Monday, February 28, 2011
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Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wild, wild Mona
We left Boqueron at 10:15, a lovely day (we saw three whales!) and a mild breeze from the Northwest, so although our sails were up we were not sailing. That was our main concern: we are always worried about over taxing our motor. But three hours later, as we left Puerto Rico behind, the wind shifted to the North and it slowly started building. For a couple of hours we sailed happily with 13 to 15 knots and 6 foot waves also from the North, but then both winds and waves started to build. We reefed the main and the jib, luckily before it became wild, because we could do it calmly. After that the waves were over 8 feet and the wind was over 22 gusting to 28. At about 4pm we decided we could not face an overnight to Samana (the autopilot stopped working, the bracket could not stand the effort) so we used our much maligned Sat phone and called Cap Cana to let them know we were coming in at 11pm). They said they would send a pilot out to meet us and gave me his cell phone. (I love this marina!)
We turned on the engine and headed to Cap Cana, which gave us a better heading against wind and waves which by now were NE. At 11:45 we were safely tied to our own slip. This morning before 7, the "authorities" were knocking on our door.
Juan's been assessing the damage to the bracket, he is not sure yet what to do. But we are not leaving till Tuesday so we have time before our next two long passages - Puerto Plata (maybe stop in Samana) and then Turks and Caicos.
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We turned on the engine and headed to Cap Cana, which gave us a better heading against wind and waves which by now were NE. At 11:45 we were safely tied to our own slip. This morning before 7, the "authorities" were knocking on our door.
Juan's been assessing the damage to the bracket, he is not sure yet what to do. But we are not leaving till Tuesday so we have time before our next two long passages - Puerto Plata (maybe stop in Samana) and then Turks and Caicos.
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Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Large Northerly swells??
It is very tempting to go out and try crossing the Mona and pay no heed to the warnings but having had the worst passage in our life on the North Coast of the DR, exactly where we are going, we will just wait
We tried to go to an anchorage 7 miles to the North of Boqueron, but there is a marina, it's shallow and there is no place to anchor. We thought of going on to Mayaguez, but the anchorage is not protected from the West, so we are coming back to spend the night in Boqueron. It's a lovely day, nice breeze, flat seas: perfect day for sailing....
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Monday, February 21, 2011
Facing the Mona, and hating it
The truth is that in spite of the mechanical issues, all the passages since we left Fajardo have been picture perfect. Maybe the wind could have been a little stronger but I'm not complaining.
Juan's seal worked and the engine worked well. Yes, we still see a little oil leak, and the injectors are not completely dry but we seem to make do.
We dinghied around our anchorage, got rid of the trash and at 10:30 left. The ride was calm, and we arrived before. 4.
Tomorrow is the day when we get big waves from the North and have to stay put. So we'll go to town, do some shopping and then on Wednesday we'll start sailing North so that by midnight or thereabouts we start crossing the Mona passage. We think we'll go to Samana and wait there till Saturday when we think we'll be able to make it to Turks and Caicos.
We saw dolphins yesterday as we sailed into our anchorage and again today here in Boqueron. I always think they bring good luck, so we should be ok.
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Juan's seal worked and the engine worked well. Yes, we still see a little oil leak, and the injectors are not completely dry but we seem to make do.
We dinghied around our anchorage, got rid of the trash and at 10:30 left. The ride was calm, and we arrived before. 4.
Tomorrow is the day when we get big waves from the North and have to stay put. So we'll go to town, do some shopping and then on Wednesday we'll start sailing North so that by midnight or thereabouts we start crossing the Mona passage. We think we'll go to Samana and wait there till Saturday when we think we'll be able to make it to Turks and Caicos.
We saw dolphins yesterday as we sailed into our anchorage and again today here in Boqueron. I always think they bring good luck, so we should be ok.
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Sunday, February 20, 2011
This boat is killing us!
After Juan fixed the shaft (he aligned the motor raising its feet) and repositioned the bracket on the auto-pilot we thought we were good to go. We stayed in Salinas, swam in the mangroves in Cayo Matias and decided to do a stop over in Caja de Muertos before coming to Gillighan's Island to spend the night.
