Friday 28 February 2014

Puerto Rico...


We had a lovely downwind Screecher run to the main Island of Peurto Rico
Cleared Customs at the town of Salinas.











Along with Teresa and Brett, we hired a car and drove up the mountains to Camuy Caves…   
we were taken to the caves on a “tram”...
then  proceeded on foot - beautiful




On the way back to Salinas, we stopped for dinner at Ponce, a very pretty town...













On most of the islands, dominoes is a “Major” pastime, with games setup everywhere and anywhere...


The market square is a place that local families congretate in the evenings, when it is cooler.  The square is surrounded by these gorgeous lions


Next morning we had a 4 hour off wind sail to Gilligans Island.
Went to Copa Marina Resort for drinks, which ended up with dinner – the food and service were fantastic and the setting gorgeous.

Next day we had a lovely downwind Screecher (and jib) sail to Puerto Real,
where we were able to obtain a pipe for our watermaker
(which had suddenly decided to leak severely).

Seismic Wave (Teresa & Brett)
Our Rose

















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Next day, sailed to Mayaguez and checked out of Customs.

We walked up to the town square, which had “pianos” chained to posts at various locations – people could just come and play – Awesome...





Monday 10 February 2014

Culebra and Vieques...

Together with Brett & Teresa (Seismic Wave) we cleared out of the BVI's 
and had a lovely broad reach to Culebra, a small island in the Spanish Virign Islands just south of Puerto Rico...

We caught up for dinner with Bob and Leo (a very pampered pooch)
- missing Judy who was back in USA for a visit...

We hired a golf cart and toured the island...


 Culebra and Vieques were used by the United States as Gunnery and Bombing practice sites, with over one billion tonnes of bombs dropped on Vieques.  This tank is on the beach at Culebra...


We sailed to Isla Culbrita and went for a hike up to the Oldest Lighthouse in the Caribbean...


 From the top, you could see Seismic Wave and Our Rose anchored in the bay in the distance...


When zooming in on the camera, we could also see people surfing off the point...



As we were heading back to Our Rose, we noticed one of the surfers trying to get our attention,
we headed over and found their boat had broken down...

Brett came and helped tow them to a calmer spot, we then had them all aboard Our Rose for drinks and nibbles until help turned up.  There were 3 children and 3 adults...


Next morning, Brett got out their Windsurfer.
Richard hadn't windsurfed for years...

In the afternoon we went for a walk to the "bubbly pools" - gorgeous...

Brett & Teresa had not dived for some time, so Richard gave them a "Scuba Review"...


We had a lovely sail from Culebra to Vieques...


We went for a snorkel and I immediately saw this bomb...


 When we arrived at Sun Bay, Vieques, there was a beautiful pod of dolphins come to greet us...
Richard dived straight in and had a lovely swim with them...


We went for a walk a beautiful spot with lots of wild horses...


Richard & Brett went "hunting and gathering" coconuts for our evening Cocktails

Check out the Machete in the dinghy & the "man tools" at Brett's foot required for opening of the Coconuts...

The end result was DELICIOUS...

At dark, we went ashore and "finally" had a beach fire with toasted marshmallows...