the mooring field and picked a mooring ball for the night. Anagada sits only 20 feet above sea level and is surrounded by sand and coral reef.  It is stunning. There is not a lot of traffic to and from this island but it is certainly worth the journey. After settling in we jumped in the dinghy to explore the shore. From there we took a shuttle to the other side of the island for lunch. The beach and green colored ocean were incredible. it was hard to believe that this is the same ocean as back home with ice and steam from the cold. 

Happy Birthday Eileen!!