As we were circling the anchorage in Caja de Muertos trying to choose the best spot, the alarm of the engine started to ring. We opened the jib and turned off the engine. The wind was really weak but from the West (it blew WSW the whole day), a very unusual pattern and the seas were very calm. So I turned the boat away from the anchorage and slowly sailed it while Juan went down to see what had happened. The seal he had placed on the engine had failed and ALL the oil had leaked to the pan. So he collected it and put it into a bottle, opened the cover, saw that the rubber seal was damaged and made a makeshift seal with the paste, covered it again and filled the engine with oil. Of course, now we need to wait to see if it worked. So we sailed all the way. I am sure the people in the anchorage thought we were showing off coming through the reefs and anchoring, all under sail, little do they know
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As we were circling the anchorage in Caja de Muertos trying to choose the best spot, the alarm of the engine started to ring. We opened the jib and turned off the engine. The wind was really weak but from the West (it blew WSW the whole day), a very unusual pattern and the seas were very calm. So I turned the boat away from the anchorage and slowly sailed it while Juan went down to see what had happened. The seal he had placed on the engine had failed and ALL the oil had leaked to the pan. So he collected it and put it into a bottle, opened the cover, saw that the rubber seal was damaged and made a makeshift seal with the paste, covered it again and filled the engine with oil. Of course, now we need to wait to see if it worked. So we sailed all the way. I am sure the people in the anchorage thought we were showing off coming through the reefs and anchoring, all under sail, little do they know
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Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Salinas
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Thursday, February 17, 2011
Palmas del Mar
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We're moving!
After poring over all the weather charts for the next few days we decided not to go to San Juan but rather to round the south of the island. As is always the case, the best days to move are the days when you can't move (waiting for the sail to be ready). If we had gone to San Juan we would have had to stay there until next Wednesday at least, before we could cross (and the marina in San Juan is more expensive). The northern coast of Puerto Rico is not boat friendly.
So we decided to go back from where we came and at least move, and in the meantime we could test the new autopilot(working great, completely silent).
Juan also changed the packing on the shaft because it was leaking more than it should. But he thinks now either the packing is too tight or the shaft lost the alignment with the engine because it's getting too hot.
So we turned off the engine and are sailing towards Palma del Mar which will be our first stop. We will try their new marina and say goodbye to Sugar Plum and its crew. After that if all goes well, Salinas, Boqueron, Mayaguez and hopefully by then we will be able to cross.
One more mechanical problem and I quit!
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So we decided to go back from where we came and at least move, and in the meantime we could test the new autopilot(working great, completely silent).
Juan also changed the packing on the shaft because it was leaking more than it should. But he thinks now either the packing is too tight or the shaft lost the alignment with the engine because it's getting too hot.
So we turned off the engine and are sailing towards Palma del Mar which will be our first stop. We will try their new marina and say goodbye to Sugar Plum and its crew. After that if all goes well, Salinas, Boqueron, Mayaguez and hopefully by then we will be able to cross.
One more mechanical problem and I quit!
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Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Success!!!!
After a day and a half of work the auto-pilot seems to have been successfully installed. Juan feels like a f..... genius this time! Of course we have only tested it while tied in the marina, but all the mechanics of the arm Juan had to create to make it work functions perfectly as well as the software. This will be a great improvement for the long passages ahead of us. Now we need to recover our sail, in theory it should be ready by Tuesday but we need to pick it up in Ponce, a couple of hours away by car (at least). Afer that the weather will tell. We will sail to San Juan and wait there.
Now we are going to rent a car to run errands, and since Juan is already waiting for me, more adventures later. And we do miss you Sandra!!!
Now we are going to rent a car to run errands, and since Juan is already waiting for me, more adventures later. And we do miss you Sandra!!!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Getting ready
I think our plans are now set (stress think). Juan will not be staying to work here. He will help and give ideas, while we are here, but will not assume the responsibility of the work.
