Bonaire...

May 7th 2009 - From Isla Palmetta to Bonaire...another day sail...a little bit longer day sail...50 plus miles. P&J had their anchor up at 7:00am. We had our anchor up at 8:00am. We had anchored next to this boat...the picture is to show the size of the storm anchor on the bow! It was a downwind sail so we had both sails up again and it was BLOWING!

It was a great sail...albeit there were some pretty grand waves once we were out of the lee of the Aves! With a day or more of good winds the waves can get 8-10 feet…some maybe a little more! As we "surfed" down one we hit 11.9 knots! We passed P&J and continued to the first turn around the lighthouse end of the island. We made the final turn and were preparing to roll up both sails...loosening the sheets...when I told Paul that the "ballooner" was falling down (probably due to some of the snapping that resulted when the wind was not directly on the stern)! With the winds gusting to 30 plus...quick decisions later...well...the short story is we now need a sail repaired and the pole pop-riveted back on...hopefully in Curacao. Paul may give you the longer version...we were actually lucky it was not worse...but, my mind is on scuba diving!!! Kranlendijk, Bonaire looks so different coming in from the water but the water is still beautiful and clear!! We saw Artemo was here and Alex, Amelia and Grahmn came over and assisted us in picking up our second mooring (the first was closer to the marina...but we found out it was a private mooring). First things first...we went in to check-in. The customs guys were pleasant and the grocery store was as I remembered...we picked up bread...and back to the boat. Paul had a reservation to take the boat into the Harbor Village Marina for two nights Friday and Saturday for the battery equalization exercise. The next morning early we took Hugo in to check out the marina. Of course Paul gets what I would call one of the toughest slips to get into!! Back to the boat...release the mooring...motored over...and Paul makes it look so easy...we are way over in the corner here...the note ...remember Paul's underwater bow thruster fix in Grenada?? It worked like a charm! Once settled in I reminded Paul that we had to take the shotgun to customs...so we took the dingy all the way back across the mooring field...turned it in for our stay...back to the marina and FINALLY got the bikes out. I don't remember the last time we had the bikes out...but, wow, when we get to use them, it sure makes it easier and faster than walking!! There seems to be quite a few people using bikes here...not the best roads...i.e. paved shoulder or sidewalk...but the cars seem very "forgiving"! So we rode into town, Paul to the Budget Marine, well, me too...I bought some additional fishing line...and then I continued in to town. I was able to get on a painfully slow internet to send a couple of emails...and get to a dive shop for more information. Truly, however, the best source of information is other cruisers...and our "neighbors" for these couple of days were no exception. On their pass by they mentioned the local bar and eatery...so we went up for a short time. The food was good...we just had a few appetizers...the information was better...They are from Alaska – their sailboat, Denali Rose - and have been down in this area for two years now. They stay in Curacao and sail over here for a period of time to dive. They are familiar with the dive sites and what sites Omar’s winds were the hardest on. With the strong winds we are having now they were telling us what dive sites would give the best visibility. Apparently there are only a few dive shops that make it easy for people with their own tanks to fill (ah to have a compressor on board...but then still no Nitrox!). So here we were in Bonaire two nights and still I had yet to get in the water much less go diving!! I mentioned to Paul "let's go on one dive tomorrow...maybe just off of P&J's boat on the mooring field". He said when the chores get done. Hmmmm, what do you think?? The next day…chores three...diving zero!! Three nights in Bonaire and still no diving...chores... P&J had also decided to be in a hurry and sail on to Curacao (sail, chores, and provisioning related) on Monday instead of later in the week. While I was at the internet shop another cruiser stopped and we started chatting! Kathryn and Enrique on Pelican wanted to go to the Washington Slagbaai National Park at the north end of the island...as did Paul and I. We had heard from Denali Rose that it was worth the trip. We will be looking into renting a car for the day with them this week for a look at more of the island and the museum and park! So, I’m finishing writing this on this Mother’s Day with batteries up over 260 amp hours, immediate chores done (including two loads of laundry this morning), out of the Marina we went for one last chore before any fun could begin...cleaning the bottom and changing the zincs! Hopefully my children and my mom will get a kick out of that!!! Happy Mothers Day mom!! I love you!! Special note to my children…Please treat yourselves to what you would have treated me to today!! BIG HUG!! Love you guys’ lots! We picked up a mooring and got to work! Sunset over Klein Bonaire...