Dale's next born - to be named "Lawrence"?!

Road Town is one hustling and bustling place – especially the TUI Marina – where all Moorings, Sunsail and Footloose charters start and finish plus a menagerie of sailing vessels from the little 25’ boats to the mega cruise ships – great for people watching – many different languages spoken – actually quite romantic… 

I suggested to Dale that he try out his British accent for me…. did not happen!!

Sailing into the dock in Road Town to check into immigrations

We have been on the Moorings dock for the last 5 days and I think Lawrence (the chief electrician) has remedied the problem – we now have a battery charger that does its job … and we can create all sorts of energy and even store it for use down “the road.” 

Dale is thinking about naming our next son, 'Lawrence' because he resolved the mechanical problem and has made Dale so happy…. I know we have Andy for a “son” now…. that’s a good one for me!!   Anyway, Lawrence really took to Dale – their sense of humor and wit matched up pretty quickly and now; Lawrence took Dale on as his "special project” – fixing up the ST60 (fancy name for a wind instrument that talks to NEMA, GPS and other navigational stuff – almost sounds like I know what I am talking about), the “head” now functions properly and the wind energy is flowing into the batteries – Lawrence in my book is a “gem”!  We really lucked out with his expertise and knowledge – a born teacher – he just didn’t know it – but we learned a ton all while he was “just doin’ his job.” Lawrence gave Dale the biggest smile when Dale proclaimed the “son” deal – I just giggled  – no promises from me!

It has not been all work and no play – we have had a couple of fun ventures – Dale especially likes going to the marine hardware shop with all of the gadgets and sailing gear that is available – with everything so easily accessible; compared to what we had in Guatemala – he is like a kid in a candy store.  The Sushi Bar is one of the best we have ever tasted -  spicy tuna – oh so fresh!!  A massage for me this morning was a great treat after polishing all of the stainless in the interior and most of the exterior – Dale surprised me with the appointment – a real treat – and now we just finished up “happy hour” with smoked oysters   ….  as “the sun is setting behind us” we will make our plans for tomorrow….

Dinghy round-up - the Moorings Marina in Road Town


The view from the stern of Companion

If the battery charger continues to function in the proper manner, we will sail back to Norman Island and Bight Bay   for a day before we check out of the BVI’s and into the US Virgins – we just have to snorkel by the caves…. 

and have a cocktail at the infamous “Willie T’s”.

We are looking forward to seeing Emily, Kyle, Sandy and Bryce on Friday – it will be a great Christmas “gift” to have them with us…. 

k

For all knitting friends - the winch works great for winding the wool!

Togetherness…..Dec. 16

We are in the BVI's (British Virgin Islands) - In the Moorings marina this afternoon to get a new battery charger put in (Moorings owed us a new one) and toliet maintenance - we hate to loose the" head" overboard again ..... like we did in 1996….. that was fun?  Right Laura??

Change of plans - “flexibility” is our name and game:  Max was really homesick; he started to think about school, his future- etc.  so he headed back to Seattle a couple of days ago - thank goodness he stayed and helped Dale get this far - being confined to the boat was a little much for him - I think it surprised him also... He did a lot of soul searching, just like the majority of us – never really sure where life will take us..... Max, your presence, culinary skills, muscle and dreds will be missed….. anyway, we will continue on as planned and after a couple of months - will re-evaluate on how we are doing and what the plan of attack will be....right now we made reservations for the boat in June to be hauled out in Curacao for the hurricane season - but that can be changed with no problems.  

 Dale is a patient guy and will help me learn “the ropes!”  (especially all of the knots !!! )  Teach as we go – one of my major hurdles will be to learn “the man overboard drill!” – so I can save the guy I love!!  That will happen next week in Great Bay off of Peter Island.

 Anyway, we will be anchored out in that little bay outside of Road Town, Tortola (no internet for 6 days) - it is lovely here - nice and warm in the day - cools off in the evening... we provisioned enough for 5/6 days - and will head to St. Thomas, arriving there for sure on the 23 - but hopefully we can go in a day earlier - to get ready for Em and her gang.. Snorkeling over by Norman Island is on the agenda -

 I cleaned the cabins for the last couple of days - Companion looks nice and shiny - going to go over to "town" and get some Christmas lights so we can "decorate" - I need to look festive!

Major thanks has to go to Mike and Max for all of their help and support for the last 45 days (1800 nautical miles)  – without their help, Companion would have struggled more to make it to the Caribbean – all of the long hours, lack of sleep,  the waves, wind and unpredictable timing of boating events – we appreciate it gentlemen – more than you will ever know…. Hope you realize how grateful we are… as Mike said, “Mission Accomplished!”  Thank you!!

