This morning we left Virgin Gorda, let’s say three times. First, we had a dingy engine problem, the details about which are for another post, but essentially the prop is spinning with a loose bushing. This just means slow going from restaurant to bar to boat. Probably for the better. Second, fuel. We sailed to Anegada today and I 1) wanted to make sure we had diesel in the event of low eastern wind, 2) we needed water since we were SO luxurious the night before with showers. This meant docking once again at the fuel dock at the Bitter End Quarter Master. Planning. Wind direction. Approach. Fenders. There was an east wind coming off the dock around 45 degrees, so I planned an angled approach with a spring line off the port. I was thinking this would help prevent us from losing the bow. The approach of my angle to the dock was good, hard to starboard, short prop wash and we were sucked into the dock mighty fine. Relief. Fuel, top off water, dingy fuel and done. Anegada bound.
Heading out to the channel, we really hoped for some good wind. What happened!? Everytime We look at the weather, we’re expecting 14 knots and up, but we had maybe 5’s. Heading to waypoint 410 we should have been on a beam reach the whole way. A sad, sad sail. This is Debbie and my worst conditions as newish sailors. Regardless of how much collective experience we’ve had, we’re still consirably less experienced below 10 knots.
The sail to Anegada was pretty uneventful until….
Until we needed to navigate the channel into the moorings. Previously, as a climber, as a white water kayaker, this was a level of stress with which I’m familiar, although this is NOT my boat, so it would be best not to ground it. The approach to Anegada has been notoriously difficult. 300 ships have wrecked here due to the shallow water and hidden coral, and I’m sure a number of them have been bareboat charters, such as ourselves. This is an island that is ALL reef. Sunken, the highest point is around 20 feet above sea level.
We studied the charts, we read the approach and plotted the GPS. WHY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD DID IT NOT LOOK LIKE WE EXPECTED!? Our approach was good till waypoint 410 — where was the channel?! We are a five foot draft keel boat drawing nine feet with reefs and rocks surrounding, I’m assuming, For some reason, everything we read was not as it appeared it would be (Alice in Wonderland). We did not see the crtitcal green bouy to port. That’s when Debbie, who wisely earlier had made the most important call for dinner reservations at the Anegada Reef Hotel for lobster, called them once again to inquire, trying not to sound panicked, on the critical position of the green bouy to port.
Following the channel and the bouys (understatement) was a bit stessful. Pretty reminicent of my climbing and whitewater days. Always thinking more than a couple steps ahead. The amount of learning Today is off the charts!
Set A Course 
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