My Favorite Part

My brother Joe and his wife Julie flew to St. Croix last week to sail with us. Their daughter Lexi and her boyfriend Tyler accompanied them.  We had some rolly nights on board Exit Strategy, but we also had very good times trying some new anchorages and seeing the sights of the island and its nearby cays.

My favorite part was not the lively discussions in the cockpit after drinking free flowing rum concoctions by Captain Dan.

It was not the morning our son Bob took us to work as volunteer gardeners at Reef to Ridge Farm and we came home with fresh veggies.





My favorite part was not the afternoon that Joe bought 5 live lobsters (about 8 pounds total) for us to have for dinner.

It was also not the late afternoon that Dan wielded his machete to open a green coconut for us...

It was definitely not the afternoon we spent on the beach at Protestant Cay- although Lexi proved to be an expert conch, welk, and flounder hunter (when she wasn't screaming).

It was not the day we took a taxi-bus to the St. George Botanical Gardens and then got a ride to the Cruzan Rum Distillery from a snowbird from Kalamazoo.

My favorite part was not the time we wandered around Frederiksted shopping.

It was not the hike to the top of Buck Island or the snorkel trip at the east end.

Tyler & I watching dolphins. 

My very favorite part was when we anchored on the west end of Buck Island and were entertained by a pod of mating dolphins that circled our boat for over an hour!

IF

IF our guests, Joe & Julie and Lexi & Tyler, would have noticed the puddles of water seeping out of the closed door of the forward head or the six inches of brine sloshing about inside when the door was opened, they might have frantically abandoned ship…
 
IF the Captain would have known that the sink's drain valve was closed in the forward head before he turned on the water maker, he would have opened it to allow the salty waste water drain properly…

IF the First & Last Mate had known that the Captain was going to run the water maker, she wouldn’t have closed the valve to let Tyler’s jeans soak while sailing…

IF Tyler would have known that the cute little baby seated next to him on the airplane was going to projectile vomit all over him, he may have tried to get a seat reassignment…

AND THE FIRST MATE WOULDN’T HAVE HAD TO BAIL OUT THE FORWARD HEAD FLOOR!

B.O.A.T.

-is a well known acronym for Bring Out Another Thousand.  This is our most recent experience to prove it is really true.   The thru hull in the forward head was changed out when we moved on to the boat 15 months ago- it had to be as the lever broke off in Milton’s hand during annual maintenance.  Exit Strategy was pulled out and on the hard at the time to paint the hull, so the procedure was easy.
   The problem with the aft head thru hull valve was first noticed about a year ago during a week’s cruise with Joe & Julie around St. Thomas and St. John- USVI.  Dan “fiddled” with it and the problem appeared to be corrected until our daughter Becky’s family sailed with us a month later.   Once again, it seemed to be working after more tinkering (not tinkling) by the Captain.
     Now, a year later our son Bob’s family boards the vessel and the aft head goes on the fritz once more.  Luckily, ES has two heads, so the cruise proceeded fine.  It was also fortuitous that Dan had anticipated having to change out the aft thru hull and had discussed it with some Old Salts (Capt. John of s/v Antillean and Capt. Gene of s/v GeWil).  They assured him that the task could be done while in the water using bungs and working quickly. 

     Well, first Dan dove into the water and banged a bung into the thru hull opening.  Then he came back on board and tried to loosen the fitting by applying extensive elbow grease and massive amounts of “French”.   Tah-dah, the fitting broke off in his hand!  More loud “French” ensued followed by, “Rose come here and put your hand on this hole!”  I did as commanded while Dan jumped back into the water to bang the bung in deeper.  I watched as the rate of seepage dwindled to a trickle and then it finally stopped!  (THANK GOD!)  

   

     So, we chose to have the boat hauled out for a day to be on the safe side AND had the marina’s expert mechanic finish the job. As frustrating as boat repair can be at times- we’re not ready to sink the vessel yet.

Moving Bob's Family to St. Croix

Our son Bob and his family met us in St. Thomas with all their worldly possessions in tow. They were about to embark on a new adventure as Christian missionaries at Youth with a Mission (YWAM)- St. Croix, but they wanted a little R & R beforehand. So over the course of two weeks, we island hopped our way to St. Croix through the US and Spanish Virgins. 



They requested that we spend some time exploring Water Island-USVI since Dan & I spoke of it so often.  Joy joined the morning island walk with the ladies and Bob did his best to hunt for lobster around the rocky points. It was hard to get Aslan and Lyla (our grandkids) out of the water!


