10 February 2014 | Jamaica
10 February 2014 | Jamaica
10 February 2014 | Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Dickie's Port Antonio, Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
04 February 2014 | Jamaica
04 February 2014 | Jamaica
04 February 2014 | Jamaica
04 February 2014 | Jamaica
04 February 2014 | Jamaica
23 January 2014 | Port Antonio, Jamaica
Discovery Bay to Montego Bay
10 February 2014 | Jamaica
Clear, sunny and hot
Feb 9
- Once again got underway at 0700. The previous evening the wind had died and the anchorage became a little rolly due to the swell entering the bay. The wind wasn't going to kick in until about 1300 this day. We had been having problems with a sputtering engine the last couple of days. I suspected an air leak in the fuel line and had spliced out a piece the previous evening. After a good long run, I'm happy to report that the old "iron genny" is once again purring.
- The coast line was to remain quite green but the mountains gave way more to rolling hills. Still very picturesque. As we closed Montego Bay the coast line became thicker and thicker with "all inclusive resorts". Sabrina said that she was glad that we were out here and not in there. Life is so much better with a happy chief mate!
- Sailed around the point where the airport is located and pointed the bow towards the inner harbor and the Montego Bay Yacht Club. The slips were pretty full up and only offered Med style mooring (stern tied off to the dock with an anchor out forward). We opted to anchor and dinghy ashore. Sabrina stayed with the boat doing an anchor watch as we were anchored in 30 ft of water. I went in and attempted to contact Customs for our mandatory check in. I should have lagged another day as there is a $68 fee for weekend services.
- Now for our next decisions; where to go and when to do it. The grib files (weather forecasts) look good for an early departure and that's what we might do. We feel like we've done Jamaica pretty thoroughly and don't think that Montego Bay offers anything new or necessary that justifies new expenditures.
- It is now Monday morning, 0637, as I'm finishing up this blog posting. I'm a little more current than customary but the yacht club here has wireless and with our booster antenna I have good reception at anchor.
- Stay tuned (or not)
Oracabessa to Discovery Bay
10 February 2014 | Jamaica
Intermittent showers
Feb 8
- We awoke to a very calm, peaceful anchorage. A heavy rain shower passed over and delayed our departure a little. The previous evening we had opened a nice Cabernet and grilled our last Angus steaks that we had purchased in Georgetown, Bahamas. It's good to be moving again.
- We got underway at 0718 and motored out to a spectacular rainbow. As on the previous day, the winds were to remain light until about 0930 when I could once again raise sail. The sail down the coast was as good as it gets. Deep blue Caribbean water with flying fish. Light winds, enough to sail comfortably over moderate seas. The verdant, rain forested mountains to port, what's not to like?
- Our next stop was to be Discovery Bay, so named by Christopher Columbus, when he first made landfall in 1494. The harbor was more open than Oracabessa but provided a nice lee behind some vacation rentals.
- Got the grill going again and settled in for another night on the hook.
Port Antonio to Oracabessa
10 February 2014 | Jamaica
Clear with intermittent showers
- We settled up with the marina on Thursday, February 6, said our good byes to Paul and the marina staff, cleared customs to Montego Bay, fueled up and then anchored out for an early morning departure. We had George and Javi aboard the previous evening for our farewells with them. We've been fortunate to have met some good people that quickly became our friends despite our short stay.
- We were both happy to cut the umbilical cord (electric and water) and to move out on the hook once again. It feels like we've been plugged in a long time. We don't customarily spend so much time at a slip but circumstances dictated it this time.
- After a peaceful, uneventful night, we got underway at 0700 to transit down the north coast of Jamaica. Due to the nightly katabatic effect of the mountains we had no wind for the first several hours. At about 0945 I was able to kill the engine and raise sail. The customary trades started to kick in and by 1300 they were blowing 20-25 knts. We had a great sail down a very picturesque island.
- We opted to break the approximately 100 Nm trip into thirds. Our first stop was to be Oracabessa, a small town about 35 Nm down the coast. When we made the turn into the lee and spied the small harbor we were pleasantly surprised. It was much prettier and calmer than what we had anticipated. There was already a small sailboat from Ft. Myers at anchor. The owner, a young Brit, had bought it and sailed down with friends. They had been in Jamaica for six months already. Having been cleared for Montego Bay we weren't clear on how much time we had to get there and if these intermediate stops were sanctioned; so we didn't go ashore. The anchorage is part of "James Bond Beach Park". Ian Fleming owned a house just up the street and was said to have written the majority of his 007 novels from there.
