Crown Bay Marina

February 28th 11:11am

The Marina threw a little party last night so with free hamburgers, hot dogs, and beer… we were THERE!!! Met up with the couple we had originally met in Virgin Gorda Sound (BVI’s) with the Hunter 32. Really nice couple having lots of fun exploring the Virgin Islands!

We still are having a frustrating time with the internet – being slow to non-existant.We do have some wonderful pictures that we want to share on the blog…please keep looking…we will post them as new blogs so you don’t have to go searching…we’ll just be way behind when we finally get somewhere with a decent connection! Which, by the way, we are maybe headed out of the Virgins on Tuesday morning…winds look right…headed to Guadaloupe.

Sorry no Pics

Upload speeds verrrrry slooooow...will post pics to the last series of posts when we get a faster connection

The Dink Diver's Version

So, here we are in Coral Bay. We took Little Bit (the dingy) into the dock a short walk from Skinny Legs. The shopping took me a little longer than I thought and when I got back Paul had moved tables and was having fun telling “stories” to this young couple. Very sweet couple and we had a lot of fun chatting…then they had to go back to the other side of the island where they were staying. Paul had mentioned that many people here on vacation travel across the island to have the “famous” hamburger at Skinny Legs. We do hope to meet up with them tomorrow for a sail…
Now to the dingy diving…I kept my shawl on at all times…and didn’t lose a thing overboard, none of my shopping stuff, camera, purse…unbelievable I know…but true…so I’m thinking that Paul’s score of 2.3 for my dive is a bit harsh! And, yes, the scrape under my eye (which almost makes it look like someone hit me) does hurt this morning. My neck hurts the most…BUT…it could have been worse…I did choose a soft spot to fall…well the softest in the dingy…that being Paul…AND I could have fallen AND gotten wet!! I am very glad that most of the chores (cleaning the bottom of the boat and buffing out the black stuff on the side) were done earlier…because I don’t feel like doing any of them today for sure! Maybe a couple of days rest!!!! I will however continue my “sporting challenge” of standing on the tubes and balancing while getting in and out of the dingy…four months on the boat…numerous dingy rides…one fall (for me)…as Paul would say “do the math”…I think, so far anyway, the numbers are in my favor!!!

Dink Diving

Sunday Feb 24 Th 7:55 am Another day in Paradise. Went in to Skinny Legs for dinner. Joyce had her usual shopping urge,so I found a table and ordered some drinks. A young couple sat down at the next table. She asked what I had ordered Joyce. I said it was a Bushwhacker. Was it good? She asked because her boyfriend had ordered her the same. My answer was “be careful”. They invited me over to their table. Casey plays professional baseball and Sidney is an accountant. Joyce joins us. We had a fun time…ended up asking them if they wanted to go for a sail on Monday. So we are meeting them Monday at Cruz Bay. The trip back to the boat was a little more exciting. The dock is a floater…narrow and wobbly. I had a hard time on the way in..But with a few rums in me..well you get the picture. I make it to the boat and crawl in; at this point Joyce decides to take up a new sport “Dink Diving”. The next thing I know she is on top of me in the dink head first. She jammed her neck and took a shot under the eye. Iced her down when we got back to the boat. She is a more difficult patient than me. I’m sure this incident will be my fault when she gets up this AM. Her score on her 1st attempt was only a 2.3. Joyce has this habit of trying to stand on the tubes as she gets in the dink. I have been warning her that she was going to fall in. I thought the water not the dink. She is up now, eye not too bad, but the neck is sore. I’m sure the cleaning of the bottom and waxing the port side to get the soot off did not help her condition. Joyce wants to go back to Skinny Legs for lunch…she didn’t have her hamburger last night. From there back to Cruz Bay. On Monday before we pick them up, I want to go to the US Park service and get my “Old Fart Pass”. Then we get 50% discount when we have to pick up a mooring. You cannot anchor in the National Park, you have to pick up a mooring.

Where to hide from Uncle Sam

Sat Feb 23rd 9:56 Joyce let me sleep in…yep..I’m sore. We are going to get the soot off the port side. Will have to get those injectors checked sometime. Then we are going to tale “Little Bit “up on the beach and clean the bottom. Been in the water since we arrived in St Thomas. We really should pull it up out of the water at night…a must in some places if you still want a dink in the AM. Then we are going over to Coral Bay. Coral Bay is where all the burnt out Hippies from the 60’s go after they get tired of Key West and Cruz Bay. I have been here several times. There is a bar called Skinny Legs….people drive over from Cruz Bay for Happy Hr and the burgers. So we are going over tonight. Rumor has it that the big $$$$ has decided to develop the area…2 marinas and a bunch of high dollar condos. That will really piss off this bunch. Well time to get to work…







Sat Feb 23 4:19pm Coral Bay. Well we have arrived. This is the farthest one can be from the US Government (unless you go to Guam..I’ve been there too)and all it’s BS. There are 60-70 boats anchored here…most nave not moved for yrs…no charter boats…so we must go ashore for the evenings entertainment. Skinny Legs it is….Joyce is giving me a fashon show…trying to figure out what to wear…me shorts and my cruiser shirt….old stained blue jean shirt…..one of those feel good can’t throw away things….well Joyce has decided…now time to go in for happy hr and a burger….

