At sea again
Irie
Mon 3 Dec 2007 00:05
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Position 18 23 114N 064 30 809W Cooper Island
BVI
Sunday 2nd December
Launched on time mid Friday morning, the engine
started and we seemed to float. Said Hi to James Burgess, a friend
of Geoffs who runs a boat charter business here. He made glum
noises about the home news and what about the earthquake. Focussed on the
boat, and no papers or TV it had all delightfully passed us by. The
earthquake was a big one; 7.5 and centred around Martinique. In the BVIs,
buildings shook and furniture moved, but it happened during a car trip
to pick up a sail. The car was exceedingly decrepit and had a bust exhaust
so easily dominated any major natural event.
It was great to be back in the water. Boatyards are
noisy messy places, and the relaunch is a relief. Even better is leaving the
marina. Saturday at around lunch time - out of the berth, turn left,
follow the marks through the coral, and then an easy hour up Francis Drake
Channel to Cooper Island. The weather is quiet and sunny with 10 knots of breeze
and a small sea, so once the mooring's secure it's swim time to cool off and we
spot a couple of rays resting on the seabed beneath the boat.
As it's Sunday, today's a today's a relaxing day
with a few boat jobs and time to stare at the world. It's much fresher today,
blowing a good 20 knots from the east. Cooper's very sheltered, but in this
direction the wind curls 90 degrees round the Island with fierce gusts and
occasional downpours. Tomorrow Geoff and Val arrive so we're off to Roadtown in
the morning to stock up and await their taxi in the evening.
It's now night, and up on deck the gusts are still
whistling down through the anchorage. It's clear above with a tracery of stars,
and the palms on the shoreline diffuse the coloured lights of the little bar and
restaurant, and weave patterns on the surf washed sand.
Pictures below: before and after bottom painting
and polishing (the boat, that is)
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