Sailing Encore

Looks like we will stay in Long Island  thru the weekend until the coastal waves have subsided. And keeping an eye on Maria’s northern progress as well. So until then, here is some from my journal when we traveled the Caribbean with Steve and Kaylyn on Passion in 1998. We are slogging our way down island towards Tobago to meet up with my parents.

3-4-1998

We messed around in Bequia today. I got the snaps on the canvas cupboard covers fixed at a shop by the beach. We walked around town and had pizza for lunch and are staying on the mooring ball tonight. Why mess with it. Hopefully tomorrow will show decreased winds and less !*&#!

3-5-1998

Cleared out at Bequia and beat to Mystique. We are sitting on a mooring ball having early dinner. We will take off about 5:30 am to sail through the day and night to Tobago. Wind angle should be good and predicted less than 25 mph. We head 180 degrees for at least 105 miles, then up the coast to Scarborough. I really hate the idea of staying up all night. Was never any good at it even with my nursing jobs.

3-6-1998

MADE IT! I was pretty nauseated and threw up over the edge but manage to sleep off watch. We were able to not beat here, but winds were 120-130 degrees. I was cold and soaked for most of the night and stayed nauseated well into the day (I do actually love sailing…) Poor Steve, he went down below to get some sleep but got sick. I wish we had Vernon’s inner ears.  Anyway, the moon stayed up till about 2 am, then Venus rose about 4:40 am. We spotted Tobago about 10 am and beat up the southern coast to Scarborough to anchor, shower and make it to Customs before 3 pm (closing time). Big High Fives all around. Hopefully no more TO WEATHER!

3-7-1998

We all caught up on sleep, tidied up the boat, left wash in town, and called Mom and Dad to let them know we are here. The kids are so excited for their visit and Steve is counting down the days till his birthday March 12th. He will be 14! We will move the boat around to the leeward side tomorrow. The island is pretty with very nice people. Provisions are good for local fruit, Trinidad supplied staples, and fresh bread.

3-8-1998

We beat a bit up northern side to Plymouth. We went ashore and found local inn for Mom and Dad. Hiked around. Will take taxi to airport tonight to pick up folks.

10 pm— They are here! Steve, Kaylyn and I walked to find taxi in the dark and were getting lost when Dean -the taxi man- picked us up and helped us pick up Mom and Dad. So good to see them!

3-9-1998

We hung around Plymouth today and arranged for an island tour tomorrow with our new friend Dean. We swam at the pool and explored beach and town. Caught up on family news with M & D. Last night the anchorage got very rolly and guess what blew in– A Norther!! Vernon says he is cursed and the wind will stay at 50-60 degrees until we are back north in the USVI. Please don’t let that be true. He says that he is tired of the problems and weather and the only good thing about the trip has been family time and being with me. I hope the wind cooperates with heading back up for the BVI races. We have limited time to get there. It is too bad we lined up obligations in the first 3 months.

3-11-1998

Yesterday Dean, our tubby taxi driver took us on a long day of touring Tobago. It was beautiful! Pretty, pretty bays all around the coast but the waterfall was best. Vernon, Steve and I climbed up to a high pool and played in the falls. Mom, Dad and Kaylyn played in the low pool. I could have stayed at that top pool all day with a little wine, cheese, bread and V. We tasted breadfruit, coconut cakes and lots of local food with ‘gourmet’ Dean. He knew someone at every curve of the road and he shared stories with us about them all. We went to the old fort and read all about the history of the area. This island has changed possession a lot. The slaves were freed 1834– that is about 30 years earlier than the States. We eventually returned back to the Inn at 6:30 pm. 

Today Mom and Dad came on board for a sail to the lower end of the island. I had to take a bus to Scarborough to check us out of customs and Mom had a hard time trying to swim next to the boat so they did not go snorkeling.

3-12-1998

HAPPY 14th Birthday to Steve! We left Tobago early and broad reached to Trinidad. Flew the spinnaker for a bit too. We got a slip at Crew’s Inn Marina and taxied to Pizza Boys (Steve’s choice) and had great pizza and ice cream. This place is inexpensive. No wonder there are so many live-aboards here.  Steve opened his presents from us and family back home. Hard to believe he is 14. And what a great kid he is. Love him so! (So lucky we survived each other the first trip down in 1985 :))