A delayed newsletter June 13th /July 27th 2007
Out Of India
Birgitte and Ray Charmak
Wed 27 Jun 2007 11:58
|
Back in the Rio Dulce. Just crossed the bar with 2 tow boats assisting us
this time. Got even more stuck in the mud than last time. Just had harbour master Raoul onboard with his team polishing of the last brownies whilst checking our papers. Have experienced amongst our worst hairy moments ever. From Guanaja we had a lovely sail to the Cochino Grande. A very picturesque spot offering some of the finest snorkelling we have experienced. The plan was to spend 2 nights before heading back to Utila on our way back to Rio Dulce. However, after a spot of lunch, we decided against doing more snorkelling and rather taking advantage of the fine breeze which was picking up. We were looking for a nice 2 hours sail into the sunset...... hm..... not quite the way things turned out...... The calm seas we had in the anchorage soon changed into 3-4 meter (12feet +) waves with winds gusting 50 knots. Weather forecast said max 20 knots and 4 feet waves. First mate got rather scared and wanted to reef in... we were flying doing 10 knots. Not an easy task, especially when genie sheets got entangled, genie went wild, genie knocked raymarine radar sender/transmitter off but fortunately landed in the seas and not on my head, our outboard engine drowned, but no body got hurt.Very happy to finally drop the hook in Utila 19:00. Hope to have Out of India nicely packed and prepared for the hurricane
season by Thursday morning at the latest and then head up to Antigua for a week before flying back to Europe on the 23rd. Freezing morning in Brighton June 27
Very successful haul out at RAM marine in Rio Dulce. A fantastic team, who
went out of their way to assist in the most professional manners. We are
impressed and feel Out of India is in very safe and capable hands.
However, we will never be back in Rio Dulce again
in June, it is just too hot!
Took bus back to Antigua and spent a wonderful week
there, enjoying the cool mountain air. Flew Spirit (fantastic prices) to Ft
Lauderdale on June 23rd. Had a few hours intense shopping at Sawgrass mall
before heading south to Miami for 8.55pm flight back to UK. Arrived Miami at
6pm, Ray cannot find his glasses. Check in bags, rush back to avis car, shoot
back to Fort Lauderdale, sprint into last shop, awake dopy counter girl, 4th
attempt they find Ray's glasses, sprint back to car, speed back to Miami, no
accidents or major traffic, jump out of car, haul bus back to terminal and we
just made it at 08:30 pm for our 8.55 flight and arrived London safely
following morning just having to wait 3 hours for our luggage.... never a dull
moment!
We are flying back to Guatemala on Oct 29th and
plan to continue our sailing mid November.
Wishing you all a very lovely summer and thank you
for all nice emails whilst being onboard Out of India.
Skipper and First mate are signing
out,
Ray and Birgitte are back in Europe.
|