Current Location: Hassel Island West Anchorage, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled: 1 Weather: Mostly sunny, windy (15-20), low-80s Highlights: Slept late, had a leisurely breakfast, then Terry filled up the water tanks and washed down the boat while Amy walked over to Pueblos for produce and veggies. Checked out at noon, cast off the dock lines, and motored about a mile across the bay to Hassel Island, dropping anchor around 1:30. Lazy afternoon reading, watching the harbor traffic, relaxing and napping, then baked beans with plantains, rolls, and slaw for dinner tonight. Light TV and reading before turning in early.
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Current Location: Crown Bay Marina, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled: 7 Weather: Mostly sunny, windy (15-20), low-80s Highlights: Reservations at Crown Bay marina today, so dropped the mooring ball lines around 12:30 and had a nice downwind sail (full Genoa only) in 15-20 knots of wind and 4-5 foot following seas over to Charlotte Amolie harbor. Arrived at the marina around 2PM, got settled in, then (finally) took receipt of the long-waited-for water pump. Terry made a quick trip to Pueblos for wine and other essentials, then we decided to grab dinner at the marina grill (Tickles). Burgers and fries for Terry while Amy had the chicken wings and sides, and we (for once) were able to watch Jeopardy while we ate. Kid Wonder won again (but only by $18 this time), so his streak continues. Back to the boat for some more TV, reading, and catching up on emails before turning in for the night. Current Location: Christmas Cove Mooring, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled: 4 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (5-10), low-80s Highlights: We need to head over to Crown Bay marina on Monday to pick up the water pump that Jenn sent out, so figured we would go half-way and drop down to Christmas Cove. The anchorage is a bit more sheltered than the rolling we experience here off Honeymoon Bay, and the moorings are free. Arrived around 10:30, just in time to grab the last remaining ball, then spent the rest of the day watching the Sunday morning talk shows, reading, and relaxing. Leftovers for dinner tonight, then watched part 2 of the Blackbeard DVD before bedtime. Current Location: Honeymoon Bay Mooring, St. Johns, USVI
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (5-10), low-80s Highlights: Terry worked on cleaning the bottom of the boat while Amy organized the galley. Had Deb and Dennis from XYZZY over for dinner tonight - was good getting to know them better, and to tap into their experiences (they've been living on their boat for over 4 years now). They're also planning to haul out at the same place we will (PDR), but 2 weeks later, so we're comparing lists and prep notes for that process. Had pork tenderloin with corn-on-the-cob from the grill, plus an asian cabbage salad for dinner, then played dominoes and enjoyed cheese cake that Deb brought over for desert. Current Location: Honeymoon Bay Mooring, St. Johns, USVI
Miles Traveled: 33 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (5-10), low-80s Highlights: Started our day with a nice breakfast of eggs with ham and cheese, then raised anchor and motored in 2-3 foot seas and 10-15 knot headwinds over to the USVIs. Took the route along the north side of St. Thomas - much more scenic and less traffic. Trolled a fishing line most of the day, but didn't get a single bite, and snagged seaweed was pretty annoying. Arrived at Honeymoon Bay near Cruz Bay, St. Johns around 1:30, then took the dinghy into town. Had a late lunch at High Tide (blackened mahi sandwiches for both of us - yummy), then Amy picked up a few items at the grocery store while Terry took the propane tank over to Paradise Gas to get it filled. Back to the boat around 4PM for naps, reading, and a light dinner (leftovers), then watched some TV and updated the blog (nice to finally have strong enough hotspot signal for internet) before turning in for the night. Current Location: Caya Norte Anchorage, North of Culebra Island, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 22 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (5-10), low-80s Highlights: Checked on our water pump status first thing this morning, and was informed of new eta of Friday, and thanks for our patience. Replied that our patience had run dry, cancel the order, and we'll have Jennifer send the pump that was delivered to her last week over to St. Thomas. We've got a perfect weather window to motor east to the USVIs, then sail down to St. Croix later in the week, so didn't want to wait any longer. Raised anchor at 9:30, motored over to the west side of Culebra, dropped anchor just outside the ferry dock, then took the dinghy