Getting Home Was More Challenging Than Sailing Down!

Belated Happy Thanksgiving to you!

We were scheduled to be home Thanksgiving night with a flight from St. Thomas, VI to Detroit on American Airlines. Not a challenging route: St. Thomas, Miami, Detroit. Leave at 3:20 pm and arrive in DTW at 10:00 pm. Not!

The boat was scheduled to be taken out of the water at 8 am on Wednesday giving us plenty of time to get from Tortorla, BVI to St. Thomas, VI and through Customs and Immigration. Not again!

It seems a large catamaran crashed on a reef and had been brought to Nanny Cay for repairs so it delayed us. We were still in good shape time-wise until some idiot (not to be found for over an hour) parked his truck in the middle of the road where Trillium was being hauled. So we had to sit and wait for the guy to show up. As it was we left the boat sitting in the middle of the road in front of the truck with the marina in charge of finishing the job. We had to catch the taxi.

Customs and Immigration closes at 5 pm so we had to be on the 2:30 pm ferry - which never left the dock until 3:15 pm. And then it made a stop at Soper's Hole before heading to St. Thomas. I was getting rather concerned about making it through Customs on time. All was fine in the end.

We spent the night in St. Thomas with dinner at Hook, Line and Sinker, a favorite spot. Thursday morning gave us time to wander around the hundreds of shops before heading to the airport. This is where the real "fun" began!

The plane was being loaded when suddenly there was a problem. So everyone deplaned. Problem: a loose screw in the baggage compartment that apparently set off an alarm. The REAL Problem: they had to fly in a mechanic from Puerto Rico to replace the screw. That flight wasn't coming in for another 45 minutes. Of course, everyone is concerned about their connecting flights ...

Boarding began again and all was right with the world. Only a few people were going to miss their connections; we were okay. We taxied out the runway and were ready to take off when the Captain informed us that we had to return to the terminal and deplane! I thought there was going to be a small riot on that plane!

It turns out that a heavy person needed a seat belt extension! Fortunately, we did not have to deplane, but we had to get in line on the runway again. This delay now created many, many missed connections including ours. So we spent the night in Miami. Oh, sure, they gave us a hotel room and food vouchers. Sort of: dinner $20 TOTAL for two of us! And $10 total for breakfast! Have you ever seen an entree on a Marriott Hotel dinner menu for less than $20 - for one? So we had a very expensive Thanksgiving dinner. At least it was good - and I didn't have to cook or do the dishes.

When we finally boarded the plane on Friday morning, there were only 37 people going to Detroit. I had to laugh when the gate agent informed us that we could only take one bag of any kind aboard and would have to check all others. Now, I was carrying a backpack full of boat electronics plus my computer bag. I didn't even have purse. I can assure you that there was no way either of those bags were leaving my grimy hands!
Then to find only 37 people on the plane! How ridiculous!

The other frustration was losing our rum!We purchase gifts of flavored rum at the Duty Free Shop - five bottles. When we missed our connection, we had the rum with us. Unfortunately, we could not take it through security on our Friday morning flight so we gave it away! That really ticked me off!

Basically, the sail down was less exhausting and frustrating than the trip home! So much dealing with the airlines and enjoyable travel. Too many hassles! I can't wait for my flight down in February. Not!

Creeping Crawlers, Critters & Other Closing Up Issues

Well, our time of fun on the high seas is drawing to a close for now! It is bittersweet: finally relaxing into this world of "island time" and the need to get back to a productive routine (and all the junk that is piling up on our desks). Since we are not retired, reality is setting in that we must go home!

Laundry is NEVER done!

What we did not realize is what it takes to put a boat up in the tropics. It takes a lot of work. In fact, it took us three days to get it all done and then we left some things undone! Of course, there is the mechanical and electrical parts of the boat to put to bed. And there is a lot of cleaning to reduce the salt residue both inside and out. Salt will eat away at everything - even the stainless steel. Laundry, cleaning ...

Dennis in the engine room

The most unpleasant thoughts are those of dealing with the "critters" that may find their way aboard while we are away. ALL cardboard must be removed from the boat as cockroaches like to feast on it! I have never seen a cockroach and hope I never do! We put out traps for cockroaches and ants that may find their way in through the various through-hulls. All of the food was put into plastic bins or double zip top bags. We gave away anything that might spoil in the heat that will build up in the boat as it sits on land in the Caribbean sun for several months.

Putting the galley away ...

