Departed Cuba - Ile-a-Vache - Again
Shamal
Wed 7 May 2014 14:06
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18.06.2N 73.41.7W
Well, we have finally departed Cuba after a stay of
nearly 2 months. We left Santiago early on Monday the 6th May and had a very
nice sail for most of the day. The winds died towards evening, as expected and
we had a gentle motoring, in fairly flat conditions, all through the night.
We timed our arrival off the sw tip of Haiti for
dawn as there are numerous lobster pots in that whole area which are only marked
by very small soft drink bottles (we noticed that on the way through last time).
There was no wind for rest of the morning, but then a squall came through and
brought lots of wind..... but unfourtunately it was right on the nose to where
we wanted to head. So we sailed (about 30 degrees off course) for a while, but
eventually as it lightened a bit, we put away the sails and just had to punch
through it using the motor. This slowed us down quite a bit so we arrived at Ile
a Vache just after nightfall. We wouldn't normally attempt to enter an anchorage
in the dark, but we had been here before and knew where the hazzards were.
We were also in radio contact with the the French couple we had met in Cuba who
we knew were here and they were able to confirm that we heading through the
entrance. It wasn't that risky as there was a fairly bright moon that night
also.
Anyway, we dropped anchor safe and sound and had a
well earned shower, bottle of wine with dinner (which I had prepared earlier)
and an early night.
We will probably stay here for a few days until we
get a weather window to head east to the Dominican Republic. That is likely to
be a long trip along the coast under motor as we are now back in the trade wind
belt. So we are just looking for a reduction in the winds and hopefully a shift
in the direction to the north a little. Will update the blog when we are ready
to depart.
Best Wishes,
John & Georgina.
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