into town to drop off trash and pick up some groceries. Finished those chores around 1:30, then raised anchor and motored around to Bahia de Marejada for some snorkeling. Terry had been snorkeling here a few weeks ago without Amy (her ears were bothering her), and found it really good, so wanted to check it out again. Water was too stirred up by the NE swells this time, so a bit of a disappointment, but still better than average. Finished snorkeling around 4, raised anchor, and motored over to Culebrita. We were going to anchor in the bay, but with the NE swells, thought we would try the south shore of Caya Norte, which turned out to be a good choice. A sloop came over from the bay and dropped anchor next to us shortly after we got settled. Chatted with them for a bit - they informed us that they were rolling like crazy last night in the bay, and got almost no sleep. This anchorage provides a bit more protection from the NE. We both laid out on the trampoline before bed tonight - stars were amazingly bright. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), low-80s Highlights: This is supposed to be delivery day for the water pump, but we weren't able to get a solid answer on status until late afternoon - no luck, but check tomorrow morning with the boss. Getting a bit frustrating - we started this process almost 3 weeks ago, and have been waiting here at anchor (with no internet) since the 12th. The pump we order through Amazon as a spare was delivered to Jennifer and Courtney yesterday, so we might just scrap this order and have them ship the spare. We'll make a decision based on what we hear tomorrow from "the boss". Terry pulled out the water maker and topped off the tanks this morning while Amy did a couple loads of laundry, but otherwise, a pretty lazy day at anchor. Spaghetti for dinner tonight, then surprised Dale and Loretta with a call and had a nice chat with them to catch up on news. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, occasional showers breezy (10-15), low-80s Highlights: Rain showers kept us in bed reading and drinking our coffee until almost noon today, but blue skies finally returned, so Amy decided to get some sun while Terry worked on cleaning the raw water intake filters for the AC and generator. Also worked a bit on the stainless steel, but mostly just a lazy day at anchor. Grilled chicken breasts with pasta salad for dinner tonight, then reading and TV to end the day. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, occasional showers breezy (10-15), low-80s Highlights: Easter morning showers pulled us out of bed early today with the mad scramble to close hatches, but the sun came out after breakfast, so we decided to take the SUPs around the point and explore the small lagoon we've seen on the maps. Took us about 45 minutes of upwind paddling to reach our destination, but once inside the lagoon, the wind and current died and we had some smooth paddling. Just a few birds and small fish to see, but we had a nice workout. Took about 10 minutes of downwind paddling to return to the boat, then a quick swim to cool off before lunch. Amy worked on the SUP covers this afternoon while Terry cleaned the bottom of the boat, then reading and napping during the afternoon. Mom called this afternoon to announce that Cannon McGregor Pruett was born today - mother and baby both doing fine. Watched a pirate movie (Blackbeard) after dinner tonight, then chatted with Jenn & Courtney while they were driving home from Hickory. They had a good visit with everyone, but was a long drive for a short visit. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), low-80s Highlights: Broke out the sunbrella fabric after breakfast today and laid out a cover for the SUPs to protect them from sun damage. Got the 3 panels cut (top plus 2 sides), then Amy started the tedious task of hand-stitching the seams. Terry opened up the bar-keepers helper (powder-type cleanser) that we had purchased last month to work on some of the rust areas on the boat, especially the grill. Turns out to be a miracle worker - brought the grill to almost-new condition again! Lost our entertainment for the week - the sunken boat was finally towed off for salvage. Watched "A Star is Born" (Bradley Cooper/Lady Gaga) during dinner tonight, then read before turning in for the night. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Partly cloudy, breezy (10-20), occasional showers, low-80s Highlights: We've been hanging out here at Isla Pineros for over a week now, waiting for the raw water pump to be delivered to Fajardo. Current eta is next Tuesday. Wait hasn't been too bad, since the anchorage is sheltered, water is clean, and best of all, it's free, but there's not a lot to do, and we're starting to get a little cabin fever. We took the dinghy across to the nearby nature preserve one day, enjoying the scenery and winding our way along the mangrove creeks. Saw a few rays and lots of birds, but not much else, but was nice getting off the boat. We've also had the SUPs out a couple of times, and tackled a few boat projects, but mostly it's been a very quiet week. Some mild entertainment watching people try to salvage the sunken boat - they've stripped the motors and most of the removable items, but the hull is still out there. