Getting Ready to Cruise

Well Sylken Sea has been launched in Trinidad and is now berthed at CrewsInn Marina. We have been busy getting her ready for a season of cruising the Windward Islands, Grenada to Martinique. Gelcoat work, changed some hoses, watermaker rebuild and upgrade, Genny repairs and general maintenance. Peake Yacht Services completed some hull gelcoat repairs (Had an Ooop's last year before we left the states) and we had Lincoln and Ian from Chaguramas Metal make up a BBQ bracket and a bracket to modify our SPURS. Originally the SPURS holding block was only screwed to the fiberglass strut tube. First time we got something "heavy" in the spurs it tore off. now we have a serious bracket installed to hold the block. A few more days here and we should be ready to head north, we think Carriacou for a few weeks before visiting Grenada to spend Christmas and New Years with John & Paulette on Seamantha.

Chilly, 0C this am, time to think about going south.

Here in Ontario the temps are dropping. Spent the last week putting things away, parking cars and golf clubs, last few visits with friends, grandson Elliott, then south to reconnect with Sylken Sea in Trinni. Great summer but getting excited to be floating again. If the weather cooperates I'll get to join our good friend Ray on Crackerjack for a quick boat trip from NC to Florida, hoping for another one shot offshore 4 day challenge!

CrewsInn

We are assimilating into the local boating "community". Meeting cruisers, local boaters, Bake & Shark at the Wheelhouse Pub, Liming, morning paper, doing boat things like varnish, clean up and getting ready for haul out, Mexican Train Dominoes.

CrewsInn Marina, Trinidad

Trinidad

Trinidad, yep, my kinda place!

The scenery here is amazing!

Antigua to Trinidad

We really liked this Island and we need to make it back next season for the Classic Sailboat Race. Great hikes with Bill & Ann; fun hosting with Dave and Trudy, Richard & Lavinia. We depart for Martinique and spend one night there on the hook. Ken goes to shore only long enough to clear us in and to clear us to the next port which is Trinidad. We then do a double over night to Trinidad. It's a good call I think. We are learning to manage larger seas. We are finding 4-6' seas are fine if the direction and period are right. Down here these are "mild" seas so we've gotten a bit used to it and now it is "not that big a deal".

East to Antigua

March 30-April 11, 2015

We clear out and depart the BVI for Antigua. A few lumps and bumps but generally a good crossing considering the relentless trades. Funny how after a while you become accustomed to the bigger seas. Where we used to wait for 10-15 kts and 2-3' seas hoping to see nothing over 4-5' we now move on 15-20 kts and 4-6' hoping to see nothing over 5-7'. It's a good thing we got over that otherwise we would still be in Puerto Rico. Depending on the direction and period between the waves we often find ourselves saying “this isn't too bad, at least we can still move about the boat”. 

 Unfortunately, on the way over I killed the water maker. It was starting to act up but when I accidentally left a valve in the wrong position while tinkering in the lazaret it overheated and ruined the membrane. Good advice from John on Seamantha to tie wrap the valve in the correct position.

We arrive in Falmouth Harbour Antigua where we meet up with Bill & Ann, “Ann Louise”, Richard & Lavinia on “Partners” and Dave & Trudy on “Persephone”. There's a lot to do here and a good base from which to explore Antigua. The locals are very friendly, there is good hiking and again good restaurants, bars, shopping and provisioning.

We spend a few days on a mooring behind the reef near Green Island. Wow, only the reef protecting us from thousands of miles of open ocean. It blows 15-20 gusting 25 and there is just a light chop in the anchorage and what a view! Now back in Falmouth, getting ready for the next move. Once again we call Chris Parker to confirm that Monday or Tuesday make sense. The weather is forecast to be a pretty steady 17-18 gusting 20-22 kts, seas 4-6 feet with higher wind and seas near the island headlands and lower wind and seas in the lee of Guadaloupe and Dominica. We will prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Planning for Monday 13^th departure, arriving in Martinique Tuesday ahead of Wednesday's “squally” activity resulting from a tropical wave to the south of us.

The wind is blowing 15-20kts G25, behind the reef we are almost flat calm!

BVI, Anegada, Wow!

Mar 18-30th

We spent the next few weeks in the BVI, cruising, and touring the islands. Ken & Carol depart from Tortola on the 23^rd. Off to Anegada, wow! Stunning beaches, best we have seen since the Bahamas & Turks & Caicos. If anyone is after some good bonefishing contact Danny at dannysbonefishing.com. After a few days in Anegada we hook up with John & Paulette on Seamantha in North Sound Virgin Gorda. We really enjoyed the facilities in and around Bitter End; the restaurants, hiking and sight seeing. It's now time to move on once again.

Elliottt!

March 22^nd

Our brand new grandson Elliott Wells Roberts. Mommy, Daddy & baby are all doing well!

BVI

March 17-29, 2015

On to the BVI

With guests Ken and Carol we hop across Francis Drake Passage to Soper's Hole, West End BVI. Here we clear customs then head out to Little Jost Van Dyke. Beautiful anchorage off of Green Cay until in the middle of the night the tide

came in and brought large swells in through the cut. ROLLY! We had not planned on that! After a nearly sleepless night we pick up and head to North Sound, Virgin Gorda. What a relief to be out of that.

From North sound we enjoy an island tour with Joseph (Joe) George. The Baths, “caves”, old copper mine historical site (very interesting for me), Spanish Town, “Hog Heaven” (must do, great ribs, BBQ pork and what a view!).

USVI

March 6-16, 2015

Our US Cruising License made our arrival in the US Virgin Islands a simple phone call to customs. Easy. Ken & Carol had already cleared in in Puerto Rico so no one needed to appear at immigration. Great!

We picked up a mooring at Caneel Bay. Endless ferry wake and being rocked constantly prompted us to move on to Francis Bay the next day, just around the corner. It's a busy spot but very nice with a small but good beach, some hiking, and best of all, no ferry wake!

Hiking, USVI

Guest Ken & Ken walked from Francis Bay to Coral Harbor via the Francis Trail then down the road to the Lienster Bay trail. At Waterlemon Bay we pick up the John Horn Trail. Yes, a steep section but really with good shoes not too difficult. Take your time, stop catch your breath and carry on.

The sign kinda says it all.

Waterlemon Bay, the best anchorage (mooring) we have found so far in St. John, USVI.  Wow, mega wow. It reminds us of Georgian Bay. It's  intimate and it's sheltered. We swim to the beach and there's good snorkeling. Great hiking trails too! We have lunch at Skinny Legs in Coral Harbor then walk to the grocery store about a mile or so away. A good hike for sure.  Loving St. John. Loving this spot, loving life!

Even better IMO than Waterlemon is Lameshure Bay. Good snorkeling right off the boat. You can hike the entire Island from here on well marked trails that vary from old roads (200+ years) to walking paths. We highly recommend a few days here.

Enjoyed St. John USVI. Cruz Bay with it's nice shops and restaurants, good moorings in beautiful bays, snorkeling, hiking, a day at the beach. Then Coral Bay, Skinny Legs, cool little bars and restaurants.

K Smooooth, Carol & us at "Skinny Legs" Coral Bay, St. John

How do you eat these things?