So…yes, this Vista thing is a bit different…the good news is that I am letting Paul go through the aggravation of learning it and setting up the computer…then I just “glean” from him and have no aggravation! My kids will identify with this…remember game boy??? Ha ha! Anyway…a bit of a rewind…diving the wreck of the RMS Rhone was really VERY cool. BIGGEST fish and lobster AND turtles yet…even a BIG barracuda! Very fun dive, I hope you enjoy the pictures!

When I got back from the dive, Paul got into the heat exchanger. Now… he didn’t mention it…but I was the one that suggested that he use his expensive dingy patches for a gasket to help with a “quick fix”! Of course it was all his work, sweat, and expletives that finished the job! Virgin Gorda Sound was great but we did need to get back to the “states” (U.S.V.I.) to pick up my computer, Paul’s parts (yes, one purchased on ebay), and to get my old computer off to my youngest daughter. We anchored off of Red Hook on St Thomas for a few days then on to Lameshur Bay where we are now as I write this. We had fun snorkeling the afternoon we arrived. Just have to show you some of those pictures.

Diving to clean the bottom was fun, but, yes, only got ¾ of it done on one tank. And, come to find out my NEW steel tank has a small crease in the valve. It did not stop me from using it…just made me “leak” air. I’m pretty sure it happened when the dive shop in St Thomas filled it for the first time. So, really it is a good thing that we are headed back to St Thomas…but we’ll see if the dive shop will “own up” to the issue when we get there in a few days! For the first time ever it was having only 500 lbs of air left that brought me up to the surface... After Paul finished his reconstruction of the heat exchanger again we both hopped into the water and snorkeled around the boat. Of course, what did we see??? A barracuda…I really think Paul attracts these creatures…right Brad??? We are in good company in this Bay…there is an Oyster and an HR (Hallsburg Rossey)…Paul says very few of the Americans have gotten the “flag memo” (big flag), but it does seen the Brit’s got their memo…they are both British…and both BIG flags.
Paul just opened a bottle of something….he’ll tell you what it is…it is good, but I think I like my “ice cream” better. Hopefully we will be able to get this off to you once we are back in St Thomas. In the meantime (tomorrow) we are going to do some more snorkeling…and go to Coral Bay and “Skinny Legs” for a hambuger!!

All work no play

Fri Feb 22 4:32 pm…5 o’clock somewhere….Yes we started happy hr early…..was a hard day…Joyce has been cleaning the bottom…could only do 2/3’s before she ran out of air….but what has been done is great..Me back on the genset….Sorry we have not updated you guys lately…we have been busy. Left the BVI’s and all the charter boats on Monday AM…sailed…..wing and wing down Drake Channel…(wing and wing is when you are sailing dead down wind..Main out on one side and the jenny out on the other…….Looks real cool..I’m sure we were driving the charter boats nuts because they don’t know which tack we are on…”rules of the road” stuff.. …we sailed around St John and picked up a mooring and checked back into the States at Cruz Bay…remember..all those eclectic in Key West…well when they get tired of Key West they move to Cruz Bay……..from here only Coral Bay is left….more on that later……internet too $$$$$.. 24.99 a day…so we sailed over to Red Hook on the back side of St Thomas….still no internet. Joyce’s new IBM ThinkPad was in at the Internet Café in town, I was expecting my A/C pump and wireless antennae…I was going to the Post Office, Joyce over to Beans and Byte to pick up her computer and clear our email. She won I lost…no mail for me. While in the BVI’s Joyce found she liked a drink called a “Bushwhacker”. Said it tasted like ice-cream. So I bought the $$$$ ingredients and jumped a bus back to Red Hook. I was at the boat store spending another $160 bucks when Joyce caught up. Back to the boat…played with her new computer…too cool….but Vista has a few new twists…takes a little time to get used to….let me backtrack a bit…while running the genset in the BVI’s I..saw steam from the exhaust….damn…just changed the impeller….we turned on the watermaker,,,,damn thing shut down….checked the code…said the unit overheated…..damn…..waited a few hrs for things to cool down …..pulled the thermostat…checked it in a pot of boiling water…good…..fluid levels fine….now focused on the heat exchanger…this is a 2 inch pipe with tubing running inside….cold seawater is run through this pipe while the engine coolant is circulated through copper pipe…cooling the coolant…no salt water thru the engine… Well I pull this off…hot….up in the cockpit I disassemble the unit…damn…20 + small rubber pieces of old impeller parts are blocking the exchanger. While taking it apart, one of the ends…made of brass comes off in 3 pieces…@##%$#%^&^$#%^&&*…Now where am I going to find these parts down here….HOT….Beer# 1 when confronted with problems like this, one needs cold beer…..I get out the epoxy..glue a few large washers to the broken parts…cut a gasket from my $$$$ Avon repair kit…some gasket material……an interesting attempt….slap it back on…fill the engine with what antifreeze I have…crank her up…damn..It worked…….Fast forward..Now at the boat store…parts for and Onan genset???? No clue…now in the “what in the hell am I going to do now mode”. Now Thru AM…we go I for breakfast…not bad…..but cost as much as 6 cases of beer in Margarita… ..Life is choices…..Joyce is sending her “old” computer back to her daughter Jodi…we box everything up and go to the Post Office Annex here in Red Hook. I go to the Ace Hardware while Joyce mails her stuff. I was searching for something more permanent than my last fix for the genset. I figure I will not get parts till we get up to the US. I find these plastic PVC parts that might work. 10 for .69 cents…only need 1 or 2. Then find them sold by the piece for .49 cents. Do the math. So I take the 10 up to the counter…she wants to charge me $6.90…say no way….short story…got the 10 for $.69. Back to the boat…more epoxy…Joyce cut out 2 new gaskets….back down in the engine room on my hands and knees…hook up the damn thing…fill the engine with new ($18 a gallon here) antifreeze…not that it will ever freeze down here, start her up…no leaks.!!!!! Since I’m going to be sore tomorrow I might as well see what wrong with the anchor wash pump. Another 20 min all twisted around…nope…not the check valve. So that chore is back on the to do list. Now you see why happy hour started early.

