Another peaceful place!
10 January 2009 | Port Royal, Roatan
Jan
After only a 5 hour, very benign passage with everything from full sails up, then an asymmetric run and finally a motor sail with NO wind and totally flat seas we arrived at Roatan. A reef totally surrounds this area with a few breaks for passage inside. We asked local advise from Tom & Stanna on "Sea Cat" and they gave us those oh so very important physical range and landmarks. "Go alittle past what looks to be the opening...then line yourself up with the Blue Cabana and the solar panels on the hillside and you will come straight in". We did see only 4 feet under the keel upon entering but then it quickly opened up to 20. We anchored along with 4 other boats and were promptly invited to a Dock gathering at Tom & Stanna's. Still a little tired from the trip and a bit of a head cold lingering, we made our way in to meet some new cruisers. Again,such a welcoming and helpful group of people. The 2nd night we had a little squall come thru packing 30+ winds and the boat behind us did some dragging at 12:30am! Tom & Stanna are currently land based here and were the 1st to shine their huge spot lights and hail us all on the VHF until Second Wind could get straightened out and re anchored! Tom also took us on a hike up to the ridge behind their house - okay we ALMOST made it up to the top of the ridge - we are just plain "out of shape"!. But WOW...what beautiful views of the anchorage and a bird's eye view of the reef that surrounds us. We spotted a couple of areas to snorkel in from up there and we were not disappointed. Quite the underwater rock formations and colors and different, smaller coral heads with plenty of fish that get to play here all the time! We also visited with the managers of a great little resort...Mango Creek...who made us yummy "made to order" breakfasts and gave us a little tour of their beautiful grounds. Guests pay $1,000/person/week..all inclusive but if you fly fish, it's $2,200/person including your guide and daily fishing trips and meals. Amy and Michael were a wealth of info about Belize and the Roatan area! Alas...we hear weather is really starting to kick it's heals in the NW Carib...so we better scurry off to French Harbor to provision, check out of Honduras and maybe "beat the system"...