13th
UPDATE
Molly
MolonesT
Thursday (23rd Jan),
Ronan and I sailed back to Molly Molone's to spend the next week or so
there, to celebrate both our birthdays, mine being the 29th of January
and Ronan's the 1st February.
By the time the birthdays had come we had decided to stay another week
or so. Then I had an inquiry from a friend from home to sail with us in
the Virgin Islands. I decided to wait on for them, that was to be 24th
Feb. By this time Ronan and I had made a lot of friends there and both
of us ended up working at Molly Molones, not to mention the fact that
I ended up playing guitar and singing a few songs almost every night,
with my new friend "Cletus McBride" who plays there 5 nights a week.
I have just mentioned one name of our new friends. I think there are too
many to mention. That may become a story in it's self later.
Here are two more, Sarah and Chris, a couple who even organized a "Birthday
Cake" for us. If any of our friends are reading this, PLEASE
KEEP IN TOUCH!
Deirdre Spellman was the one joining us … with two of her friends!?!?!?!?!
When I met them at the airport … one of the "Friends" turned out to be
my Mom, Bernie. This was a very pleasant surprise for me. The third person
was a friend of Deirdre's called Janet.
The Three joined us for a night at Molly's on the Sunday, after they had
settled on -board.
Monday (25th Feb)
the three went to the local beach to catch up on the sun tans.
Tuesday (26th Feb) they took a day-trip
on the local ferry to nearby "St John's".
Wednesday (27th Feb) was a cloudy one, so
they all went "Down Town" shopping. Thursday (28th Feb) we set sail to
"Soper's Hole Marina" on Tortola.
Friday (1st March) went on to "Foxy's" on
Jost Van Dyke.
Saturday (2nd March) sailed along St. John's
stopping for lunch and some snorkeling, returning to Molly's that evening.
Sunday (3rd March) day sailed to "Christmas
Bay" on Great St. James, and back.
Monday (4th March) day sailed to "Thatch
Cay", then to St. John's and back.
Tuesday (5th March) Mom, Deirdre and Janet
flew home. By this time Ronan and I had decided to wait for "St. Paddy's
Day" and do it St. Thomas style, but in an Irish Bar, our very own … Molly
Molones. During our last week here we met up with a guy called Mike and
his sister Brynn, from Maine (USA). Mike had just done the "Atlantic Circuit"
on a 27ft yacht, well had almost completed it, he was on the final leg
home. He had some interesting stories, as well as having traveled the
same route as us but he had just done his second "Trans-At" and we were
about to do ours. After recovering from Paddy's Day and getting prepped
for the sea again … we were ready … with two new crew joining us to Miami
(or somewhere State-side). These were Jim and Jess, both from Maine (USA),
who I had befriended since the first week of my stay at St. Thomas. They
have a similar story to mine … they were after buying a 39ft yacht and
were planning on sailing her down to the Virgins to Charter her next winter.
14th Update Redhook (St.Thomas)
to Miami (Florida)
Thursday (21st March) we left St. Thomas.
After a 16 hour sail we tied up at San Juan (Puerto Rico), at about 3.30am
on Friday (22nd March). Slept for a few hours, got some messages done
and watched movies in the marina bar with a few drinks. Not exactly the
perfect movies for sailors making long passages … first aired was "Jaws
3", then "2", then "The Original" … I'm not sure about why this order
… strange!
Saturday (23rd March)
we set sail again. This time after a 52 hour sail (3 days, 2 nights) we
dropped anchor at "Luperon" on the Island of the Dominican Republic, at
about 6.30pm on Monday (25th March). Same story as ever … planned a one-night
stop … but stayed for three.
Thursday (28th March) on we go, bound for
"Great Inagua", the most southerly of the Bahamas. Arriving at 4pm on
Friday (29th March). Saturday (30th March) departed "Inagua" at 2pm after
refueling, ready for a longer trip to Miami, some 500 miles. Pretty much
plain sailing all along the Cuban Coastline and up the Florida Straits,
passing all "The Keys".
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