Entertaining trip to St. Martin

With the Trades dropping to 5 to 10 knots we left Eustatia Sound at 2.50 am and arrived here at 5.20 pm just in time to catch the 5.30 bridge-opening on the Dutch side. After waiting around for ten minutes a local came by in his dinghy to tell us “they” had changed the bridge opening times and we had missed it – the opening was now at 5pm! Oh well, I guess “they” are the same the world over. But at least we had enjoyed a less than boring motor-sail.

Leaving in the dark is not so tricky as arriving blind: you know where you are, have seen it in daylight, and can calmly plot your exit: and by leaving early morning we were fairly assured of arriving 75nm later in daylight. Even so we did have two chart plotters going to help us out of the reef strewn waters between Eustatia and Necker Islands.

This normally boring passage under motor turned out to be quite entertaining.  We had a beautiful sunrise

Then the engine revs dropped, signaling a dirty fuel filter.  We pulled out some jib and hove-to

 

 and John changed both the primary and secondary filters.  We are hoping this is the last of dirty fuel problems.  We are down to a quarter tank and will fill with fresh diesel here in St Martin.

By mid-morning large convection clouds were all around and yet we dodged all of them: but they were quite impressive

and produced Rainbows

On the trip we had passengers fly in: two Martins resident in Eustatia had decided it was time to see the island named after them. Early on we saw them flying astern, and later one decided to hitch a ride. He perched in various places topsides before flying down below for warmth and a rest.

We wondered what happened to the buddy, and then a couple of hours later, there he was, clinging to the helm seat sheltering behind Nancy. He cuddled up close to her and fell asleep: John decided that he was a very discerning bird. Nancy was able to gently pick him up and put him down below.

Hours later we arrived at Simpson Bay on the Dutch side.  We opened the hatches and our two feathered passengers flew off to start their new life!

Our very best to all of you!

John and Nancy December 4, 2013

 

Hanging in St Thomas, and now bound for St Martin

We had an unusual amount of rain during our stay in the Virgins but still managed to have a great time thanks to my college buddy Donna, and new friends we met through her.  We again met Wayne whose work shop proved invaluable in sawing 3/8" off the bottom of Adventuress’ sticking head door.

 

Thanksgiving dinner was superb at Sue and Dewey’s spectacular new home perched on a high bluff with a panoramic view of the BVI and American Virgins

 

 

    Sue and Dewey with their radiant smiles, and here is just a taste of the view from their living room and terrace:

 

 

 

Wayne ....relaxing at the Soggy Dollar Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                             

                                                      

 

 

 

   
                Is that Nancy and Donna playing horseshoes on White Beach, Jost Van Dyke?
                             (Photo by an observant and observing JFK)

On Sunday afternoon we had a hearty brunch at the St Thomas Yacht Club and then we took everyone for a farewell sail on Adventuress.

 

At dusk yesterday we anchored off Saba Rock, North Sound, Virgin Gorda, after a beautiful sail from St Thomas on SE winds: we were treated to a lovely sunset over the  BVIs as we entered the Sound.

 

The forecast tomorrow is good for a 70 mile motor-sail to St. Martin:  East winds 5-10 knots going ENE with a half knot adverse current and 6 to 9 foot swell from the north east.  We will leave at 3am when the winds are the lightest.  It’s a bit of a pain but now you know why they call it the “Thorny Path” when you voyage against the trade winds. 

So tomorrow evening we hope to arrive in France. Ahhh those baguettes, the cheese, the pate and of course, the wine!

Best, Nancy and John 

Ps you can now enter your email address top right and you will get a notifying email each time we post here.

 

Adieu Dave!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

We will bid adieu to Dave on Thanksgiving morning when he flies home to his lovely wife, Barb, and into a northeast snow storm!  The last days were spent enjoying the American Virgins, including snorkeling at Water Lemon Cay and Christmas Cove where we saw a giant puffer fish with white lips and a ferocious barracuda

 

 

 

  …….and a delicious dinner at the St Thomas Yacht Club as guests of our friend, Donna Liska.

As Dave leaves us, he remains haunted by the question  “What made Hayden scream like a girl when he and Radeen were sailing on our old boat, Larking About?  Many of you may recall that three years ago my dear ‘Cuz’ Hayden and  his wife, Radeen, were planning on crewing on Larking About across the Pond to England (see Larking About's blog la40.blogspot.com).  We had to abort those plans because my brother became ill.  We instead brought the boat back to the Chesapeake Bay, and swapped it for Adventuress.   We now plan to sail Adventuress to England next May/June, but  Hayden and Radeen will be adventuring on their own boat, Island Spirit: so they are not available.  Instead Dave Hornbach and Bob Nelson will be joining us.  Both have sailed with us on ocean passages, are very competent sailors and great guys.  It remains to be seen if they will scream like girls on Adventuress!

