| |
|
After a fairly late start, we headed back out of the Saba Rock bay the same way we came in, then set our bearings West. The day before, Don advised us that the best snorkeling on the way to Marina Cay was on the South side of Great Dog island. See the daily map.
Don advising us of the best snorkeling, a very valuable service.
When we arrived at Great Dog, we were lucky to find one last mooring ball available for day use at no charge by the BVI National Parks. We picked it up, a routine operation by now, suited up in our snorkeling gear, and swam the short distance to the rocky shore. We were NOT disappointed!
Sidebar: June has a 4 yr old Olympus underwater camera and has used it on several trips. Sherlyn has a new one, same model, but she had not bought an SD storage card. On about day 4, she bought the card, and shortly after that, June's camera sprung a leak and no longer worked. Lucky!
We all enjoyed snorkeling equally throughout our trip; about an hour in the water and we would start thinking about heading back. We exchanged, "did you see..." stories on deck while we ate sandwiches and hydrated on more alcoholic nutrients.
Our friends, Sofie and Peter, had pulled up looking for a mooring ball. We explained that we were leaving shortly, but they decided to move on.
Sidebar: We met fellow Flotilla sailors Sofie and Peter the first night at Peter island; how appropriate. They are two doctors from Belgium, recently engaged. They both are also students of sailing. I asked what kind of doctors, and in her heavy accent she replied 'Potologist'. Naturally, I interpreted this as 'proctologist' and we all proceeded to make subtle jokes about this. Eventually, when I suggested she give us all complementary exams, she realized I had misinterpreted her and she said, "If I examine you, then you are already dead. I am a pathologist!" The fun was over. But we met them in ports throughout our week, and maybe they will someday visit us in No. Cal.
After lunch, we realized that the wind had picked up and we had time to spare. So we headed back upwind for some 'hold-on' sailing. Good fun! After a couple tacks, we jibed downwind and had a more relaxed (boring) sail into Marina Cay.
The ladies heard about good shopping in Trellis Bay, but Steve and I heard about fabulous snorkeling on the shore just West of Marina Cay. So we split up for the afternoon. We all agreed that Steve and I had the better afternoon.We all dingy'd into shore, just in time for the 5:30 skipper's meeting, where we discovered that mooring balls are in high demand in Great Bay on Jost Van Dyke. And the best way out of the area is through a narrow passage (see map below). I chimed in to Captain Richard, "Isn't that the same passage that you said yesterday to avoid? Why are we doing that?" And Sir Richard replied, "Because Don wants to." The next day, the Brits would be going to Tortola, then to St. Thomas, to do battle with the authorities to extend their US Visas. Don would be leading an 8 am parade through the passage and onto Jost Van Dyke.
So we filled up with drinks and Lobster; 2 lbs for $56 along with sides. Great deal! We eventually made it back on board, but Steve and I talked up the snorkeling so much that the ladies, Peter, and Sofie wanted to go snorkeling at 7am before the Flotilla left. And so it was.
The ride out the next day would be anything but boring.
in
the upper-right corner of the pictures)