​Current Location:  Punta Tamarindo Beach Mooring, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  7
Weather:  Mostly cloudy, afternoon showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Watched turtles around the boat this morning during breakfast, then decided we'd seen what we wanted here, and were getting tired of the northern swells rolling into the bay, so raised anchor and motor-sailed across the north shore and around to the west side of Culebra, grabbing a mooring ball in Punta Tamarindo bay around noon.  Nice reef along the shoreline, so we all got some snorkeling in, seeing a good variety of fish, soft coral, some rock formations, and also a couple of lion fish.  Terry went back to the boat for the Hawaiian sling, and was able to bag one of the fish, but the 2nd one disappeared somewhere, but at least the reef had one less unwelcome predator.  Reading, naps, and relaxing rest of the afternoon, then cilantro lime, black beans, and shrimp with rice for dinner tonight.  Played nertz and dominoes late into the evening for a very fun ending to the day.

​Current Location:  North Culebrita Bay Anchorage, Culebrita Island, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  8
Weather:  Mostly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Motored out of Culebra Harbor at 9 the morning, then raised the genoa and sailed around to the north shore, hoping we could anchor in one of the bays and then go lobster hunting.  Jim and Donia are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary today, so we were hoping for lobster dinner tonight.  However, northern swells were breaking all the way into the bays, and even Flamenco Bay was too rough to anchor, so we motored back over to Culebrita instead, dropping anchor around noon.  Grabbed some lunch, then Jim and Donia went exploring with the SUPs while Amy and Terry relaxed on the boat.  Around 4, we decided to go climb up to the lighthouse (Amy opted out), so packed up the dinghy and 3 of us headed for the beach.  Waves were breaking, but didn't look too bad, but as they say, timing is everything, and the one wave we rode into the beach turned into a monster, and for the first time ever, we flipped the dinghy over, spilling everyone and everything into the water.  No injuries, thank God, and recovered everything except Terry's glasses, but all good otherwise, and we decided to go ahead with the hike in spite of our wet clothes.  Turned out to be a good choice - weather held, we saw lots of goats, hermit crabs, and quail, and Donia and Jim really enjoyed seeing the lighthouse itself.  Back to the beach around 6, and decided that Terry would row the dinghy out through the breakers while Jim and Donia swam out, which worked out ok.  Couldn't get the motor started, so rowed back to the boat, but after hosing everything down with fresh water and changing out the spark plugs, started up and ran good as new.  Gotta love those Tohatsu motors.  Grilled pork tenderloins with ginger asian slaw and pineapple slices for dinner, then brownies with ice cream for desert.  Played nertz (crazy card game) after dinner, then turned in after a very eventful day.

Current Location:  Culebra Harbor Anchorage, Culebra, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  25
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Raised anchor after breakfast (around 9), motored into light winds and waves around the east end of Viequez, then raised sails and had a great trip up to Culebra, averaging about 7 knots on a close reach most of the way.  Dropped anchor in the harbor around 3PM, then dropped the dinghy and did a quick trip around the harbor and through the canal to the west side.  Water was pretty sloppy outside, so went back to the town dock, tied up, and walked around town for a bit.  Back to the boat to get ready for dinner, then over to the Dinghy Dock restaurant for ribs, mahi-mahi, and spanakopita (greek spinach pie dish) for dinner tonight.  Picked up some ice cream before heading back to the boat, then dominoes and desert before turning in for the night.

​Current Location:  Mosquito (Bio) Bay Anchorage, Viequez, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  11
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Decided that conditions were good for visiting Bio Bay tonight, so after getting a good workout with the SUPs, we raised anchor and motored along the south shore of Viequez, dodging rain showers along the way, and dropped anchor around 2PM.  Napped, relaxed, and played games during the afternoon, then chicken fajitas with lots of sides for dinner.  Around 8:30, we took the dinghy into the the lagoon, and enjoyed watching fish trails light up the water like fireworks.  Also had a glow-in-the-dark shark visit us, which was very cool - good way to end a very unique experience.

