Adventures with David & Gail

12/29/11 – Something for everyone! We want to apologize up front as it has been six days since the last update because 1) we have been traveling and 2) we have been traveling. Although we have the capability of sending blog updates while we are underway and have at times, there just hasn’t been much to update because we were traveling. See how that works? Let me try to explain.

Last we reported we were making lemonade (i.e. Gail’s Rum Punch) in Clarence Town. We checked out and paid our bill on Christmas Eve because the forecasts said the weather would let us leave on Sunday (Christmas Day). However, we woke up to almost identical conditions. We had already said goodbye to the other dock neighbors and they were expecting us to leave as well. It came down to 1 pm and either leave or pay another night. The wind died down and started moving in the right direction just enough that we decided to cast off.

Once out and around Booby Rock, we began to question our decision and maybe our sanity. Winds were still around 20 and the seas were 7-9 feet. But the sailing was good. In fact we sailed all the way to the northwest corner of Crooked Island 40 miles away and did not arrive until after midnight. Anchoring was easy even with no moon and in pitch black darkness. (22 49.004’N:74 20.727’ W) So, nothing really to blog.

Up early and around Bird Rock lighthouse headed for Atwood Harbor on the northeast end of Acklins Island. Sailed some and motored some but arrived in the little anchorage at about 2:30 and settled in. (22 43.151’N:73 52.889’W) Now the excitement for Monday was not the trip but the event. We hooked a nice dolphin (or mahi or dorado, depending on who you talk to) on the way, got it in and cleaned into some really good filets. We had fresh Mahi for dinner, but again not much to blog about.

Up at sunup (or about 5:30 for you late sleepers) for the long day trip to Mayaguana Island. Pulled out of Atwood and noticed another sailboat in the harbor. But being still dark, we did not make any special note and took off around Northeast Point. Well, the other boat came out just after we left, so we called on the radio and they were going the same way and had been there before so they knew where to anchor (after dark again). We motored/sailed down between the East and West Plana Cays (where there are thousands of an endangered, large (and nocturnal so we didn’t see one) rodent that inhabits the island and has removed a lot of vegetation. You will have to Google this one. Look up “Hutia”. It’s a long and sad story! Remember there will be a test!

Well, as things happen, we sailed south in great weather making great time until we could make a 90 degree tack to Mayaguana. Remember the sailing lesson a few blogs back? We tacked. But not 90 as planned. More like 150 degrees (due to the current) and were heading back where we came from. Meaning we had to motor in the rest of the way. We again arrived in the blackness about 10 pm. (22 19.798’N:73 01.915’W) A little spooky because the chart shows a lot of coral heads and reefs in the area but we had help and got anchored safely. Good stuff but still not blog worthy!

Finally, we slept in for a few extra hours because the plan was to stage over to the southeast end of Mayaguana for a final 35 mile trip to Provo. But (and here’s a big but) there was no wind! And the seas were flat! First time this trip! Check the gallery pictures. Instead of staging for the night, we checked with our friends and made an executive decision to keep going to Provo even motoring the whole way. It was actually a beautiful day and stunning night with a starry sky. We led the way into our agreed anchor area and dropped anchor again way after dark. (21 44.897’N:72 26.145’W) Safely here, but not in itself worth a separate blog.

Finally today, Thursday morning, we made the last 8 mile leg from the channel entrance to Sapodilla Harbor on Provo and set the hook before lunch. 165 miles in 5 legs over 5 days. Now this is becoming something of blogness!

And what about our mystery friends, you ask. They turned out to be Aubrey and Kathleen Banks of Michigan but lately of Oriental, NC on their 2000 Caliber 40 LRC, “Legacy”. And they are heading our same direction.

We had had a little of everything during the trip. Sailing, motoring, tacking, winds, no winds, waves, no waves, tricky anchoring, big fish, no big rodents, islands, reefs, safe and sound ending! We hope you all got something for Christmas that you really will cherish. We will always have this portion of the trip as our Christmas memory.