I left my dinghy in Cane Garden Bay!
Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Sun 7 Apr 2013 19:45
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We have been looking forward to sailling with
George and Kayleigh. George in paticular, as part of Persephone's race team, is
always cheerful, ready for anything, and a superb bowman with all round saiing
expertise all over the boat.
Great fun to be with.
G & K had suggested a stop in Cane Garden Bay
because, as well as a delightful anchorage, it is also home to the Callwood Rum
distillery, and they welcome visitors.
We trickled across the sound between Jos Van Dyke
and the north coast of Tortola, where the bay is, and anchored in still
conditions, before getting ashore to reconoitre.
We found, not only the distillery...a tumbledown
stone barn...., but also a recycled glass blowing studio, as well as one or two
candidates for our planned evening meal ashore.
The distillery was closed, so we made plans to
visit it in the morning, and after a beer or two, booked a table at Myett's
beach restaurant as they were hosting live music that Sunday evening, the
31st March.
We had a wonderful meal, despite Kayleigh feeling
under the weather, and watched and heard Hudson and the Hoo Doo cats work
through their extensive repertoir of blues and americana music.
Nigel even discussed bass techniques with their
bassist (from St Croix) and we mingled with Hudson (drums and voice) and the
guitarist too, after theirs set. Huge fun, we went
back to the boat, sated and amused.
Monday morning arrived and we were anticipating the
distillery tour, when George enquired, quite casually, Nigel, where's the
dinghy?
Was this an April fool ruse? Alas. no,
our precious and beloved Percy was gone, complete with outboard engine, Georges
much travelled Frisbee and all our shoreside footwear! A scan of the
horizon with binoculars revealed nothing, and Nigel reported the loss to US
Coastguard, but we reckon the freed dinghy might easily be many miles away
downwind, near Puerto Rico, by the time we discoverd it was gone.
No dinghy, no rum!, to emulate Bob Marley, the
Callwood tour would have to be cancelled as we had no choice but to sail to
a marina and organise a replacement.
Note, in the Caribbean and elsewhere, your yacht is
like your house, and the dinghy is like the car. Without it, one is virtually
paralysed, unless one digs deep and stays in expensive marinas. As well as
expensive, these are well sheltered spots which are HOT, HOT, HOT so it is
preferable to anchor most of the while.
Nevertheless, we sailed round to Nanny Cay Marina
on the south coast of Tortola so the purchasing frenzy could begin....Nigel
rushed around in taxis etc and spent the dosh, while the others made use of the
extensive shore side facilities available, including the laundry and the
swimming pool!
Within a day, Persephone had a new dinghy and
engine, but we decided to stay put in Nanny Cay for the last nights of G and K's
stay. Kayleigh is decidedly happier on terra firma!
Persephone also needs to clear out of the
BVI's by 6th April, so we are starting to think about the homeward
journey.
Next stop, Dominican
Republic.....
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