Another Day in Paradise

Sat Feb 16 9:44 Yesterday was a rest day. We found a free Internet site here in Leverick Bay. Had both computers working overtime on Graboid. Found a new British TV series Robin Hood. Interesting how they work modern political issues into their story line. We moved the boat over to this sandy beach with a beach bar...rather than dink in

Joyce conned me into swimming in....have not swam that far in yrs...my knee before it was replaced... walked the beach..passed Money Bags and his family having a picnic lunch. 2 boats with them...a 20+ ft inflatable with a gang plank that dropped down in the bow....so Money Bags and the clan would not have to get their feet wet. 2 crew in their white uniforms...then anchored off the beach was the Capt and another ships officer...had the stripes on their shoulder...well they were in a 25 ft "tender" I'd say 70-80 grand worth...both had the ships logo on them. There was a windjammer cruise ship anchored off the beach. They use this place as a "beach" stop for the cattle. They were having a nice catered lunch...I bought a 4 dollar beer and we grabbed a couple of beach chairs and mingled. Back to the boat and then moved the boat to the Bitter End Yatch Club. This is a $$$$$$ resort...nothing cheap. At the boat show last Oct, we went by their booth..gave us some free drink coupons....so we had 4...... 8 dollar drinks for free...Joyce only had 1 and a few sips...she is diving this AM...the wreck of the Rhone.. She will do all the pictures of yesterday. We used our last pizza base as Phil calls them and had pizza for dinner. Went in to mingle with the charter crowd at the beach bar. Met this couple ...seems this guy wants to be a cruiser. Has a 33' Hunter...Hunters and their owners are a strange bunch. Hunters are the Yugo's of sailing industry. Nothing comes cheaper...do not even have a back stay....definitely not a blue water boat...well this guy is complaining how cheaply his Hunter is made...problems he is having with the boat...how difficult it is to anchor...I'm squeezing Joyce's knee trying to keep my mouth shut. Seems the wife doesn;t like sailing much...he used crew to get the boat down from Chicken Harbor in the Bahamas. Well you get the picture...no much of a sailor on not much of a boat....Joyce says at least he is doing it.... well we towed them back to their boat...seems his outboard won't start... I know I have been hitting on the charterers lately....I guess I sound a little "I'm better than them" Remember I WAS one of them no to many yrs ago.and yes I have been the afternoon entertainment... ..I'm not sure if its because they never seem to learn or because the charter boat companies have lowered the bar so low that anyone can charter.......back on the boat and a episode of House MD before crashing.

Map of Virgin Gorda North Sound and Swimming

Thought this map may come in handy for those that don't have one handy as we ramble on....we are anchored off of Leverick Bay - sort of the west end of the bay...the beach where we anchored and swam in to shore is directly across from Leverick Bay - Prickly Pear Island. The swim was wonderful...and I truly did not "con" Paul into it... I just mentioned it and he was over the side before I was!!! I did end up swimming the round trip twice....because I forgot the camera the first time... the picture of Lady H is anchored there....then we motored over near Saba Rock to go to the Bitter end yacht club. Very nice restful day.....

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

Paul was having such fun at Marina Cay…last night we even saw a boat run aground…I’m sure he will give you the play by play. We motor sailed from Marina Cay to the Baths, Virgin Gorda, early this morning. Picked up a mooring ball and snorkeled around. Visibility was not the greatest but it was nice to go swimming…saw a ray…and while I followed him (the ray) to get his picture Paul disappeared on me...I was about ready to go to one of the other boats after calling for him...then I hear him calling for me over near the rocks...hmmmm...

And I'm posting this picture...so you will all enjoy!!!!

the rocks are unbelievably beautiful and look somewhat out of place!

By the time we were leaving many boats were once again vying for the few mooring balls left. Paul says they are kept up by the Parks Department, but it looks like many have been neglected (i.e. the lines are on the bottom of the bay) and Paul says there are not nearly as many floating mooring balls as he remembered. Wonderful sail (“pinching”) going 8 and 9 knots until we made the turn close to Virgin Gorda Sound, then we had to motor sail…then motor.

We are now at Leverick Bay so that I could get signed up to dive the RMS Rhone on Saturday with “Dive BVI”.