​Current Location:  Green Beach Anchorage, Viequez, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  14
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), mid-80s
Highlights: Topped off the water tanks, settled up the marina bill, then cast off the dock lines at 9AM and motor-sailed over to Green Beach on the west end of Viequez.  Winds were light, but pretty much on the nose most of the way, so we eventually dropped the genoa but kept the main sail raised, and averaged about 5.5 knots most of the way, dropping anchor around noon.  The ladies put out a lunch spread while Jim and Terry got the SUPs and the dinghy into the water, then spent the rest of the afternoon paddling, snorkeling, and relaxing.  Steaks, corn on the cob, and baby potatoes with onions from the grill for dinner tonight, then card games and relaxing for the rest of the evening.  Great way to start off a vacation for Jim and Donia!

Current Location:  Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club, Humacao, PR
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly cloudy, showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Terry met Jim and Donia at the airport around 11 while Amy finished readying the boat for our guests.  Arrived just in time for lunch, then Terry and Jim did a quick trip to WalMart for groceries and to the Sprint store to set up a hot-spot/MBB device.  Returned the rental car, then finally time to relax, catch up, and get a nap after a long travel day for Jim and Donia.  Went to the marina pub for an early dinner, then played some cards (Nertz) before turning in. 

​Current Location:  Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club, Humacao, PR
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: We've spent the last 2 days getting laundry done, organizing clothes, doing stock inventory, and getting ready for our next guests (Jim and Donia), who arrive tomorrow to spend a week with us.  Weather has turned tropical (rain showers and hot afternoons), which is normal for this time of year, so we've had the boat closed up and the AC on full blast.  We've got the rental car until tomorrow, so we've been running errands and grocery shopping.

​Current Location:  Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club, Humacao, PR
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), occasional showers, mid-80s
Highlights: Jenn and Courtney's plane doesn't leave until late afternoon, so we planned to spend the morning driving to the rain forest, then head over to Old San Juan to see some sites.  Weather cooperated for us, with rain holding off while we drove through the park, climbed the tower, and hiked up to the waterfall and pools, so good experience all around.  Left the park and drove into the city, parking at the all-day garage and then walking down to La Bombaria to try out their world-famous Mallorca pastries for brunch, and yes, they lived up to their reputation - delicious!  Walked around the city walls, checked out some of the shops, picked up a few gifts for folks back home, then it was time to head for the airport and send our guests back home to the real world.  We were back to the boat late afternoon, and spent the rest of the evening relaxing, although we did put a couple of loads of laundry through the wash before turning in.

​Current Location:  Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club, Humacao, PR
Miles Traveled:  42
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (15-20), late showers, mid-80s
Highlights: Raised anchor early this morning (7AM), and had a great trip under full sail back to Palmas Del Mar.  Averaged almost 7 knots in 12-18 knots of winds off the stern quarter and 3-foot following seas.  Winds died about 45 minutes before arrival, so we motor-sailed the final few miles, but overall a great sail enjoyed by all.  Arrived back to the dock around 2PM, then Terry picked up the rental car while everyone else got the boat squared away.  Jenn and Courtney treated us to dinner at Pura Vida (restaurant in the plaza near the marina), then back to the boat to pack up our guests and turn in early.

​Current Location:  North Culebrita Bay Anchorage, Culebrita Island, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  32
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Motored into 3-4 foot seas rest of the way over to Culebrita.  Got some paddle-boarding, walking on the beach, and hanging out on the boat most of the afternoon.  Shrimp with cilantra and black beans over rice for dinner tonight, with sweet plantains for dessert.  Played dominos, then Jenn and Courtney streamed the Game of Thrones finale on the front deck while Terry and Amy read and relaxed in the stern saloon.

