21 May 1994 Simpson Bay Lagoon
A bit dull this morning, so we did a bit of tidying up. We went into Marigot in the dinghies with Gareth and Fi. We bought chicken and chips and took it to a surprisingly nice beach on an island in the middle of the lagoon. Unfortunately, the water is too dirty to swim in, so we picked Nat up from “Wise Cat” and went outside the lagoon to the beach for an hour or so.
We went to “Chintoo” for an hour or so at about six o’clock and ended up staying until one in the morning! It was quite crowded with Jeff and Karen from “Timana”, Steve and Marilyn from “Vintage Port”, Dave and Debbie from “Prince”, James and Fay from “Only Blue” and a few others! A good time was had by all. On the way back to our boat, we went under the bridge and didn’t notice some guys fishing from it. We ended up with their fishing line wrapped around our propellor which took about 5 minutes to clear - they were not happy!
22 May 1994 Simpson Bay Lagoon
Tidied up the engine compartment and the boat generally. Glenys went to “Only Blue” and bought some awning material and clear plastic from Faye to make new cockpit cushions and a new spray hood. Glenys, Gareth and the boys went to the beach for an hour in the afternoon while I continued getting the boat “shipshape”. Touch wood and whistle, the coupling looks OK.
We went to “Dabulamanzi” for dinner with Guy, Marie and Tom (3) from “Sahara Blue”. We ran out of water this morning and I had to go and scrounge 10 gallons from Gareth.
23 May 1994 Simpson Bay Lagoon to British Virgin Islands (Day 1)
I sent a fax to ASAP about the coupling and gearbox half coupling. I also confirmed that there will be space in the Marina at St Thomas ($18/night - groan!) We went to a marina to get fuel and water. We filled up with fuel and the bloke wouldn’t let us stay to get water “because a big power boat was standing by waiting”.
I was so hacked off that I indulged in a bit of shopping therapy and bought another air tank for $100. We eventually filled up with water and went back to anchor to continue to get ready to leave in the afternoon.
Gareth and Fi called over and said that Fi would be going back to the UK soon because Annabelle is having more problems with her breathing after her malaria. They have a charter starting on the 19 June and asked if Glenys could take Fi’s place. We have agreed but need to work out the logistics because it’s only 4 days after the end of my diving course, Gareth needs to get Dabulamanzi to the BVI and we still need to meet Ceris on the 7 July in Granada and... !
We had to wait ages for the bridge to open because a sand barge was blocking the channel. We started our sail as a broad reach, but eventually I had to rig twin head sails which took about an hour! Glenys had an awful first watch because the wind was variable and the mizzen kept causing us to luff up. I dropped the mizzen at midnight and had a nice peaceful watch with a full moon!
24 May 1994 Simpson Bay Lagoon to Virgin Gorda, BVI (Day 2)
The landfall was very confusing because of all of the islands in the British Virgins group. It took me about half an hour to identify Round Island and find the safe channel to the south of the BVI. I cleared in at Virgin Gorda Yacht Haven and we then went to pick up a mooring in the Dol Islands, so that I could do a dive.
We motored to the north of Virgin Gorda, where we anchored next to “Wise Cat” who arrived yesterday. Gorda Sound is a beautiful natural harbour which is very protected. “Wise Cat” came to our boat for drinks and chicken drumsticks.
25 May 1994 Virgin Gorda
School work and diving theory (still Open Water Manual) in the morning. Glenys, Robyn, her Mum and I went across to Leerick Bay in our dinghy – it’s about 1.7 miles and took us ages! We had all been given vouchers to claim a free bottle of Prusser’s Rum (with no obligation), so we walked out of the shop with 4 bottles.
We had to give boat names and addresses, so I’m afraid that I was from “Dabulamanzi” and Robin was from “Amatouana 2” (who will be in the Pacific by now!) We had a rough trip back upwind and got wet even in our new dinghy. We all went snorkelling after lunch and I saw my first stingray. I also caught a young turtle which was lovely to see swimming in the water - let it go, of course.
We went to “Wise Cat” for drinks – rum punch, naturally!
26 May 1994 Virgin Gorda to St Thomas Bay, BVI
We said goodbye to “Wise Cat” who are heading off to the States tomorrow. We motored round to Mountain Point where I did a dive. We then motored over to Great Don Island where I did another dive. We then motored over to Marina Cay, where I got a tank filled. Glenys and I went snorkelling on Diamond Reef – very nice.