Musical Mooring Balls

Thur Feb 15 4:00pm Yep..I forgot Valentines Day..Capt is in the doghouse...Yesterdays weather forecasted winds 25+ knots from the East. To get to Virgin Gorda, one would have to motor into 6-10 ft seas...not high on my list. so we stayed at Marina Cay. After the Charter crowd left around 10am we anchored up in the front of the mooring field...good spot..great holding ...a and away from the crazies that would start to show up around 3pm. The place was almost full when we dinked in to dump garbage ($2 A BAG) and so Joyce could get me out walking..and buy some more postcards. We noticed this 30+ footer banging away into those 8-10 footers...not a pretty site, on his way to Virgin Gorda. We stopped to get some postcards...squall coming..rush back in time to close the hatches. About this time here comes 6-8 cats and a few mono hulls..my guess making the downwind run from Virgin Gorda sound where we are now. A quick look around found only 2-3 moorings left.

That meant some would have to anchor. I think they have removed that question from the sailing resume that one must fill out before you can charter. It's now .."How many times have you picked up a mooring?" They all race and I mean full throttle through the anchorage like "Musical Mooring Ball." Winds now at 28- 30 knots and these idiots are trying to set an anchor in 25-30 ft of water. Not real easy if you know what you are doing hilarious if you don't. Boats dropping anchors drifting back into other boats...

Anchor by Committee

These guys are part of a group...all flying big yellow flags...I think it means "danger idiot at the helm..." 4-5 guys up on the foredeck trying to get the anchor down....They fly by one boat out of control before the anchor grabs. They are real close to 2 boats, both monohulls that sail back and forth in the wind. As they come together they are only 3-4 ft apart. Do they pull up and re anchor..NO..they put out all there fenders..jump in the dink and head for the bar!!!!!!!!

WOW..another cat is trying to drop his anchor in 35+ ft..after 3-4 tries a Capt from another boat of the same charter company (The smarter of the charter boat crowd, those who know they don't know what they are doing hire a Capt... more should do this) dinks over to help them. Another mono hull makes 4 tries before hooking something at the rear of the mooring field.

These are "Smart" Charterers.... They have a Capt

We are talking non-stop afternoon entertainment here. By 5:30 everyone had found a place ..safe or not..they weren't going to move anymore. About this time here comes this guy on a 32'footer with his lady...racing through the anchorage at full speed...was our guy that wanted to get to Virgin Gorda in 10 ft waves.. Of course there is no room at the Inn for Him...he spies a free ball way up in the front of the anchorage...probably for a dink. I say to Joyce...he is going to run aground..

.yep..he does...then backs off at full speed almost back into the reef behind him...he speeds through the anchorage 1 more time before he decides that everyone has had their fill of entertainment for the day and motors off to the anchorage over by the airport....I'm sure it is full there too...but he is not up wind of me so I get to sleep well. Just a few more days of this and we go back to the USVI.

You have to look close...but there he goes...

We dinked in this afternoon to see about Joyce diving the Rhone. Mooring field here better organized..more space between boats...grilling some of our fish for dinner...another day in Paradise.

Brad...fixed it

Hey all ..you can now leave comments on the blog...double click comments...

Just in case....

Just in case we don't have internet later...

Happy Birthday to my son...24 years old today...

Since his birth, the 13th day of any month has always been one of my three favorites!
I love you sweetheart!!!

Still in Marine Cay

Wed Feb 13 11:18 am  We are still in Marina Cay. There are about 40 moorings here...still $25 bucks a night. These damn Charter Boat almost fight over them. Were all filled up by 4-5 pm last night. If they dont get a ball they motor on to the next anchorage..We moved yesterday to get closer to the internet antenna. Wind was supposed to be high today so we decided to stay put and get some internet stuff done. If this gets posted then I can post using the SSB while at sea or when we do not have internet. No pics if by SSB, sorry. Brad my son has asked to have use enable the posting of comments. I think I have everything turned on...we will see...Later

Snorking the Indians and Sail to Marina Cay

February 11th, 2008

Paul knew that the snorkeling at the Indians was fantastic so rather than snorkel at Money Bay we left early while having tea and left-over streusel muffins. Just as we arrived a cat left…good thing as where Paul remembers LOTS of mooring balls…now there are just three! So, to whom do we give the credit of getting the mooring ball? Well, I did get it under the watchful eye of the neighboring boat next door, on the second grab try…but if Paul had not been maneuvering so slowly right toward it…we would have looked like the rookies that we were laughing at the previous night….so I think I’m saying that just about anyone can grab a mooring ball…it is getting the boat in the right place at the right time!!! Anyway, we finished our tea, dug out our mask, snorkel and fins and into the water we went!





Really beautiful around the rocks, under the water and as Paul had known…a GREAT snorkel spot! Little to no current or wave action! The water was 40 to 50 feet deep but we could see the bottom.



The Yellow-tailed Snappers are so friendly…they were following Paul! We finished our swim….looked at the bottom of the boat (which is really in great condition – but that is more the technical stuff of Paul’s type of blog).



Saw my first shark…little one and thankfully he/she was not interested!

By the time we left The Indians (it was still early) after we showered…and there were 4 to 5 boats circling and waiting for one of the mooring balls.

We had a great sail, tacking up the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Marina Cay where we are now and able to get online to update. Paul was able to find a dive boat for me to take to the wreck of the Rhone…and then probably another reef dive on Wednesday morning. We will be headed to Virgin Gorda Sound tomorrow so I can meet them for the dive EARLY Wednesday!

Sailing and squalls to Money Bay

February 10th 2008; 6:58pm;
We left Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke, late morning after a leisurely tea and cinnamon streusel muffin (our newest favorite muffin) in the cockpit.