Therefore, we will install the autopilot we brought back from Annapolis, but to do that we need an arm and a bracket because it cannot be installed on the quadrant (I sound like I know, I do have a vague idea). Juan's gone to find the guy who said he could do it here in the marina. Once we have that he thinks he needs four days to install it. At the same time we have sent our main sail out to be repaired and they said we would have it by next week, probably on Tuesday, so all in all we will probably stay here a week and if the weather is good we'll sail first to San Juan and from there either Samana or if we can, directly to Turks and Caicos.
Most of our other issues have been resolved, no more fuel leaks and the alternator and regulator are doing great.
Therefore, we will install the autopilot we brought back from Annapolis, but to do that we need an arm and a bracket because it cannot be installed on the quadrant (I sound like I know, I do have a vague idea). Juan's gone to find the guy who said he could do it here in the marina. Once we have that he thinks he needs four days to install it. At the same time we have sent our main sail out to be repaired and they said we would have it by next week, probably on Tuesday, so all in all we will probably stay here a week and if the weather is good we'll sail first to San Juan and from there either Samana or if we can, directly to Turks and Caicos.
Most of our other issues have been resolved, no more fuel leaks and the alternator and regulator are doing great.
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Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Bye bye Sandra!!
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Monday, February 7, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Nasty passage
Actually a third nasty and two thirds OK, because we left from Caneel Bay and while we were on the lee of St Thomas and the big rock that lies to its West we did well in spite of the strong winds. But then our main got ripped at one of the seams (so it should not be too difficult to mend) and the seas started to grow. By the time we made Culebra the waves were over ten feet. We had already decided to go in to get the sail down, but when we actually made it we were tired, so we tied to a mooring ball in the mooring field that lies at the entrance to Culebra, behind the reef, had lunch and had a great nap.
Then Sandra and I decided to shower, she went first but when my turn came, and I was all lathered, we ran out of water! We had not had any problems so far but I think when Juan filled the tank in Spanish Town he miscalculated. He did not wait for the water to actually overflow and/or did not realize the tank was empty. Thank god I had not yet put shampoo on my hair or I would have had an itchy night!!
Tomorrow we have a three hour ride to Fajardo, it's going to be just as windy or more and just as wavy or more but hopefully we will not rip the jib
!
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Then Sandra and I decided to shower, she went first but when my turn came, and I was all lathered, we ran out of water! We had not had any problems so far but I think when Juan filled the tank in Spanish Town he miscalculated. He did not wait for the water to actually overflow and/or did not realize the tank was empty. Thank god I had not yet put shampoo on my hair or I would have had an itchy night!!
Tomorrow we have a three hour ride to Fajardo, it's going to be just as windy or more and just as wavy or more but hopefully we will not rip the jib
!
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Fraile-20110206-00286.jpg
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Friday, February 4, 2011
I don't want to go away!!
I love St John and we are now anchored in the bay where I'll want my ashes scattered! We sailed from Bitter End to Soper's Hole where we checked out from the BVI and then came directly to Maho point. Last time we anchored in Francis this time on Maho Beach where it was more protected. The wind started blowing hard and will continue until Monday. Tomorrow we'll move to Caneel Bay so we can walk to Cruz Bay and check in, and then we will sail to Meghan's Bay on the Northern Coast of St. Thomas. From there to Fajardo it's about 40 miles, so even if we get strong winds and big waves, they will be following and by 3 we should be docked in Marina del Rey.
Then we will see what happens. Juan has a tentative offer to do some work on a house in Palma but we need to look into the details to make a decision as to what to do.
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Then we will see what happens. Juan has a tentative offer to do some work on a house in Palma but we need to look into the details to make a decision as to what to do.
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Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Bitter End again
It's the fourth time this trip we are here, we left and returned from St. Martin from here, and brought Sophia and now Sandra. It's always gorgeous. Today it's windier but there are fewer boats, much better. Cooper Island was also beautiful, I did not remember having been there at all, so it was really a first.
We need to be in Fajardo next Monday, so the day after tomorrow we'll go back to St. John and then head back. We are sailing West so it should be a good ride all the way.
We need to be in Fajardo next Monday, so the day after tomorrow we'll go back to St. John and then head back. We are sailing West so it should be a good ride all the way.
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