When we return for the month of February, we will have to get rid of all of the traps while on board, then replace them with new ones when we leave again. (Hummm - it would be easier just to stay there all winter!) Hopefully next time we will be more efficient at getting it ready to go on the hard (that means on land for your landlubbers).

It seems that our month of sailing in February will really only be three weeks of sailing by the time we get Trillium set up again and then put her away again. We will go back in April to sail her back to the east coast. In the meantime, we are looking for crew for the return trip to Hampton, VA via Bermuda. That is the first leg of the ARC Europe. From Bermuda, some boats go to Europe and others return to the USA.

It's Surreal: Champagne and Dark Chocolates!

What do champagne and dark chocolate covered almonds have to do with sailing? Just a symbol of the good life! We were sitting in the harbor at Nanny Cay on Tortola, BVI having dinner in the cockpit, sipping champagne and munching on chocolate - and pinching ourselves: are we really living this dream?!

It is one thing to think about "Someday", but we have made that Someday today! I saw the following sign in a gift shop this morning:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

See ...

There is no Someday!

I am so glad we "bit the bullet" and "took the leap" to buy the boat and start our adventures. We are not getting any younger! I do feel more energetic and physically active moving around the boat. It may keep me young. There are so many places to climb in and over that you have to stay limber to survive. I did get a number of bruises during the passage by getting slammed into the wooden parts of the boat below. I almost lost my face on the porthole above the stove when the boat lurched and I lost my balance. I guess my battle scar bruises are a sign of honor among the ladies who made the crossing and those who flew down to meet their hubbies!

Dennis is doing some work from the boat. That is the nice thing about the cell phone and Internet. It is challenging to get a good connection from time to time, but at least he can participate in conference calls and depositions from here. The Internet is slow and does not allow for easily uploading photos and large files. I will have to catch up on my work with we return next week.  It is also causing problems with updating the blog as well.

We Made It!

We crossed the Finish Line at 5 PM on Tuesday, November 16th just 8 days after leaving Hampton, VA. What a feeling of accomplishment! We came into Soper's Hole in Tortola, BVI and spent the night on a mooring ball waiting for Customs and Immigration to open on Wednesday morning. It was good to be off the "big water" and in the island waters.

Soper's Hole, Tortola, BVI

Seeing land from a distance was exciting. I did not expect us to get in until Wednesday, but the steady winds and following sea along with motor sailing, we moved into a good position finishing at the top of  our class. Most of the boats in the Rally spend a number of hours under motor or motor sailing due to the light winds in a less than favorable directions. We were first (or second  to arrive) in our class if you consider that the other boat that arrived first left several hours ahead of the official start.

Pulling in the fishing lines as we approach land.

It was good to put our feet on land on Wednesday. After Dennis checked us all into the BVI and imported the boat so we could leave it there for the winter, we motored into Sir Francis Drake Channel and eastward to Nanny Cay where the fleet will gather for celebration and awards dinner on Thursday. It was great to see everyone after hearing their locations on the SSB throughout the Rally. A number of boats did not finish with the fleet as they diverted to other islands or stayed on the coast of the US and went on to Florida or withdrew due to weather or repairs. There is a real sense of accomplishment and satisfaction to be here!

Catching Mahi Mahi Off the Stern!

As the weather warms, we are changing our wardrobes to summer clothing and hanging out on the aft deck and under the spinnaker. Shorts and suntan lotion are the requirements of the day now. The autopilot is set on its track to Tortola so we are just sailing along in a straight line with the wind behind us. Not the fastest way to sail, but the only think we can do!



Sherry soaking up the sun while tethered to the aft deck.

We tried our hand at fishing and caught three Mahi Mahi. They are beautiful fish - yellow-green in the water and good fighters. Once on deck, we strayed the gills with vodka and take them out of their misery. Then suddenly they turn a dark blue-green! Dennis filleted the fish and Sherry sauteed them for dinner. It makes for a happy crew!

Another day we had two Mahi Mahi on the lines at the same time. Unfortunately, the guys probably reeled them in too fast and did not let them tire out. As a result, both leaped off the hooks just as they were being lifted onto the aft deck. It was still exciting to see them fighting in the water. They probably became dinner for another sea critter!

We used a deep sea fishing pole and a hand line. Each had different lures. We think a Wahoo got away with our pink hula lure leaving us with only a line! The fishing made for a break in the boredom and added a little excitement. We will not be fishing in the BVI as you need a license and the reef fish have nasty diseases.

We are moving along at a great speed considering we have a following sea. With the aid of the motor at times, we are making good time and hope to be in Tortola by Wednesday.