We were sailing for the “back side” of Peter Island…with the winds we tacked a few times and went to Road Harbour instead to anchor for the night…but there really was no place to anchor. We saw hundreds of charter cats waiting in the marina harbour to be chartered.




…then through the rain squalls sailed back over to Norman Island to where we are tonight. Paul did a few boat chores…I tried to catch some sun and read…yes, The Caribbean by Michener. Deep anchorage but very beautiful water…also means that only cruisers are anchored here…no charter boats. Tomorrow I hope to get Paul over to the shallows so we can do some snorkeling around the rocks before we head out to where ever the winds takes us to next! So here we are, anchored in Money Bay, Norman Island.

Birthday Dinner

Sunday Feb 10 7:47 am Well we are up to a beautiful sunny AM…little or no wind..swinging real close to the big cat next door. Last night was a hoot. We went in about 6pm. Group off one of the big cats was already at the bar.

Same guy that bought Joyce the “Friggin in the Riggin” the night before . He was to only sailor..oh yea…same guy that tried to pick up the mooring on the down wind run… They were all from Boston…had 1 democrat…we had to agree not to discuss politics after a heated exchange.

Fun was had by all. I made it back to the boat with out testing the water depth at the dink dock. Put a Jag on the computer and missed the ending. An ending to a happy birthday.

Little Harbour

Sat Feb 9 2:24 pm…Yes it’s my birthday, I’m now an official “old fart”. We moved over to Little Harbour from Great Harbour on Jost Van Dyke. I was here 28 yrs ago…now these guys have an operation going. We anchored among the moorings…($25 for those who do not know how to anchor…better spent at happy hour…so we are ahead. We dinked in..met at the dock by an Island Lady…welcomed us…what can she do for us…asked what’s for dinner…everything…led us to the Lobster Pot. 40-50 buggers in there…25-35-45$ depending on size…Pig Roast. .fish ribs…they have it all. This place has a self service bar…all top shelf stuff…$6 a drink..$3 at Happy hour…Well how can someone pass this up…so at 12:05 pm I go behind the bar and make a powerful rum punch…Joyce goes shopping…I meet this stink potter Charter dude…intrigued by our lifestyle ..Joyce not finished shopping…rum punch # 2…boats starting to come in early ..need to get their mooring so they don’t have to anchor. We go back to the boat…some sun and rest…decide to do 2 loads of laundry and make water….batteries happy…full charge… we throw in the cabbage and have corned beef and cabbage for lunch…hmmmm.. We get ready to relax.. Joyce still trying to get some sun. .me down here blogging you guys…Joyce yells down…big cat coming in…I grab a beer and assume my relaxed cruising position with beer in hand to watch this 48’ cat attempt to grab a mooring. This guy tries to grab it on the run down wind…definite indication of a typical dumb ass charterer…they have 5 -6 up on the bow .We call this Grab a mooring by committee…they miss…spin around and try with the wind at their beam..another no-no…I take a few pics and off they go for easier ..so I’m, now finished with this and back up to watch the parade……Well Joyce has decided to treat me to dinner at Sydney’s. I decide on the Pig roast, Joyce goes for the LARGE lobster….my guess I’ll get some leftovers… I’m sure I will have fun playing bartender for us…I did find a bottle of Sambucca …dessert for the both of us…we will try and keep Joyce out of the Pain Killers…and..well its my birthday…so now we can kick back and relax till 7pm..we still have 4 hrs left of afternoon entertainment…

Happy Birthday to Paul

Saturday February 9th 2008…8:20am…Happy Birthday to you…Happy Birthday to you….All join in here…Happy Birthday to Paul…Happy Birthday to you!!!! So, yes, I found out that painkillers at Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke are a bit much for me…but I was able to keep my shawl on at all times (so far…I have won that battle and have not started wearing “real cruiser” coats like windbreakers when we go ashore for a “fancy” time) AND I did not go for a swim. Now to be honest, Paul did mention to me this morning while I was laughing at his evening swim (which thankfully turned out to be an evening stand in the water at the dingy dock) that I had pulled on the dingy line while he was holding on to the dock. This turned out to be what caused him to loose his balance and repeat three times…”I’m going in…I’m going in…I’m going in” and then once “I’m in”. To his credit…he didn’t get mad at me…or tell me it was my fault until this morning….to my credit…I did not start laughing about it until this morning when I knew he was just fine and I was feeling better! I do think I need to be on guard now…I always have fun testing my balance skills while getting into or out of the dingy and Paul has mentioned many many times that it is only a matter of time before I go for a swim…perhaps now…sooner than later!!! Anyway, so now we are having corn beef and hash for breakfast. There is a lot of left over corn beef that was suppose to be our dinner…another of Paul’s recipes…oh, so good! This picture is off the boats anchored from Foxy's.....

