We left Cooper's Island on Tuesday in perfect conditions for the ParaSailor, and so up it went: calm seas and a steady breeze made for a good 7 kts of boat speed, so we were all very happy. We made our way down Sir Francis Drake Passage, south of Tortola, to the last of the British Virgin Islands, which is Jost Van Dyke. Here we picked up a mooring buoy for the night, and went ashore to do our immigration check-out, take a walk up the hill, and find ourselves a painkiller followed by a fine supper at the famous Foxy's bar. Another island that's been hard hit by hurricanes, and is pulling itself back together, it's a small, sleepy, sandy place with some lovely anchorages.

Then Wednesday morning saw us up with the pelicans, and heading west for Culebra. This is one of the so-called Spanish Virgin Islands - it's part of Puerto Rico (which is part of the USA), and makes a very place to break the 85 mile passage. It's a lovely place in its own right, and we are very glad to have visited. Today we hired a golf buggy and drove up to Flamenco Bay which is a picture-perfect beach (see picture), and picnicked there on spit-roast pork rolls and pasteles, a sort of cassava-and-meat thing cooked in banana leaves. Swimming, snorkelling, and then off to the Tamarindo beach on the other side of the island for more snorkelling. It is very quiet, laid-back, friendly and simple - chickens wandering around the airport, turtles crossing the road.

We're anchored in the Ensenada Honda in the centre of the island, together with a few other boats including Greyhound, a German aluminium boat that we have been encountering along for the way for several months now. It was good to finally make contact, and have a chance to invite them over for a sundowner.