Captain's note - With 15 knot winds in Road Town today, we left one Marina just missing a Piling - since we were in a 25 foot space between two pilings and wind was on our beam (side) and Companion is 20 feet wide. Then to Moorings to fit into another 25 foot space. But Kim did a great job moving dinghy, fenders and throwing lines. We are currently enjoying a Red Stripe and have not yet seen a Mooring's mechanic at 7 PM. We are also glad that our boat was in Belize, because the number of bumps and scratches due to the limited space and lack of care that is seemingly taken here.  

Night Watch Finesse - Nov. 13

 37 days since the guys left the dock in Rio Fronteras Guatemala – just being back with them for the last week – I have been able to witness the night rotation – the hours between 6 pm and 6 am – it is a unique time to be on the open sea – I am sure more for them then for me – as they have gone over 1800 nautical miles already.  (Me – only 301) – but to see how they are organized and communicate in the wee hours is special.  Dale 6pm – 11:00pm, Max 11:00pm – 2:30am, Mike 2:30am – 6:00am.  The little bit that is spoken between those hours and all that is communicated …short and sweet because sleep calls each of them at the end of their shift. Dale gives Max his report, Max to Mike and Mike to Dale – any help needed they are there for each other. It is reassuring for this “newbie sailor” to have the comfort of this rotation under control, relaxed and organized.

It is with grace and finesse that this rotation happens – each sailor being responsible and ready for action.   Plus I think they all like to snack at their shift and check out the frig accordingly!!

After they all have had a bit of recoup time in the morning – we hear about the shooting stars, the star dust that they leave behind, satellites that scan the sky, the large containers ships that pass in the distance, the islands and towns that are on the shoreline, buoys that are unmarked that pop up out of no where … just the everyday “things” that happen at sea - in the dark. Right now the moon is up at 11am and down about 11pm – so no help from her – BUT the stars are amazing and so bright – almost feels like we should be able to touch them – so close. 

k

CAPTAIN’S UPDATE  - DAY 39  Nov 14

Today, we are on a dock in Road Town BVI; it is so great to be here and so different. Before today we saw about 10 private yachts at sea, and at the Bight Bay on Norman Island there were 30 yachts in one location. We arrived in the BVI yesterday at about 3 PM and since Norman Island is the furthest southwest Island of the BVI, we anchored there for the night. Mike and Max enjoyed a little snorkeling, and then they were off to the Willie T. a floating bar. We had journeyed 300 nautical miles since Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. Three nights, but with calm seas, so sailing was minimal. Most of this journey we could see land since we followed the south coast of Puerto Rico, which made Kim very happy.  Again we had some engine issues as the port engine’s belt was whining so Mike and I tightened it till it was back to a pleasant purr. The starboard engine had the alternator support bracket break so it wasn’t useable, until I had it fixed today. I now have a good feeling about the engines. Immigration and Customs were easy in Road Town, and we motored over to Mooring's base to get a few parts (cabinet latches, pulley block for the Main Sheet and oil filter). Tomorrow, we will shop for provisions and do some laundry, and Kim has started her cleaning and organizing mode so the boat will be ship shape for when guests start arriving. We will be in the British Virgin Islands for about a week, then to the US Virgin Islands to have Christmas with Emily and Kyle’s family.

Photos along the way - Honduras to Dominican Republic

Max got the first big catch between Honduras and Jamaica.

Montego Bay Yacht Club Jamaica - 4 days and some great food!

Casa de Campa Marina near La Romona, Dominican Republic - 7 days - had to wait for parts - picked up Kim in Santo Domingo - great place to have to wait .

Touring at the Italian Village in Casa de Campa - lovely - 70,000 acres in this campus. Marina, homes (villas and mansions), 3 golf courses, polo fields, white sand beaches, shopping and the staff is so customer orientated - a special treat.

Hand rolled cigars - every tobacco leaf run thru the press

4000 employees in the 8 hour shift - probably 25 steps and months and months of prep before the cigar is perfected and ready to be smoked

Final touch - the last wrap of a tobacco leaf before it goes into the humidifier for 3 months and then individually wrapped with the cigar band and cellophane wrap - we appreciated all of the labor for about 1 hour of satisfaction.... unbelievable.

Kim doing wash and getting a cardio workout - wash water - stomp - first rinse - stomp - second rinse - double stomp and hang to dry.... she will appreciate a washer and dryer once she gets home.....

