Bequia!!!

Charlie writes,
Greetings from Admiralty Bay Bequia! We anchored @ 4 PM atlantic time after a non stop 54 hour run from Virgin Gorda. BVI
We are all fine and happy to be at the top of the Grenadines. We'll easily make Grenada for my flight home and have some time for a couple of stops along the way.
Winds were 20 to 25 kts the whole way, most of the run was with the apparent wind at 60 degrees of the port bow. 2 flying fish met their demise on our deck. The first night we took a reef in the main, last night we left it full and Karmela B sailed fine with the wind blowing 20 to 25. Our course was, generally, 160 degrees and became 180 for the last part of the run. Our first land fall was St. Lucia, about 10 miles off our port side, we then ran down St. Vincent, staying off the coast about 4 miles before making the 10 mile crossing of Bequia Channel to Bequia.
Our first day and night were hard for Laura, who was sick most of the 24 hour period, but yesterday and to day were much better.
Roger and I stood watch in 3 hour shifts the first night, Last night Laura joined in and did 7 to 9 and 4 to 6.
Laura is really pleased at having stuck it out as she was ready to get off the boat after the first night.
Sailing at night is as lovely as I remember, beautiful stars and milky way 'til moon rise at 10 pm
Our only technical problem was discovering this morning that the pin that attaches the tack of the boom to the mast had sheared! Fortunately we were able to secure the boom with short pieces of line and were able to sail the rest of the way here. We'll get a new pin tomorrow.

Getting Ready March 12, 2009

Roger and I are getting ready for the big sail to Grenada on Saturday. Charlie will be here this afternoon and after a day of getting to know the Karmela, we'll be off on a waning full moon and good seas. Exciting. We're getting the boat tuned and in ship shape for the 3 day voyage. 

We are in Nanny Cay in Tortola, having spent a couple of nights in Maho Bay on St John. The picture is of a nurse shark who just loved the moldy bread that I threw out of the boat. The shark had dinner and then came back for breakfast the next day-he loved the Healthy Choice whole wheat bread. 

Life is good.

The Virgins; March 5

Roger and I are drinking home made root beer in Cruz Bay, St. John. It's pouring out and it's a nice change. We're biding our time until next Thursday, when sailor friend Charlie Chamberlain joins us for the 3 day trip to Grenada. Three days nonstop ocean. Roger's excited and I'm mixed. I'm looking forward to the experience but am also a bit daunted by it. 

John and Helen visited and were our first overnight guests. Once we got their head to flush, the accomodations significantly improved. We sailed together for 3 days and then they went off to spend the rest of the week on St. Thomas. They treated us to a wonderful dinner at Zuzu in St John the last night we were together. Roger got his hair cut in Red Hook. He was starting to have long hair ( at least in the back of his head), but no more.

Life seems to be getting up, swimming, eating stretching, admiring ocean, clouds, birds and islands, reading, drinking and then finding another problem with the boat and then going to a marina to get it fixed and so far thanking the heavens that nothing so far has been too serious. Roger is very tuned into Karmela, so he identifies problems quickly. He'll know this boat well by the end of this adventure.

Next blog will be from Grenada I imagine....yikes.