Tis the Charterboat Season

Fri Feb 8 8:55 PM Jost Van Dyke. Well an interesting afternoon. We were in here early…checked in before noon. Had a hassle with the gun…customs guy not sure what to do…first had to surrender it till we left…then seal the gun case…then call the local cops….went to the boat got the gun…customs guy…just had to see and hold it…don’t think he ever held a gun before….cop arrives…says we have to give it to them…I say…no problem last year…well then he calls Tortola…maybe seal the gun…do we have a safe…yes..then make sure the gun is safe…..no way the shotgun will fit in the 24”x24” safe…but he did ask if we had a safe…not that the gun would fit in the safe….”no problem..mon”…gun now back on the boat with a customs seal. Back to the boat….now I have been telling Joyce about the “Charter Boats “ here..as I have said before I was one for many yrs…seems as the economy goes south the charter companies will give a boat to anyone who can say boat. I had warned Joyce about “afternoon entertainment” This usually starts about 3-4 pm as the charter boats make a mad dash for their nights stay. I have been here before…not the best holding and in spaces DEEP. Well we had our PREMO spot in about 15’ of water.with correct amount of rode. Joyce was on the computer…”get up here the show has begun…” for the next 2 hours we watched 10- 12 charter boats attempt to anchor ….


some 7-10 times…sometimes on top of the next boats anchor….I even made popcorn….








There was a small cluster of cruisers around us….anchored properly with proper spacing….several tried but could not break into our anchorage field. We went ashore to Foxy’s…. Joyce had never had a painkiller… Was Joyce’s 1st ,2nd and ..why I don’t know 3 rd “Pain Killer” While I was getting the 3 rd some cruiser buys her a “Friggin in the Riggin” Now we have to get back to the boat…remember..no dinner at this point….well. I decide to see how deep the water is at the dinky dock…gee…I can stand…so I only have to climb into the dink…well back at the boat…Joyce not well…a hot shower and she is gone…me up for this blog..and with this..a good night……………

Jost Van Dyke

This is the view of St. Thomas as we were leaving!!!
February 8th 2008…1:53 pm. Well, we started out early to get to St John’s…7:30ish…and the closer we got…Paul saw that with the wind direction and strength we could sail quite comfortably to Jost Van Dyke and check in to the BVI’s…

so here we are…anchored in Great Harbour and all checked in by customs and immigration…even with the shotgun…which they were going to take away from us and store it for us while we were here…but there was only one police officer and he decided that if they “sealed” the case and we put it in our “safe”…that they would allow us to keep it. We walked along the road to see about diving for lobster here and found out that we need to get a permit from the fisheries department in Road Harbour on the island of Tortola.

We also walked down to the “famous” Foxy’s bar and decided that we would spend some of our happy hour time there tonight. I may have to buy a dress there…we’ll see…walked back to the dingy dock on the beach. Also, the screaming kids you hear on this island are real “kids”…the goat kind…lots of white goats on the hillside!
So, anyway, we will be making our way through the BVI’s for ten days or so as winds and weather permit…

Off to the BVI's

Friday Feb 8 6:50 We will be out of internet for the next few days. Will blog when we can. Will be back in St Thomas next week to pic up out mail...Joyce's new computer and my new wifi antenna. I think I have enabled the comment feature on this blog. My son Brad had asked forthis feature. We will see.....

Dive Pictures

So here I am giving you all a hug from underwater...with my new dorky looking goggles and dive skin cap (I keep trying to stay warm)....everyone else was in shorties...I had my 3 mil complete suit on...


This turtle was in a big hurry to get away from us....


This was a baby spotted moray eel in between the coral ...

Four eyed butterfly fish...

And, I bought a fish thing to be able to identify the pretty fish but because we are 2 hours (or more) behind....I'll tell you they are beautiful...and give you the names later...anyway fun two tank dive...but NO LOBSTER to be found...Paul had even gotten the butter out...perhaps in the BVI's....

Stinky goes for a swim

Thur 2-7-07 11:45 AM Well we have named our dinks and outboards...the little 8' is Little Bit..the outboard is Stinky. After just a few days with the 4 stroke Yammaha, one gets spoiled...no noise and no 2 cycle stink. Well on the way back from our shopping excursion yesterday we got caught in a tropical downpour. We are not talking rain but torrents...streets had an inch of rain ..they could not drain fast enough. We had to stop at the Internet Cafe to finalize the order of Joyce's new computer. Seems all the workouts with Graboid has take its toll on her Sony . The keyboard only likes to accept every 3rd keystroke. My used IBM just keeps on tickin...(Thanks Brad) We ordered her a new IBM per Brad and now have to wait for it. This AM we planned to go the internet cafe and then to K-Mart for some booze and last minute food before going over to St John and the BVI's. We have a week or so till the computer comes in. I was putzing on the SLOOOW internet connection while Joyce was taking a shower when some neighbors rapped on the hull to tell us our dink was upside down. Damn...%$@$*&% It was. So we brought it up on the stern, Joyce was able to pump up the port side tube...seems we knocked the valve thing loose yesterday and the thing deflated overnight. The wake of some passing boats caused it to flip. We hauled Stinky up on the rail/ This isn't the 1st time I have had an outboard take a bath. Removed the plugs, flushed with fresh water, sprayed with WD-40., replaced the plugs...10 pulls and it started. Back on Little Bit....some more coaxing and Stinky was running. Our neighbors came by to check on our progress, some Brits off a big cat. We then went life jacket and sandal searching. My flip-flops and 2 life jackets had gone floating off. We recovered 1 sandal and 1 jacket. So now we are 2 hrs behind...might have to wait till tomorrow to go to St John.

FINALLY some pictures....