Birthday Party Continued
05 February 2014 | Dickie's Port Antonio, Jamaica
Great
- We got a ride to Dickie's at 1800 with a reservation for 1900. We brought a bottle of wine and lounged around toasting Kelly in one of the off rooms down the cliff. Due to age, and construction?, the house is tilted towards the sea. I was wondering if it had been "load tested" as I and the boys were now doing. Notice I didn't include you Sabrina.
- We sat down to dine at 1900 were to have a five course dinner featuring lobster and jerk chicken with the customary side dishes. For desert Dickie's wife, Joy, had baked a birthday cake.
- After dinner we lounged around, rasta style, while we awaited our ride back to the marina.
- Wayne came by the marina the next morning at 0630 for the ride back to the airport in Montego Bay. Kelly called us later that evening from Tampa. All had gone well and we now had new memories to cherish.
- Time for Sabrina and I to plan the next leg. Stay tuned.
Port Antonio XII
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
Sunny
- Today, Friday, January 31, 2014 is Kelly's 27th birthday. Happy Birthday Buddy!
Having gotten in at 0430 this morning and no tours scheduled the boys opted to sleep in. They did roll out at about 1130 a little sooner than I expected.
- Chris and I headed into town to get a birthday card and Chris wanted to pick up something from the market for Kelly. He ended up purchasing a real nice Jamaica soccer jersey. We then did some grocery, (happy hour), supplies and headed back to the boat. Sabrina and Kelly then took their turn to the market. As has become custom, they did so in the rain.
- We had made reservations at "Dickie's Restaurant" for the birthday celebration. We had scoped out this restaurant earlier in the month. It is extremely unique with a small house above a cliff that is built down the cliff. It is totally asymmetrical with numerous small rooms going here and there. The owner, Dickie, is a small Rastafarian with a great smile and attitude.
- Picture is Dickie with yours truly. He looks like he could be on my menu. "Get in my belly".
Port Antonio XI
05 February 2014 | Jamaica
Sunny, misty in mountains
- Thursday was to be our fourth and final tour with Wayne. We opted for the "Blue Mountains" to tour the coffee plantations. We left the marina at about 0800 and headed west down the coast and then inland and up into the mountains. The drive and scenery was spectacular.
- We stopped at a rasta coffee plantation. They grow all their own beans organically. They showed us the different types of beans and then showed us how they separated them out. They then roasted some over a small wood fire constantly stirring so that they didn't burn. After grinding some we got to taste the end product. Let's just say that I bought three pounds. Once again we had to drag Sabrina away from "her people".
-We then went higher up the mountain to a vista of Kingston, 5020 feet below. We got to see the city and Port Royal where we had previously visited from a jet's eye view. We were fortunate that the mountain wasn't clouded in when we got there.
- On the way back down the mountain we stopped at another coffee plantation, "Old Tavern Coffee Estate". We were invited into the owner , Mrs. Twyman's home. No picture will do justice to the location and view of their plantation below. Her son, David, was on the island and at the house for our visit. He too is an avid sailor and we swapped some sea stories while Mrs. Twyman made coffee and cookies for us. We were told that this is the true "Blue Mountain Coffee" and that they supply the queen with hers. By now I've had so much coffee that I was ready to jog down the mountain. I resisted the urge.
- Next stop on the way home was another touristy water falls. The badgering started again with one individual volunteering to jump from the falls for re-numeration. I didn't bother telling him that I had just seen Chris and Kelly jump from Reich Falls. Kelly actually, to his parent's dismay, did a somersault.
We didn't bother paying to walk up to the falls but opted for lunch that Wayne had prepared and brought with him. He had forgotten about lunch but the "Shannon Boys" hadn't.
- We headed back to the boat ending our week with Wayne. Money well spent.
- Chris and Kelly had made arrangements with George and Javi to go into town to the weekly "block party". They headed off at 2230 and were to return none the worse for wear at 0430 after some additional clubbing. We felt good that they were with people we knew and trusted.