Set A Course

 

We woke to a lot of rain and a leaking mast around 2:00am. We strategically picked the end of November to sail for two reasons: it is just the end of hurricane season and so there are fewer crowds. Apparently, the end of hurricane season also means rain and shifting winds. We got both. Our first sail was to be wet and gusty. And the docks appeared more chaotic than the day before with lots of boats returning and only a few checking out. Luckily, we were one of the few.

 

First: chart briefing and paying for national park and other permits. Cindy was very helpful with itinerary planning and pointed out good spots from bad spots, places off limits for our credit card’s own good (too easy to crack the keel) and prepared us for the weather for the week (all clouds and rain), but as I’m writing this on Tuesday morning it is sunny without a cloud in the sky. 

 

Second: boat briefing. Thanks Ben! Ben went over all the systems and pointed out a few gremlins to be aware of. Again, many thanks to Blue Dragon and the time I spent in the yard with Jim last winter, because nothing was unfamiliar. Thank you 3rd Coast. Hard to believe that after one summer of sailing lessons we are here, bare boating.  Given Conch’s boats are on the older side, there are things to look out for and we needed small repairs prior to casting off. The alternator belt was a bit loose- got it replaced. The mast leaked in the rain – got it sealed, and then the diesel gas cap was/is stripped-Conch has a replacement coming and will come out to find us and fix it up. 

 

Third: beer. I forgot beer! A travesty. While the above was being tended to I took a short walk to secure a case of Red Stripe- the most decent beer available. Note to self, open a brewery in the Caribbean.

 

Fourth: leave. Conch’s docks are located in the western part of Roadtown harbor where a shoal juts out. So they help bring all charters out to the channel and then back in on return. We also had a skipper for part of the day. Partly because this is our first bareboat charter, making the insurance company interested in ensuring we are able (we passed! Thank you Jim and Stevan, our awesome 3rd Coast sailing instructors and new friends) and partly because we wanted to be more familiar with the rigging and some short-handed tricks. Thanks to salty Sailor Bill.  

 

As mentioned, the weather was moody and felt much more like Lake Michigan- we have learned comfort in rain, 3-4 foot waves and gusting winds around 25knts. Debbie’s favorite sailing conditions (no kidding).

 

We were heading to the Bight at Norman Island. To keep it easy, we put two reefs in the main and also reefed the Genoa to about 30 percent, keeping Kanejin on her feet.

 

We arrived at the Bight to find a good number of mooring balls open and picked one away from the floating bar Willy T’s, close to the opposite shore. Deb had the helm while I picked up the ball and tied off both the starboard and port lines. Couldn’t have been easier.

 

When Skipper Bill left we jumped off the boat for a snorkel amongst hundreds of beautiful blue, purple, yellow and red fish. 

 

A couple drinks while watching the sun descend and no plans or responsibilities.  

 

We drove our dinghy over to Willie T’s for happy hour and were greeted by three feet Tarpons and a grouper so big we thought it was a shark. 

 

A pretty good day. To say the least.