Sunday February 3rd…9:14am…

So…yes, Friday I had a lot of fun shopping while Paul struggled with the internet and internet viruses at the internet shop – shopping has a lot less stress – when will guys ever learn!!!! Look the door even says “SALE”!!!




Friday late afternoon we motored the Lady H over to a bay off of Hassel Island where the water is cleaner and anchored. Paul replaced the hose to the water maker that he explained a blog back or so…the one that took us a few days to get made. (At my suggestion he had the old one fitted with another part and so now he has an emergency “spare”.) Saturday was supposed to be our day of “rest” after walking most of the town Friday…so we made water (we were down to 250 Liters) and were able to do two loads of laundry in the morning! Then we – as Paul calls it – “dinked” over to the Radio Shack on the other side of town…returned one of the wifi units…picked up another…and went to the Dive shop so I could get signed up for a two tank dive (stay tuned for underwater pictures – I’m going Tuesday morning).

After the third load of laundry, we motored the Lady back over to “town” anchored again while trying to get the best signal for wifi…nothing good, so we went into town and to the internet shop. Well, Paul went to the internet shop…I went shopping again…then back to the boat and a lamb dinner with salad….oh, so good…

This morning we took the dingy in with the bikes (to get our cross-training) and rode along the waterfront down to the cruise ship dock and back the other way almost to the other cruise ship dock (there is a cruise ship dock on either end of the bay), then back to the internet shop. St Thomas is really not the best place to ride bikes (not like Key West - which is SUPER bike friendly…so much so that I would not want to DRIVE there)…but since we left really early…before breakfast…none of the cruise ship people were off the boat yet and we had the sidewalk mostly to ourselves. We hadn’t ridden for two weeks but we both were able to jump on and enjoy the exercise…

This being Super Bowl Sunday we are now back at the boat resting for our BIG evening at Hooters….yes, in order to watch the game….Hooters! This is still the United States after all, there is even an Office Max, Home Depot, K-Mart, Wendy’s and McDonalds…even after all these miles of sailing!!!!

We on "Island Time" mon

Feb 2 06’ 8:45 am Charlotte Amalie USVI Well we have been here for 3 nights now. Both Joyce and I are catching up on that lost sleep. Thursday our job list included getting a replacement hose for the watermaker, take the dollar bus to TuTu Park (the Mall) to get some bread and buy a replacement wifi antenna so we can get online. My old antenna has seen its better days.
An interesting aspect of cruising life is how even the simplest of chores can take all day. On Wed. we stopped in a dive shop so Joyce could get some info on diving. We asked where we might get a new hose made up. Guy suggests this other guy across the harbor, So we jump in the dink and motor over...nope he can’t but the watermaker guy upstairs can…so I go upstairs…door locked…I’m sure this guy is a 1 man band,, goes to the office in the AM then out to work on boats during the day…We will get up early dink over and catch him early. Fast forward to Thur AM. 9 am . Nope…office door still locked, guy says he might be down at his shack…walk down there...ask another guy…don’t know where he is...so I ask where I might be able to get a hose made up…guys gives me directions….other side other side of the harbor...he gives me directions for driving…can I walk it? Guy says loooong walk...well I have a dink…oh ok..go over to the rigging shop…I think I know there that is…we motor back over to the other side...up a rickety dock and to the rigging shop….yep we can do, but you must go to our other office…and he rolls off the directions...can I walk...yea...a fair walk…what about from the Marina…oh yes then you….and so on.. I go back to the dink and get Joyce...I do need a walk…so we start walking….30 min later we double back ask some guy..yep see that blue building way down there..yes..well turn right…. !5 min later we are just passing a building and a guy sticks his head out of a building and asked us “looking for a hose?” Well we would have walked right by. ½ hr later and $63 bucks later we head back to the dink and back to the boat…now 11:45. So we change, jump back in the dink ..to the dingy dock downtown and wait for a Safari Bus. This is a tourist town. The taxi lobby is the strongest on the Island. Half the population on the Island owns a F350 Ford pickup ..top shelf trucks….they then put a top and bench seats in the back of the truck and you now have a Taxi. For all the “Cattleboat” people, it’s $5 to go to town form the ship and $5 bucks back.




And for those that know, if you find one of these “taxi’s” with black people on it it’s a “Safari” bus that will take you across the Island for a dollar. Seems there is an agreement with the union that there has to be X number of Safari buses even when there are cruise ships in. Do the math…. drive across the island with 10 people paying you 1 $ or driving 2 miles with 10 for 5$ each…Well we hop a Safari buss and off we are to the Mall. We jump out to stop at Office Depot..give the guy his 2 bucks only to be informed that its now $2 bucks per person…I did say that this is a strong lobby…but still a deal…a regular taxi to TUTU park would be 18$ per person..