​Current Location:  Green Beach Anchorage, Viequez, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  13
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Terry worked on the port engine first thing this morning, and was able to dry out the sail drive water sensor that was sending the alarm signal.  Got everything re-connected and back to normal, so we felt comfortable heading out to enjoy the islands.  Cast off the dock lines around 9AM and motor-sailed over to Green Beach, Viequez, dropping anchor around noon.  Original plan was to go all the way to Culebra, but guests were feeling pretty uncomfortable in the 3-4 foot seas that we were bashing into, so Viequez was a good rest stop for us.  Grilled steaks tonight, then played dominos, read, relaxed, and enjoyed the full moon for the rest of the evening.

Current Location:  Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club, Humacao, PR
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (8-12), mid-80s
Highlights: Scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast this morning, then Jenn and Amy enjoyed some pool time while Courtney got some office work done and Terry worked with the marina staff to fill up the diesel tanks and got the boat ready for a 1PM departure.  Plans changed when we had a "water in the sail drive" alarm go off after we had unplugged from shore power and started the port engine.  Closer inspection revealed a leaking water pump (yes, exactly like the starboard one last month), and also a broken bilge pump float.  Changed out the water pump with the spare that Jenn and Courtney had brought with them, and fixed the broken float switch, but we were still getting the alarm.  Decided we didn't really want to leave the marina with unresolved / undiscovered issues, so connected back up to shore power, cleaned up and showered, then headed over to the marina party that was being held to celebrate the grand opening of the pub and restaurant.  Dinner was so-so, but the drinks were free (mostly) and plentiful, and the live music band was good, so we hung around for a couple of hours enjoying the party.

​Current Location:  Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club, Humacao, PR
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (8-12), mid-80s
Highlights: Slept in late this morning, then Terry drove to the airport to pick up Jenn and Courtney while Amy got the boat ready for guests.  We usually put our guests in the owner's (starboard) side of the boat while take over the two smaller port-side cabins.  Just seems easier all-around; the guests get privacy and the larger head, while we keep separate cabins and are more comfortable with the smaller head.  Terry arrived with our guests around 1:30, and we got them unpacked and settled in with drinks and a light lunch.  Terry returned the rental car at 4PM, then around 6, we walked around the harbor to the restaurant for a very nice dinner.  Walked back to the boat under an almost full moon, then turned in early after a very long travel day for our guests.

​Current Location:  Palmas Del Mar Yacht Club, Humacao, PR
Miles Traveled:  13
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (8-12), mid-80s
Highlights: Had a leisurely breakfast, then raised anchor and motored into light headwinds and seas over to Palmas del Mar.  Arrived around noon, got settled in, then Terry filled the water tanks and washed down the boat while Amy did a couple loads of laundry.  Picked up the rental car at 4PM, had a light dinner, then drove over to the local WalMart to restock the pantries.  Got back to the boat around 9PM, stowed all the supplies, then turned in for the night.

​Current Location:  Green Beach Anchorage, Viequez, Puerto Rico
Miles Traveled:  47
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (8-12), mid-80s
Highlights: Raised anchor just after sunrise, and motor-sailed in light following winds over to Green Beach in Viequez.  PredictWind showed 12-15 knots most of the day, but we never saw more than 10, so sails never got filled and even wing-and-wing, we couldn't get more than 3-4 knots of boat speed.  Running low on diesel also, but we should have enough to get us through to our last leg back to Palmas del Mar marina tomorrow.  Dropped anchor around 3PM, got the boat squared away, then donned snorkeling gear to check out the reefs.  Visibility was very poor (sand washing in from the surge), and no lobsters found, so not a great swim, but nice to cool off after a long sail.  Namsod (Vietnamese dish) for dinner tonight, then read, listened to music, and enjoyed the breeze the rest of the evening.