(From Dave)

…  It has been a fantastic time sailing with John and Nancy for almost 2 weeks.  We have seen fun places, danced up a storm and snorkeled to our hearts content.  The food on Chez Adventuress has been outstanding thanks to master chef John and Nancy’s baking.  I will miss being here but it won’t be long till I am back for the Atlantic Passage.  Yes I cannot imagine anything about sailing with the Knights that would result in a girlish shriek, but I have heard the tale and suspect that there is a prank in my future.  Should I plan one of my own in self-defense?  Should I conspire with Bob Nelson to add further intrigue?  Stay tuned to the blog to find what happens next.  Scream like a girl…  Hah!!!

Love to All,

Nancy, John and Dave

 

The Best Made Plans...

Tuesday, 11/19, to Monday, 11/25

The plan was to sail to Anegada, stay two nights and position Adventuress for the 70 mile motor sail to  St Martin. 

 

We had a lovely sail from Jost to Anegada.  Anegada is totally flat so about 3 miles out we began to see the whispy pine trees on the shoreline and we arrived mid afternoon in time to order our spiny lobster dinner reservation and take a nice swim.  The bar-b-qued spiny lobsters were the best we ever had but the dancing exceeded all expectations!  John and Dave treated the crowd to their “rock and roll” moves and ability to sing all of the words to the “Oldies”.  Chuckie (as in Berry) Hornbach  and Twinkle Toes Knight  were definitely crowd pleasers with their dancing and singing.

On Wednesday we moved Adventuress to the western most end of the island and anchored for the night.  Thursday morning….Strong winds, stormy weather, big swells, wind on the nose and the coup de grace… dirty fuel!  Not a good day to motor sail to St. Martin.  We turned around and sailed to Spanish Town and made arrangements to have the fuel polished at Sea Cow Bay on Monday.  No problem…let’s play!

Friday we sailed to the Baths,

 

 

swam ashore and hiked to the Top of the Baths for a spectacular view and great lunch.  We then sailed to Haulover Bay at Cooper.  (My niece, Jesse and her husband remember their stay at Haulover!)

 

On Saturday we sailed to the Soggy Dollar at Yost to treat Dave  to the “Original Pain Killer”.  Unfortunately they weren’t serving the Flying fish sandwich but the food was great. 

 

My college roommate who lives on St. Thomas, Donna, visited with three of her friends on her motorboat “Happy”. She came bearing gifts…..a case of ginger beer and Dirty Salt and Vinegar chips….yippee!  

 

 JFK and Dave showed their skills at swinging the ring on the peg  and all had a fun time. 

So here we are, sittin’ at the dock, having our fuel polished.  Weather is still a NO for heading to St. Martin so we will hang in the Virgins until Thursday when Dave will Fly home.

Love to all,

Nancy and John with Dave Hornbach

November 25, 2013

Off to St Martin

AFter a couple of days' relaxation at Cooper Island and Jost Van Dyke we are heading East, back to Virgin Gorda and, depending on the wind, will leave soon for St Martin. Ideally we get a day where the trades blow north of east, which gives us an angle to sail rather than motor to St Martin. Bob and Matt Glaser have left and are on their way back to Florida; and we picked up our good friend and outstanding crewman Dave Hornbach (IP35 Eau de Vie) at Nanny Cay and he will be with us for a week or two. Dave had a good trip down from Virginia on the Arc Caribbean 1500 on Starburst, a Hallberg Rassy 43, homeport Annapolis. Best to all, John and Nancy, with Dave.

Arrived Virgin Gorda!

2341AST and the hook is down in the North Sound, Virgin Gorda, BVI after a passage of 10 days and 7 hours. Sadly the Trade winds went AWOL and we had a light North West wind for the last day and a half, so we motored along and were glad to arrive here, turn off the noise, and turn on the champagne and dark and stormies! Best, John and Nancy with Bob and Matt Glaser.

Down Route 64

940AST 2219n 6504w wind light ene motorsailing at 6kts seas large swell at 11 seconds
Here we are in the Tropics and hoping for Trade winds soon. We had useful winds the last 2 days and have averaged 6.8kts going exactly where we wanted - down Longitude 64. We are now motoring in a light air hole sitting between the Northers we have been riding and the Trades. All well and N Shaub Knight "can see the barn" !!
Best, Nancy and John with Bob and Matt Glaser.