Maho Bay, St. John

This is not our photo, but this is where we're moored currently. Good swimming and paddling.

Martin goes moto

We had a fun day last week renting a scooter (!) on Anegada, riding out to some reefs and checking out the island.

 The sailing has been great and we're both doing well. Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas! Thanks Erika, Susie, Amy & Jordan for the posts. Great to hear from you all. I hope the snow continues to fly and that you have a great holiday! We're anchored off St. Croix. We had a great 30 mile sail today and arrived at this anchorage this afternoon. It's a US National Park

, pretty sweet.

Order out, Anegada style.

Lex makes reservations at the beach restaurant, ordering pepper shrimp and Mahi mahi over the VHF. Evidently this is the third largest reef in the world. 300 shipwrecks! 

Virgin Gorda

N 18* 29.9'
W 064* 21.5'

We've been here for the past few days, trying out the new kayak, paddleboarding and getting in some swim time with the local turtle and tarpon population. We're heading out to Anegada today, a large coral reef to the northeast of us that has claimed more than 300 ships. We'll post coordinates from there.

Gotta love the itchy rash

Well, lest anyone think this is all fun and games down here, this was my present last week for arriving in the tropics- scads of noseeum bites after going briefly ashore for the first time in 11 days. These little guys are a type of sand fly that you don't see until you feel their bite, think invisible Montana horse fly. I had them all over my legs, hands, arms and neck. They were super itchy for about 3 days. Sympathy was scarce.

The good news is that this picture is now a week old, and I've healed up quite a bit. Now I'm just working hard on my savage nordic tan.

time to relax

It's hard to describe the experience of our crossing from NC to the BVI.  11 days of non-stop moving with three hour watch shifts each night.  Largely we had good conditions and I'm thankful for our luck and success. I enjoy self-sufficiency and really enjoyed this challenge. I believe that this crossing will be the crux of our entire agenda.  We made our passage after the hurricane season and before/during the onset of winter in the north Atlantic Ocean. Now is the desirable season in the Caribbean and we'll enjoy this for a few months before heading to Panama to explore the San Blas Islands and cross to the Pacific.

Cannonball!

Land Ho!

Moored at Great Harbor, Jost Van Dyke after 11 days at sea.
After not seeing any other boats for that long, we are in the company of probably 30 charter boats on vacation. 80 degrees, sunny, breezy.
We'll clear customs and rest up here for a few days.
Martin

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Dec. 7

80* F and light winds.
Pau Hana is sailing south towards the east end of Jost Van Dyke.
We should be anchored up around 9am tomorrow morning.
When we find an internet connection we'll post some photos.
as of 3pm EST
N 19* 44'
W 065* 09'
hopefully we'll get to cry "land ho" before nightfall.
Martin

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Saturday Dec. 6th

1345 EST
downwind run towards BVI
N 21*40'
W 065* 58.8
80*F and sunny
going well. we're aiming for Jost Van Dyke as our point to clear customs and rest for a few days.
two cargo ships are the only other boats we've seen in 10 days!
looking forward to finishing this leg.
Martin

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position Dec. 5th.

sunny skies, blue water, and steady winds today.
as of 1225 EST:
N 23* 41.4
W 067* 04.8'
speed 7 kts
heading 140* M

everything is going well so far. approx. 60 hours left.

at this point we're planning our landfall to be at Jost Van Dyke of the British Virgin Islands.
We won't make it before sunset on Sunday night, so we will slow down a bit to time our arrival after sunrise on monday.

I think I'll sleep for a few days after we get the anchor down.

Martin

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Pau Hana Dec 4

great sailing today out in the deep blue!
N 25* 20.6
W 068* 23"
speed 7 kts
heading 180* magnetic
wind ENE @ 15 kts

likely arrive in the virgin islands early Monday morning

Martin

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Pau Hana Dec. 3

3:30 pm EST
N 26* 43.3'
W 069* 14.5'
speed 5 kts.
heading 170* magnetic
wind ENE @ 15 kts

blown to the west of our desired course last night by high winds.
today were getting back on track.
75* temp and cloudy.
I spotted a Dorado off the bow. bright blue and gold!

we're going good. hope to get to virgin islands on Sunday

Martin

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halfway point

Dec. 2 2014 1400 EST 1900 UTC
N 27* 55.8
W 068* 47.7'
wind ENE 20 kts
heading 180* magnetic

halfway!
620 miles since beaufort
620 miles until the virgin islands

going well so far.

Martin

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Pau Hana Dec 1

steady NE wind 15-20 kts is providing great progress
N 29*39.7'
W 069*50.3'
speed 7 kts
heading 140* magnetic
fast and sunny
we hove to to re-tighten hardware on the wind vane steering.
going well.
Martin

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