​Current Location:  Fredericksted Beach Anchorage, St. Croix, USVI
Miles Traveled:  12
Weather:  Partly cloudy, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Thought about heading over to Buck Island National Park today to check out the snorkeling trail, but since it was 6 miles east, and we have a long trip ahead of us already to return to Puerto Rico, we figured it was time to start our trip west instead.  Said our goodbyes to Deb and Dennis, then raised anchor around 11AM, and had a nice sail along the north shore of St. Croix in 15-18 knots of following winds and 3-4 foot following seas.  Wind died as we rounded the point heading south and entered the wind shadow of the island, so we motor-sailed the last couple of miles and dropped anchor just north of the Fredericksted pier around 2PM.  Sausage, peppers, and onions over pasta for dinner tonight, then read and relaxed before turning in, ready for an early start tomorrow.

Current Location:  Christiansted Harbor / Gallows Bay Anchorage, St. Croix, USVI
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Partly cloudy, breezy (10-15), low-80s
Highlights: Happy Mother's Day to Mom and all those fabulous and underappreciated mothers out there!  We had a very nice day driving around St. Croix today.  Split a rental car with Deb and Dennis, started at 9:30 driving over to Fredericksted, parked and walked around the pier and waterfront area for a bit. Area looks a bit worn down (hurricane damage still evident, plus high security locks and fences everywhere), and only a few businesses were open.  Guess Sunday Mother's Day wasn't the best day to go driving.  Took the scenic route out of the city and across the island to the north shore, stopping for lunch at Sweet Bottoms in Cane Bay.  Lunch was good, and then we grabbed our snorkeling gear and checked out the "world-renowned" Cane Bay coral reef.  Saw a few fish and coral, a nice leatherback turtle, but not much else, and we would rate it about 6 or 7 on a 10-point scale.  Packed up around 3, drove through Salt River area (where Columbus landed in 1493), then back into Christensted to wrap up a very enjoyable day.

Current Location:  Christiansted Harbor / Gallows Bay Anchorage, St. Croix, USVI
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), mid-80s
Highlights: Defrosted the fridge and did a couple loads of laundry first thing this morning, then took the dinghy into town for lunch (burgers and fries) at Shupe's.  Wandered around a few shops that we had somehow missed yesterday, and picked up a couple souvenirs, then back to the boat for a light dinner of scrambled eggs and sausage.  Read and relaxed rest of evening - we're planning a driving tour around the island tomorrow, and will need to get an early start.

Current Location:  Christiansted Harbor / Gallows Bay Anchorage, St. Croix, USVI
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (10-15), mid-80s
Highlights: Took the dinghy into town this morning after breakfast to do the walking history tour.  Many of the historical places are closed for repairs or renovations, but the fort was interesting, the gardens and outside areas of the buildings were interesting, and we found some cute arts and crafts shops in the downtown area.  Grabbed some lunch at the waterfront pub (Shupe's),  then did some more shopping before stopping at one of the bars for afternoon smoothies.  Back to the boat late afternoon, then leftovers for dinner tonight - trying to clear out the fridge before guests arrive next week and we can re-stock.

Current Location:  Christiansted Harbor / Gallows Bay Anchorage, St. Croix, USVI
Miles Traveled:  36
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (15-20), low-80s
Highlights: Dropped the mooring lines at 7AM sharp, motored out to open water, then raised the sails and had a nice sail in brisk winds and sloppy seas down to St. Croix.  Averaged about 6.5 knots, mostly under full sail, although we did double-reef the genoa for about 30 minutes while a storm front passed by.  Arrived at Christiansted Harbor / Gallows Bay around 1PM, dropped anchor, then relaxed for the rest of the day.  Dennis and Deb picked us up for dinner around 6PM, and we had a nice dinner (Mahi-mahi) at Rum Runners (in town).  Back to the boat around 8PM to turn in early after a long day.

Current Location:  Christmas Cove Mooring, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (15-20), low-80s
Highlights: Chatted with Dennis from XYZZY this morning, and agreed that tomorrow would be better than today to head to St. Croix.  Wind conditions will be slightly better, and waves will be 3 feet rather than 4 feet.  After breakfast, worked on the stainless steel at the helm station, then jumped in the water to cool off and give the hull a brush.  Big school of tarpon under the boat, which a boatload of snorkelers also found entertaining.  Nap time during the afternoon, then went over to XYZZY for dinner and dominoes.  Enjoyed the meal and conversation, and look forward to similar gatherings in the future.