We motored across to Trellis Bay in the afternoon, which is unfortunately covered in bloody moorings. The only anchorage is rather exposed, so we got the hump and motored across to St Thomas Bay. It would appear that all of the good anchorages are now covered with moorings at $15US per night – it’s driving me mad! The first attempt at anchoring at St Thomas Bay was no good – I dived down and pushed the anchor into a sandy patch, but it would only go in about 6 inches and then pulled out. I guessed that it was thin sand over rock so we moved about 20 metres further from the shore and the anchor dug straight in. C’est La Vie!
We had a nice quiet night for a change! Glenys has bought some margarine in a squeeze bottle – it has to be one of the most disgusting things to put on bread – American idea of course! I put my PADI Certification Card, the Test Certificate for the new tank and $60 into a plastic bag when I went to Marina Cay to fill the tank. I was wearing my swimming shorts at the time and I think that I left the bag in my pocket while we went snorkelling and lost it – I’m sooo mad!
27 May 1994 St Thomas Bay to The Baths, BVI
I woke up this morning feeling all dynamic and checked the engine to find 8” of water in the bilge. I pulled up a few floor boards to find that the whole boat has filled with water to within 2” of the floor boards. I spent the next hour pumping and mopping the bilges. I think that it was caused by the stern gland leaking, so I tightened the bolts and we’ll wait and see!
We went into the marina to do some shopping and I sent a fax to ASAP to tell them to send the coupling and gearbox half coupling to St Thomas. It’s going to cost about £250 for the bits and freight.
We motored over to the Baths and picked up a mooring behind “Wise Cat” – they decided that it was so nice at the Baths that they stayed last night. The Baths are very spectacular. I shall have to take some photos. We went to the beach, snorkelled, climbed the boulders, crawled through caves and generally had a good time.
We went to “Wise Cat” for cocktails. Today is Friday. When we were at work, we used to look forwards to Fridays because we could finish work. Now we dread Fridays because it means that tomorrow everyone will be on holiday and we can’t buy things and the customs people start to charge overtime. Our philosophy now is “Thank God it’s Monday!”
28 May 1994 The Baths to Cooper Island, BVI
We did school work and diving theory in the morning – I finished going through the Open Water Manual and started on Physics (double yawn!). “Wise Cat” said goodbye again. We went to the beach for a couple of hours. The Baths is the most beautiful place that we’ve come across so far.
We motored over to Ginger Island and picked up a dive buoy, but Glenys put her foot down and said she wasn’t going to stay with 2 metre seas and a cliff 30 metres behind our transom. I thought this was very unreasonable because it’s a very good dive site, but I diplomatically gave in! We motored over to Carval Island and picked up a dive mooring, the seas were only 1 metre and the cliffs were 50 metres to the side of us so Glenys reluctantly agreed that I could do a dive.
After the dive we motored around to the west side of Coopers Island so that I could do another dive on the wreck of the Marie L. We then went to anchor in Manchineel Bay, Cooper Island. The bay has a narrow shelf covered with weed and the inevitable buoys. It took us half an hour with me snorkelling down to manhandle the anchor into a sandy patch so that we could get it to hold.
After that another 10 or so boats appeared and anchored all over the place between the moorings. Most are bare boats who don’t know what they are doing - if a strong wind appears there will be total chaos. We are anchored close to the shore in 3 metres of water, so at least we only have the bareboat bombs on one side. Touch wood, I hope we don’t go aground!
29 May 1994 Cooper Island to Norman Island
No-one hit us during the night, but we still didn’t sleep very well. We got away fairly early so that we could beat the rush to the moorings for the RMS Rhone at Salt Island. We got there to find 1 metre seas and loads of empty buoys! I did two dives which got me to the magic 60 required for the instructor course. Glenys wasn’t very happy sitting there, rolling away, waiting for me.
We motored around to Sprat Bay where they wouldn’t fill my tanks because the valves didn’t have burst disks (I hadn’t noticed that) and I had no visual inspection sticker. I bought a compass off them anyway. We motored around to Little Harbour, but decided just to stay for lunch because it’s very steep and the wind comes from all directions (it’s also very, very quiet!)
We sailed over to Norman Island and anchored in 12 metres near “Wise Cat”. “Wise Cat” came to us for drinks and, after they had gone, Glenys went raving mad at Brett because he had been out of control. She also had the hump with Coby because of his swearing and very bad manners.
30 May 1994 Norman Island
“Wise Cat” said goodbye again! We did school work and diving theory all morning and then went to “The Caves” in the afternoon. Quite good snorkelling but nothing to write home about (not that I do that anyway!)
31 May 1994 Norman Island
School work and diving theory. I’ve finished most of the subjects – I “just” need to read the manuals. I gave Brett another body board skiing session and went snorkelling on the NW point which is OK. We regularly see turtles in this anchorage.
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