We left Salinas as scheduled shortly after 1700. Serenada and Leeloo had departed just before us. There had been a few squalls throughout the afternoon in the anchorage but when we left things were calm. We motored out of Bahia Rincon and encountered winds to about 17 kts with one squall to 22 kts and rain but that was short lived. The winds calmed to between 10 and 15 kts but the seas were a different matter. They were "confused" and hitting us from all angles. We were motoring far enough from shore to avoid the fish nets so we thought we would be away from any land effects and maybe we were. However until about midnight I felt like we were inside a washing machine!
We had a very close encounter with another boat around 2000. Jorge was at the helm and had a boat shine a powerful spotlight right on us for a couple of minutes almost blinding him. On the VHF he asked the boat to identify itself but there was no response. When the boat turned the spotlight off, it had no navigation lights, nothing! Jorge immediately notified the coast guard, giving all the particulars of our location and the other boat's location. Fortunately the other boat disappeared but the coast guard kept in radio contact with us for the next hour to make sure things were okay. Rather unnerving to say the least.
Once we got closer to the Isla de Viequez the winds and waves calmed. Our reunion with Diana and Gibert was way too short. They radioed us stating they had fuel/engine issues and were sailing to Roosevelt Roads, abandoning the destination of Culebra :( For us the remainder of the trip was uneventful.
April 10, 2014
We arrived at 0800 to an anchorage outside the town of Culebra. I had originally thought we were going to take a mooring ball at the entrance of the bay but I was wrong. Good thing, it would have been a long dinghy ride to town and the internet. By the way, we ARE in the Virgin Islands. Culebra is part of the Spanish Virgin Islands.
Approaching the anchorage outside of the town of Culebra.
Today was a day of almost total rest. We napped in the morning after getting almost no sleep last night. In the late afternoon we lowered the dinghy and went ashore where we found a bar with internet. We had a cold beer, watched the bar owner feed the tarpons which is a daily occurrence and then headed back to CS'ta Time. We had an early supper and after enjoying wine with dinner, we were pooched! In bed before cruisers' midnight (which is 2100).
Tarpons waiting for food.
Reward for waiting!
Inside Dinghy Dock Bar and Restaurant.
Ditto from the street.
We felt almost human again after 12 hours of sleep! After some boat jobs and an early lunch we headed into town to explore. Culebra is a cute little town. We browsed in shops, walked to the ferry dock, hitched a ride with a couple in their golf cart, had ice cream and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We went back to CS'ta Time, picked up the computer and headed to the Dinghy Dock Restaurant where we had happy hour. A three person band playing live music was right next to us. The happening place! Two more squalls went through today, one at breakfast and one during happy hour. CS'ta Time is certainly enjoying the fresh water showers!
Mom and her chicks.
A typical sign in the islands. Today was definitely "Others".
Shops across from the ferry dock.
We are thinking of moving on tomorrow. Winds will be on the nose as we are still heading east to St. Thomas and are predicted to be 15 kts. The good thing is we will only be in open waters for 10 nm and then will be in the lee of the island the rest of the 12 nm to the Customs office but the winds are not the problem. It is the seas once they kick up. The long range forecast is for favourable winds (more or less) on Tuesday and Wednesday to go to St. Martin, the next and hopefully final long passage south. The winds are supposed to increase after that and who knows when the next "calm" period will happen.
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