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), low-80s Highlights: Took the paddle boards over to the beach after breakfast today, then up along the shore for a bit. Cooled off with a swim, then Terry cleaned the bottom of the boat while Amy got the galley straightened up. Read and napped most of the afternoon, then watched a power boat that apparently hit the reef last night get towed across the channel (this was the reason for last night's police activity). Fortunately, the boaters weren't hurt, but they had to abandon the boat, swim ashore, and wait for the CG to pick them up. The boat was mostly submerged during the tow, with just some basic flotation attached to it, and the salvagers didn't even make it to the beach before the boat rolled over. They've left it in a shallow part of the anchorage for the night - will be interesting to see the game plan tomorrow. Hamburger pie with salad tonight for dinner, then since it's Boston Marathon day, we watched "Patriot's Day" on DVD tonight. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Partly cloudy, breezy (10-20), occasional showers, low-80s Highlights: We don't get CBS on the TV, so tuned in to CBS Sports on the phone for most of the day to watch Tiger win his 5th green jacket at the masters. Not much else going on - was a good day to just laze around doing a whole lot of nothing. Something going on across the channel during the evening - lots of police boats and blue lights along the far shore. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 3 Weather: Partly cloudy, breezy (10-20), occasional showers, high-70s Highlights: Quiet day at anchor today. Watched about 100 kayakers cross over from the main island and settle on the beach this morning (PR Navy kayak club maybe?), then read, napped, and watched the masters golf most of the afternoon. Chicken fajitas with rice for dinner tonight, then some light TV and reading before turning in. Current Location: Isla Pineros Anchorage, South of Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Partly cloudy, breezy (10-20), occasional showers, low-80s Highlights: Time for us to check out of the marina (finally)! Jonathan from Elite Yacht came over and re-installed the old water pump (new one still hasn't come in), and Keno (Bianca's dad) came over to look at the jib car track and the main sail brackets. He's comfortable with fixing both, and talked with both Lewmar and Ankar about replacement options. We'll work with him this summer to get both issues fixed. Topped up the water tanks, confirmed haul-out date and details with PDR, then cast off the dock lines and motored around to the fuel dock to top of the stbd tank (30 gallons). Motored in choppy waves around the point about 3 NM to Isla Pineros, dropping anchor off the beach around 4PM. Grilled steaks with veggies for dinner tonight, then watched a DVD (Mission Impossible) before bedtime. Nice to be back on the water again! Current Location: Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Partly cloudy, breezy (10-20), occasional showers, low-80s Highlights: Met with Bianca and Johnny from Ancla Marine to discuss boat tending details for summer haul-out. They will be responsible for weekly visits to the boat, keeping the boat clean and de-humidified (using Damp-Rid baskets), and making sure everything is in order. They will also assist with the haul-out, tie-down, and re-launch, will coordinate bottom painting, and if a storm rolls through, they will tighten all the tie-downs and make sure the boat is secure both before and after. None of this comes free, of course, but we believe it's money well spent - this, after all, is our home! We grabbed and early dinner at Cueva Del Rey (marina grill/pub), then back to the boat for a game of dominoes and TV before bed. Current Location: Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, occasional showers calm (5-10), low-80s Highlights: Defrosted the fridge, then trip to Pueblo's to replenish meats, veggies, and other items for the fridge. Also swung by JF Montalvo's (a CostCo-type warehouse, cash only) and picked up some meats, liquor, and a few other sundries. Great prices, but we didn't have a lot of cash; otherwise, would have spent more - we'll have to plan better next time! We're well stocked for the next month, plus we plan to thin out our current provisions of canned and dried