Tomorrow will be our last day at Casa de Campa - marina mechanic will help Dale install new water pump, Kim and Max to provision, and Mike oversees and checks weather - so we will be ready to sail another 250 miles to get to the British Virgin Islands - then we can snorkel, relax and have another tropical drink!

Kim has rejoined the Journey Dec. 7

It was great picking up Kim from Santo Domingo airport yesterday. Today, the boat was more organized and we had placemats at dinner. It's the little touches that make a difference (okay I might not mean that, but it is great having Kim with us).

Today, we ventured to a archeological museum on the histroy of the island, and toured this amazing facility here at Casa de Campa. Then went to the largest hand rolled cigar factroy in the world. Four thousand employees per day in an 8nour shift, making 800,000 to a million cigars per week. Nothing was automated! Plus the quality control, aging the tobacco, and process was amazing.I now know why some cigars are very expensive. We have a few celebratory cigars to be broken out once we reach the Virgin Islands.

In regard to Companion, a rewelded block fastener was reattached to the boom so the main sheet is functioning again. Companion has a new American Flag since the old one was extremely tattered and had a few rips with it's contact with the wind generator. We will attempt to keep wind generator from the flag from now on. We hope that the Volvo water pump will arrive tomorrow so we can be on our way to the Virgin Islands by this weekend.

Now a little side note from "the wife":  I am glad to be back on Companion - she is in good shape - the guys took great care of her with all of their passages - Dale is right - she did and will be getting some more personal touches - I can hardly wait to break out the Holiday decor!!  (especially since I was the decorating elf in every house that I stayed in, in the last month!)

Life is good and actually a little chilly tonight - 88 today and now in low 70's -

Slow Go to Puerto Rico 12-4

Today, we left for Puerto Rico, but an hour out of port Companion’s starboard engine failed (oil in the bilge and smoke). So we came back to Casa de Campa – a port on the south east side of Dominican Republic. Casa de Campa is a GaZillion dollar port with mega yachts and little tender dinghies that lead you in and out of the Marina. Yesterday, we had new oil filters, oil and fuel filters replaced, and they found the fresh water pump was bad on one of the engines, but still operational. Ship yard didn’t have part so decided to get to Puerto Rico and get part when we met Kim. Did the custom and navy check out. The Dominican Republic has been the worst in regard to extra fees that need to be paid to the government officials. EVERYONE wants an American $20, so fees were to be $63 to Customs and $20 X 2 to Navy for Sailing and exit documentation, but it has been just over $200. So here I sit on a Saturday afternoon updating the blog, because it will be Monday before they can look at the engine.

                I need to catch you up on our journey from Jamaica. Again on Nov. 17 we arrived in Montego Bay Jamaica. We stayed at the Montego Bay Yacht Club for 3 nights, met with 8 immigration, custom and other officials (no exchange of money, just a lot of time spent waiting for officials to arrive). We then were going to travel east on the north shore but winds were blowing at 22-28 knots in our face and after three tacks and a net gain of 4 nautical miles the choice was either beat our brains out tacking, go back to the harbor, or turn around and do a counter clockwise trek around Jamaica (which we did). Anchored that night in Negro Point on west side of island, and then onto Kingston, Port Royal Jamaica (during pirate time the port of Captain Morgan). Today it is very much run down, and Kingston is not much with lots of poverty and crime.   

                We left Port Royal at noon Nov. 24, after checking out (4 officials, but again no extra money paid). From Nov. 24 to Nov. 30 we sailed the south shore of Hispaniola (combined countries of Haiti and Dominican Republic). Again we had mainly winds in our face, so it was hard sailing so we averaged just less than 100 nautical miles a day. On the first day out at about 10 O’clock a storm came up and even though we had the main reefed a block on the traveler failed so we had to bring down the Main Sail, so we sailed mainly with just the jib and motors .  So it has been probably more work and less relaxed than I thought it would be, but we are making our way to the Islands where the winds will be on our beam and much easier to sail, plus anchorages most every night. But to get there has been difficult, but Mike and Max have been outstanding. As long as I keep the supply of Rum and Cerveza (beer) available, I think we will make it.

                We are about 240 miles from St. Thomas and the American Virgin Islands so we hope mid week we can finish our journey toward the islands.  Hopefully, I can meet up with Kim, either having her fly here, or at the end of the week in Ponce, Puerto Rico. We have travelled approximately 1590 nautical miles and left Rio Dulce a little less than a month ago. Max has done a great job, feeding the crew and he is becoming quite a wiz at meals with the pressure cooker. I'm sure someday you might be able to purchase his sailors cookbook. The weather here is in the low 80's, with winds today out of the north.

A little frustrated, in paradise - Dale