11/14/16

Hey!  We made it!  The weather window opened when we were in Oriental, NC.  Jerry listened to Chris Parker marine weather forecaster on the SSB radio Tuesday morning.  A boat named “Footloose” in Beaufort called in and asked for the exact forecast we were listening for – Beaufort to St. Thomas.  Within minutes we left the dock, headed for Beaufort and the ocean.  The first 4 days were mostly motor sailing – the next 4 days sailing.  8 ½ days from Beaufort to the Virgin Islands.  All in all it was a good passage.  There was a period of wind on our nose, several squalls, we had to reef the sail down and then shake the reefs out each time, a few things broke but none of them of any importance.  Jerry and I accrued a number of the usual “boat bites”/minor injuries , scrapes, cuts, burns, and bruises all due to living on the boat while sailing on the ocean in 8-10 foot seas.   As the journey began Jerry called “Footloose” on the VHF radio and introduced ourselves.    Footloose, a 40’ Caliber with singlehander Glen on board, left Beaufort a couple of hours ahead of us.  The entire passage Glen was within VHF range and we were able to chat about the weather, the islands, and how we were all doing.  It’s nice to have company out on the vast ocean – especially if you’re a singlehander.

We sailed into the islands, picked up a mooring ball in Maho Bay at 1 am just before the moon set and sat in the cockpit admiring the start and basking in the heat.

The next morning onto Christmas Cove to clean up, rest, relax.  We’ve never arrived this early in November.  The water temperature is 86!  Nice snorkeling weather.

Currently we're anchored near our favorite: Water Island.

Our ocean chart showing our passage from Beaufort to St. Thomas.  Jerry has a little blue sailboat showing our noon position each day.

A bird stops by for a rest.

Another bird resting in the rigging.

Jerry has all 3 sails out.

A rainbow through the dodger window rain.

Footloose sails alongside on the ocean passage.