So we get our wifi antenna and head up to the food store…I had told Joyce that this was a fact finding mission…find out who has the best stuff at the best prices….you see certain stores have better produce ..some better meats,..others better booze prices… Since one has to carry all this stuff back to the boat it’s best to buy in small batches. So we found some gin on sale…$12 …Bombay for martini’s ,some special spice packets for cooking lamb or chicken., a 12 pack of Fresca…Joyce has now converted to Gin and Fresca for the afternoon happy hour.. We are back at the boat by 5 pm.. So what did we accomplish on this day…damn not much. We start Happy Hour and hook up our new antenna….damn…had better reception on my old one..so we plan to return the new one… So no internet… Grilled 2 big steaks and salad for dinner…crash early.
Yesterday we went in at 9am ..list was long ..won’t bore you with the details..Joyce plays cattle boat person and proceeds to buy up ½ the Island. At the internet café, try to get online…damn whole island has a virus….talk with guy that runs the place… tell him my wifi problem…says he will bring in 1 of his to try. To cover our bases we dink and walk up to the Radio Shack…hmmm the have one…so I buy that…then up to the 2 other markets for who’s got what…by this time I’m on my last legs… fatigue has set in big time…1 more stop…on the way my knee decided it’s tired of hauling my ass around and buckles…bam…down I go…what a scene…some old fart crashes on the side of the road and almost rolls out into the street…nothing more than my pride hurt….so we cut the shopping short and head back…
Hmmmm … lets see….. what did we get done today…
So now its Saturday….and the list is longer….another day in the life of Paul and Joyces adventure cruising the Caribbean.

No Internet

Sat 4:45 Well we have spent a day now trying to get online interent on the boat. Seems our wireless card has died ...we have bought 3 different one..all don't do the job. So we came into the Internet cafe to post the blog and gather email...$$$$$ so we ordered a new super duty antenna ...now we have to wait for it...but Joyce is going diving to learn how to catch lobster...then we will go over to the BVI's and Anagada...where the buggers are plentyful....so it may be a few days before we update. All is well here...hope the same there...Paul and Joyce

The Other Fishy Story

Wed Jan 1-30 5:45 Land Ho !! I was able to make out St Thomas thru the early morning squall. If the wind holds we should have the anchor down by 11:30. Was a fast night, I actually got some decent sleep for the 1st time since we left. That’s the way it is on longer passages. It takes a few days to get into the rhythm. Just as I adapted…damn we are here. We have only run the main engine about 30 hrs since we left Marathon in the Keys. A new record for me.. I think we can make Margarita on this tank of go juice.. We are into the trade winds now and should not be using as much fuel. For the 1st time in my sailing career I have been waiting for wind and wind from the right direction. Time to slow down and enjoy ….. And now…
Joyce’s Fishy Story

Will add pics later...we are having technical difficulties


For sure the cleaning of the fish is a” pink” job. Joyce and her “Ginzo” Knife had her fish all filetted out in no time with little mess. I know when I have been bettered at a task

Not bad in a bouncing cockpit sailing along at 8.5 kts in 20+ kts of wind. I decided to stay clean and supervise like a good Captain should. No reason for both of us to get covered in fish blood and guts. Notice below the fillets bumps where Joyce surgically removed all the meat around the fish”s vertebrae
I think she missed her calling as a fish cleaner

“Houston, we have a problem” The additional fish from Joyce’s catch has caused a storage problem. Now we have been at sea for 5 going on 6 days. The rule on the boat is no hard liquor till the hook (anchor) is down. We have limited freezer space, including the all important space for the “happy Hour “ ice. With this additional fish there is little room left for the ice. So we decided to take out some steaks and the last of my soup to make room for the fish. Looks like we will be eating from the freezer for a few days. I know Joyce will tell her side of the story, but now the cockpit alarms are beeping…another wind change….Later

Okay, I know Paul is always so good about telling you the date, the day, and the time…but truthfully I don’t know what the date is, what the day is….and we had to put the clock down because this passage has had lots of sideways “tips” well pretty consistent and continual “tips”….ah yes, I just remembered…computers are so cool…it’s 2:52pm….it says so in the right hand corner…I’m just a little tired. Neither of us has had the best sleep for the five nights on this passage. The sailing has been terrific…minimal engine time…and up to 11 knots boat speed…but the waves have been sideways to the boat, up to 12 feet and at short intervals…I do believe I may walk funny for a while when we get to dry land again…

So now on to Fishy Story number two:
I asked Paul this morning if we were going to be able to fish more as we get further down the islands. He said yes, but the Mahi Mahi fishing was best out in the Atlantic…so while he was writing his fishy story on the computer down below…I let the lure out…thinking…. fresh Mahi Mahi for dinner again and a little more in the freezer wouldn’t hurt…and perhaps we wouldn’t catch anything anyway. I came back down below. We were sailing along at around 7 to 9 knots depending on gusts…Paul finished his blog…and we were just about ready to watch another NCIS episode, when….zingggggggggggggggg….and once again we both rushed up to the pole. Sails in, engine started, auto pilot off…into reverse…turning left…and forward….no the other left (opps)…starboard anyway…. Then Paul gave me the pole…






she too did not want to come aboard and put up a valiant effort…a few ups and “runs”…not nearly as good as the monster from yesterday…perhaps a half an hour…after all she was female and not nearly as cantankerous as the monster male of yesterday. While Paul held the leader I did get her gaffed at her gill and Paul got her on board and into the cockpit.




Another beautiful fish…and, I contend because she was female, she did not make nearly the mess that yesterday’s fish did…she was 47 inches long…



AND the best news is that I am getting better with sharp knives (at filleting)…even with the boat going 8 knots and side waves every ten or so. If I stop to think about it, perhaps it is more because I don’t want to waste any of the precious meat that we took from these beautiful fish…and while it may sound corny to some…I did thank them both for coming aboard and sharing with us. Freezers are full…we are done fishing for awhile.