Jamaica to Cuba and back to Jamaica!

After a quiet night in Bowden Harbour Gerry and I set sail for Port Antonio, 10mls to windward and then a fast reach up the east coast and onto the north coast.

Decided to have a lay day, ashore for the usual customs/immigration merry go round and hunt for fresh fruit and veg .

For the first time since leaving Fort Lauderdale we have actually found a bunch of other cruisers. This place seems popular with new boats arriving most days

No wind and some thundery rain showers kept us in Port Antonio. The forecast suggests no wind for a while. In no rush so we settle down working on the deck varnish, which really needed doing. Finished on the Sat and with the wind due to return Monday all is well in our little world. Sunday spent scraping barnacles off the bottom.

The wind finally arrived during the night. A good fast sail had us in Mo Bay at sunset. Nearly caught a fish for supper but he got away!

Check out, and we are off by midday. A fine typical Caribbean day, good trades. Something took the new lure trace and a whole lot of line! Not having much luck with the fishing lately. The VHF is giving grief as well.

No more luck fishing today, this time the hook broke.  This was one of a bunch we were pleased to find in Havana, probably made in China. Need to find some decent gear.

Arrive in Cienfuegos, Cuba at daybreak with the wind dying again. Usual cast of thousands visit the boat to clear in. 

Gerry sets off to Havana whilst I stay onboard to do some odd jobs. Do us good to have a few days apart following last night’s accidental gybe without the gybe preventer on, during Gerry’s first solo watch.

Stocked up on rum and ready for the off tomorrow. Tried finding lobsters but none of the shops had any!

Set of for Cayo Breton but light winds forced an early halt at Cayo Blanco De Zaza.  (texted Kate – she says from henceforward she wishes to be known as Duchess Banki Moon of Cayo Blanco De Zaza- think she and Helen have been at the rose!) Once again we lost a fish because the hook broke. Using a single hook caught a nice Lady Fish for our supper.

Cayo Blanco De Zaza, another island with a sandy beach

Anchored off Cayo Grande at 10am to rest up for the crossing to Mo Bay.

Arrived Mo Bay and anchored at first light, after an uneventful crossing. Very prompt and good check in service.