​Current Location:  Christmas Cove Mooring, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled:  7
Weather:  Mostly sunny, breezy (15-20), low-80s
Highlights: Planning to sail down to St. Croix later this week (either tomorrow or Thursday), so decided to head over to Christmas Cove to give us a better wind angle for our trip.  Cats just don't point very well into the wind, and we need at least 60 degrees of wind angle on a close reach to sail without engine power.  We raised anchor after breakfast, found 5-6 foot waves on the nose most of the way over, but we only had 6 miles to go, so wasn't too bad.  Grabbed the last available mooring ball at 11AM, had some lunch, then relaxed, read, and swam during the afternoon.  Terry worked a bit on cleaning the keels, but the bottom of the boat is in pretty good shape overall.  Had chicken fajitas for dinner tonight, then played some dominoes, watched TV, and read before turning in for the night.

​Current Location:  Charlotte Amolie Harbor Anchorage, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (15-20), low-80s
Highlights: Anchorage has grown a bit on us as the parties have died down and the KonTiki cruises have diminished.  Sheltered, convenient, free dinghy dock, and lots of activities have entertained us for the last few days.  We also had a nice fireworks show Sunday night to mark the close of Carnival and celebration of Cinco de Mayo.  Went over to Pueblos to pick up a few items, but otherwise have been relaxing on the boat.  We've also been finalizing travel arrangements for this summer.  We've got flights and hotels to book for both our haul-out process, and also for a trip to Toronto later this summer, so trying to get those details finalized while we have good internet connection.  

​Current Location:  Charlotte Amolie Harbor Anchorage, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled:  0
Weather:  Partly cloudy, occasional showers, breezy (15-2), low-80s
Highlights: We've been at anchor here in Charlotte Amolie for a few days now, and although it's much smoother than around the point, this is definitely the noisiest harbor we've ever been in.  Might just be Carnival, but between the KonTiki Hut boat blaring music every few hours as it departs and returns (well after midnight), sirens and traffic noise along the main waterfront road, and music from several venues around the shoreline that plays morning, noon, and night, we're constantly deluged with a cacophony of sounds.  Fortunately, we can close the boat up, turn on the A/C, and the sounds are mostly gone, but otherwise it's always in the background.  Fortunately, we've been able to tune it out most of the time, and the upside of this anchorage is shelter, convenience, and also it's kind of fun being in the center of so much activity, so we'll probably stay here for a couple more days.  Had grilled chicken, corn-on-the-cob, pasta salad, and baked beans for dinner tonight, then read and relaxed rest of evening.

​Current Location:  Charlotte Amolie Harbor Anchorage, St. Thomas, USVI
Miles Traveled:  1
Weather:  Partly cloudy, breezy (15-2), low-80s
Highlights: Decided to check out the downtown area today, so took the dinghy over to Yacht Haven Grande marina, walked about a mile down the walking path and sidewalks, then arrived at the center of activity.  Carnival has been going on for the past month, and they have vendor tents, music, and lots of activities going on.  We checked out some of the tents, walked around the area, then started checking out some of the shops along the waterfront.  Picked up a couple of tee shirts, and Amy tried on a few dresses, but found nothing to her liking.  Had a late lunch at Gladys's Cafe, just off the waterfront, and were very impressed with both food and service - would highly recommend.  Along the way back, we found a couple of bead bracelets for Amy and a ball cap for Terry, then made our way back to the dinghy.  Decided after we got back to the boat that we were tired of the rolling, and moved around the point and into the main harbor of Charlotte Amolie.  Dropped anchor around 5PM in 25 feet, found good holding, tidied up the boat, then relaxed for the rest of the evening.