waiting to cross the Caribbean our position is 11.50.23N 64.38.82W
Chaser 2
Yvonne Chapman
Tue 19 Feb 2008 00:59
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After taking Rob and Berny back to the airport in Isla Margarita, Yvonne
and I restocked Chaser ll in preparation for our next voyage. We bought
all the usual supplies, plus a few extras of Rum, loo rolls, and cigaretes etc
in order to do some trading with any friendly fisherman.
Our first stop was 60 miles further north, back to the island of
Blanquilla, the last landfall prior to crossing the Caribbean to Dominican
Republic 470 miles to the northwest. Blanquilla is a beautiful island, our plan
was to wait there for a weather window to leave.
Well, the window didn't come and days went by, everyday we tuned into the
SSB shortwave receiver to listen to the weather and everyday it got worse
or least remained the same. Some big seas can come through the Caribbean if
the wind blows hard and strong for any period of time, so we had to wait.
A week went past and although the snorkelling and beach combing is
good here, by now we just wanted to leave. Our friends Chris and Tony
aboard Waylander were now in Dominican Republic, we were anxious to get
away, but we didn't want to take any risks, so we had to wait. Finally in 3 days
there appeared to be a window. All was prepared to leave, and when Sunday came,
although the wind was blowing quite well in the anchorage, the forecast we were
told was as good as we could expect this time of year at 15-20 knots easterly
with seas of 6-8ft decreasing.
So on Sunday 17th at 0700hrs we raised the hook and
departed. The first day was a bit blowy and the seas were 6-8 feet, but the
second day when all was supposed to subside, the wind and waves increased and by
the second night we had sustained 30 knot winds and 10 ft seas. Our headsail was
rolled in and we had the 3rd reef in the mainsail (thats as small as we can make
our sail) and still doing 7 knots over ground. It was a little worrying
especially after having little or no sleep during the previous
night.
Come the third day the seas moderated a little but
not a lot and the third night was a little better too with 20-25 knot winds, but
still far more than predicted. We sail for enjoyment so we kinda wondered
what we were doing out there.
Still at 0900hrs Wednesday we arrived in Casa de
Campo Marina, with Chris and Tony to meet us together with theirs and our
friends Mick and Sharon who are currently travelling and crewing on
Waylander.
The marina was beautiful but more on that next
time
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