Experience

Photos:
1. Jim and Lara relaxing in a marina library. These are scattered all across the Caribbean (and probably the world) for sailors. You can stop by and trade in your old books for books that you haven’t read. We’re really using these a lot!
2. Jim and Lara relaxing atop Marina Cay.
3. Last minute coordination with the girls via satellite phone.
4. The Welcoming Committee for the new crew members!


Experience is something you get right after you need it.

We have managed to get a lot of experience on this trip and it actually paid off. We left Maya Cove after repairs (which the amazing Sunsail team did in about an hour) and sailed around to Trellis Bay to make sure we knew where to pick up the girls and then we looked at the weather (a front with a lot of squall lines coming through) and decided that a mooring ball in Marina Cay would be a lot smarter than trying to find a good anchorage that would protect us from the forecasted 30+ knot winds. This is only the second mooring ball we have taken for an overnight (anchored at all others), so I don’t feel too lazy in taking this one. As a bonus, we had a restful night’s sleep even though the wind was howling all night.

When we got up in the morning, the winds were still blowing pretty hard and not expected to lighten until late in the afternoon. Since we were planning to take the girls to Anegada, we decided to stick our noses out into the Anegada Passage and check the sea state. After 5 minutes of 8-10’ seas and a stiff breeze, we decided to go back inside the lee of the islands and make other plans. After Vieques, we know that it makes for a LONG day pounding through those seas!

We went over to White Bay on Guano Island (how would you like THAT on your mailing address?) and relaxed for most of the day (snorkeling, reading, napping, etc.). Then we sailed over to Trellis Bay to settle in and wait for the girls to arrive. The sail over here was quite nice with a steady 15 knot breeze. We even sailed through the slot between Big Camanoe and Little Camanoe Islands. It is a narrow passage (only a few hundred yards wide) with lots of rocks and swirling winds. It was only at the very end with no wind and a couple of current eddies that we got an “assist” from the motor. From there, it was a short tack into the Trellis Bay channel.

We are getting pretty good at picking up mooring balls in the wind and I’ll spare you the details of the unfortunate Boat Hook Incident (Lara can tell you all about should she feel the need…)

Now that the girls will arrive our postings may be less frequent as the Captain and First Mate will be busy making sure the Landlubbers are properly trained in deck swabbing, etc.!

Merry Christmas to all~!

We look forward to hearing from you about your Holidays.

Lara and Jim