The next port was Culebra-PR where we anchored in Ensenada Honda.  From there we took the dinghy through the fishing cannal and across the channel to Cayo de Luis Pena.  There we snorkeled and found some welk for supper.

Isla de Culebrita offered another perfect beach and some natural jacuzzis where the surf rushes between the rocks.   We climbed to the top of a rocky point and also up to the old lighthouse site stopping along the path to examine small land crabs and brightly colored caterpillars.  Bob scored some nice conch for ceviche and chowder.





The longest leg of the trip was when we set sail for Frederiksted, St. Croix-USVI. We kept Aslan & Lyla busy with various games and taught them a modified version of the card game War. They did well and voluntarily took
catnaps, as sailing can have that effect.

From there we headed toward Buck Island, a National Park that lies just north of the eastern end of St. Croix. We anchored at the west end and were welcomed by a school of barjacks and a barracuda. Our hike up to the top of the island was rewarded by breathtaking scenery.

Our final destination was Christiansted, St. Croix.  Bob collected his family's van from the shipping company- probably the most difficult part of the move- and then made multiple trips in the dinghy to transfer their boxes from our boat.  It was great fun sailing with them, but we're sure they are very happy to be on terra firma and ready to devote their energies toward their missionary tasks.  We wish them well!

I AM the Captain…

…of the dinghy more and more these days. Since we bought Exit Strategy back in 2007, I rarely operated the dinghy.  There was no need to, as Captain Dan was always going along to do his errands while I did mine.  I recall the last time my brother Joe and his wife sailed with us, Dan gave me the choice of jumping into the dinghy to grab hold of a mooring that was just vacated OR take command of ES’s helm, up anchor, and maneuver to pick up the mooring with Joe’s help.  I carefully got in the dinghy and headed toward the mooring, but I couldn’t quite coordinate slowing the dinghy and moving it in the direction of the mooring- not to mention actually grabbing the pennant attached to it.  I think I circled around it 4 or 5 times before I was able to accomplish the mission.  (Oh, I guess I could review the video that the Captain took of me that afternoon.)

But today I can tell you with confidence that I AM the CAPTAIN of the dinghy.  How did this finally happen?  Well, I’ve been up and out early most mornings in the dinghy to pick up some of the other cruiser wives so we can walk Water Island.  I also drive a group ashore for yoga at sunset a couple of evenings a week.  After this stint of being the “designated driver” I’m happy to report that I no longer stop the dinghy by ramming into a hull; I can gauge the drifting current to let my passengers off at the side ladder of their vessels; I have not had to flag down another dinghy to hitch a ride back to the boat and get Dan to unlock the security cable using the very same key that didn’t work for me and 2 other people. 

Yes, I AM the Captain of the dinghy and it feels good.

Green Flash Phenomenon

Our good friend Jimmy was the one who alerted us to the green flash phenomenon that occurs at sunset when the conditions are right. For one to happen, the sun must set clearly over the water with absolutely no clouds between you and it.  Contrary to what you may think, the sighting of a green flash does not require drinking cocktails, but usually that is just what one in the islands on a boat is doing at sundown. 

We've been watching and waiting to observe one for over three decades since Jimmy first taught us about it. WE FINALLY SAW ONE!  It was not a quick flash, but more like a lasting pea-green circular glow that hung above the horizon for 6-8 seconds after the sun went down. It was very cool- thank you, Jimmy! 

(Sorry, no photo- couldn't even find a Google Image that matched what we saw.)

Christmas Tree Affair

     We don’t have a Christmas tree on Exit Strategy yet, although unspoken peer pressure among our friends in the bay may change that before too long.  Each evening, we notice another sparkle of Christmas lights on the island or a neighboring vessel. Lights have been hoisted to the top of masts or in and around cockpits.  Heck, some boaters even have their dinghy decorated with red bows and bells!

      I pause here to introduce you to two cruisers in the bay who decorate for Christmas with great spirit and lots of good cheer!  Christy & Boomer (s/v Pirate’s Lady) are a fun-loving, energetic couple who have become very good friends.  The other day we met them downtown for the annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree and all its merriment.  Captain Dan & I probably looked like little puppies as we followed them around to view the best of the festivities, but didn’t mind because they always seem to know how the most fun can be had around these parts.

Bet you never thought you'd see Dan wearing reindeer antlers!

The camera man was tipsy when he took this shot- or did we take a shot?

Santa gets a deep tan in the islands.

We've never seen a mocko jumbie quite this young.