goods - otherwise, we'll be giving away a lot of food when we put the boat in storage for the summer. Current Location: Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Partly cloudy, breezy (10-20), occasional showers, low-80s Highlights: Took the rental car into Old San Juan today. Stopped at BestBuy to look at security camera systems for the boat for this summer, and purchased the "Blink" system, which seems to fit our needs. We're looking for something that is motion-activated, can transmit video over the network to our phones while we're away, and can be installed indoors or outdoors. From BestBuy, we drove into San Juan, found parking at the all-day garage ($25 - yikes!), then strolled the streets for awhile, stopping in at some of the shops. Checked out the Russian sailing yacht "A" (world's 9th largest sailing yacht), which we both agreed was ugliest boat we'd ever seen, then had a fun lunch at Senor Frogs. Back to the boat around 4:30 for reading, napping, and TV for the evening. Current Location: Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, occasional showers calm (5-10), low-80s Highlights: Waited around most of the morning for Elite Yacht, finally heard from them around 2, no luck finding a raw water pump. Got one on order, but will be next week before it's delivered. Had them bring what they had, then hitched a ride over to Avis to pick up the rental car. Dinner tonight of pork chops, creamed corn, and rice, then read and watched TV before turning in for the night. Current Location: Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), low-80s Highlights: Repair guys from Elite Yacht Services came out to the boat to figure out where the water leak was. Traced it back to the raw water pump (seal is leaking), so pulled that off the engine and they'll take that back to the shop to make sure they order the correct part. Current Location: Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 5 Weather: Partly cloudy, breezy (10-20), occasional showers, low-80s Highlights: Scrambled eggs and hash browns for breakfast this morning, then Terry cleaned the bottom of the boat while Amy got the boat organized. Dropped the mooring lines around noon and headed over to the marina, working our way around a small rain shower along the way. Docked the boat around 1:30, got checked in, then grabbed a late lunch/early dinner of burgers with sides at the dock-side grill (Cueva del Rey). This marina will be World at Bay's home for 5 months this summer and fall, and so far, we've been very impressed with the facilities and operations. We were back to the boat around 3PM for reading and naps, then light dinner and TV before turning in for the night. Current Location: Cayo Palomino Mooring, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 0 Weather: Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), low-80s Highlights: Water tanks were almost dry today, so ran the water maker for about 3 hours this morning to fill the port tank. Read and relaxed most of the day, then Terry changed the impeller in the generator while Amy prepped for dinner. Grilled steaks, roasted potatoes with onions, spinach, and corn on the cob was all delicious, topped off with puddin pops for dessert. Watched TV after dinner, then turned in early. Will head over to the marina tomorrow to get acquainted with the folks who will be keeping our boat safe over the summer months. Current Location: Cayo Palomino Mooring, Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled: 13 Weather: Mostly sunny, occasional showers calm (5-10), low-80s Highlights: No wind today, but decided it was a good time to start heading west, and we've wanted to check out a couple of nearby snorkeling spots. Dropped the mooring lines around 10AM, then motored about 2 miles over to Cayo Lobo. Anchorage was way too small, and we didn't see any sand, so we moved on to Cayo Lobito, but similar situation there - no safe place to drop the anchor. Decided to check out Cayo Diablo, about 6 miles further west, and found 2 mooring balls just off the beach. Grabbed one of the balls, put on our snorkeling gear, and jumped into crystal clear water. Found some half-decent coral, a few fish, one big and curious baracuda, but a fairly strong current, and not a great location overall. Got some lunch, relaxed and read for awhile, then decided the mooring was too exposed for the night, so dropped the lines and motored over to Cayo Palominos, a small island about 3 miles east of Fajardo. Grabbed a "day-use only" mooring, but we had read that many folks spend the night with no issues, and settled down for the evening. Tuna cakes with rice, green beans, and carrots for dinner tonight, with chocolate puddin' pops for dessert, then watched some TV before turning in for the night. |
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