Calamity Averted with Teamwork

The wind had calmed, the sky was blue, and it seemed like the perfect day for a snorkel. My Captain checked the charts, and it looked like there was a reef not far from where we are anchored in Red Shanks. So donning our wet suits, we hopped into the dinghy and took off.

We found the reef, anchored the dinghy and had a nice snorkel – though the fish were sparce and the coral mediocre. Ah well, it was lovely to be in the water (85 degrees today).

When we got back to the boat, we discovered that our little swim ladder wasn’t attached properly, and was low enough that we couldn’t see over the pontoon. So we peeled off our gear – flippers, swim belt, snorkels and masks, and threw them overhead into the dinghy, in order to climb the ladder, without seeing what we were doing. To our shock, several pieces landed outside of the dink into the water, and began to float away. We didn’t know if they would sink – so Jeff dropped the weight belt he was wearing (which sank to the bottom immediately), and dove back into the water to chase our missing gear. He managed to capture one flipper, but couldn’t swim back with more, so he thrashed his way back to the boat, with difficulty, while I threw him lines and a life jacket. He finally got back exhausted, as I started up the engine and we went after the rest of the gear, which fortunately was still floating (except for the belt). I aimed the boat, and Jeff hung over the bow and picked up the missing pieces. Then we dashed back to where Jeff thought he dropped the belt – “there it is”, I said spotting something dark at the bottom, in about 8 feet of water. Immediately Jeff dove overboard and rescued the missing belt – whew, all was recovered!

This was our treasured snorkel gear – we’d spent years collecting just the right equipment. It would have been a calamity to lose it – averted by good teamwork, followed by a very welcome cup of tea!

PS – no pics – my camera has bitten the salt. I’ll figure out how to get the pics on my cell phone onto the computer soon.

Can’t Get enough of Red Shanks!

So we’re back here for a few days, heading to George Town on Tuesday to do laundry, provisioning, water fill-up and preparing the inside of the boat for Susan’s arrival on Thursday.

Meanwhile, we continue to enjoy Red Shanks – we’re discovering new things here every day! Yesterday we dinghied all the way to February Point (about 40 minutes), and discovered a lovely marina and resort where we took a long walk, and then had a great lunch at the Rusty Anchor restaurant.

Jeff drove us back while I stood at the front of the boat, holding on to the painter ropes like reins on a horse. Great fun, and it kept me dry as we bounded through the waves! Sorry, no pics – couldn’t hold the camera and the ropes at the same time.

Today we spent hours on the beautiful little beach near where our boat is anchored – picnicing, walking the length of the beach several times, and chatting with the one other couple there who were enjoying the sun in the nude. They inspired us to skinny-dip in the ocean, which today was calm and warm for the first time in a while. Then another couple appeared and told us about a good place to snorkel very near-by – we may try that tomorrow. We finished the lovely afternoon with Jeff snorkeling with a weight belt on to clean the boat bottom – a task he’s been anticipating for weeks. Today the water was calm enough to get it done – yay! Tomorrow we clean down below – but today has been a little holiday J.

Summer Camp for Seniors

Summer Camp for Seniors, indeed! From costume-making and contests, to softball games, arts and crafts, small and large boat races and bocce ball – this has been quite a regatta! I participated in everything, as a player or spectator/cheering squad, and won no prizes, but had a lot of fun. My captain transported me back and forth to the beach activities in the dinghy, then returned to the boat for some well-deserved rest time after our busy week before this all started.

Jeff’s got everything on the boat working now, finally, and we’re preparing for our next guest, Susan Goodfellow, who will be arriving from her trip to Panama in less than a week. Then we’ll be sailing again, weather permitting. Meanwhile – here’s a taste of the activities this past week ...

The Coconut Challenge

OK, so picture this ... Marilyn is wearing her life jacket like a diaper, so as not to inhibit upper body movement. Then all four of us on our team dive into a dinghy and start paddling furiously with snorkelling flippers (the only paddle allowed). The aim of the game? To pick up as many coconuts as possible that are floating in the hundreds on the surface of the water, before the other dinghies have the chance to do the same. We’re also doing everything we can to block the other dinghies (spraying them, filling their boat with water so that the coconuts float out, etc.). All of this is happening in the “fruit bowl” – a small bay so called because all of the houseboats here are named after fruits.

It’s a fight to the finish, which mercifully, comes quickly, as all of the coconuts disappear into the various dinghies – 30 in ours – hard-gained, but not enough to win. The winning boat has 129!! How did they do that? It’s called “the coconut challenge” - good fun. I haven’t laughed or worked as hard in a long time!

The coconut throw followed, with each boat team having 30 seconds to throw backwards as many coconuts as possible into a garbage bag being held by their teammates. We managed a respectable 10 – but the winning team had 18 – ah well.

These are only two of the many crazy activities during this year’s Cruising Regatta. Yesterday we watched and participated in a wonderful variety show – full of talent! I played my tambourine for a children’s ukulele performance of “Yellow Submarine”, and joined the conch-blowing contest. Tomorrow we cheer at a softball game between the cruisers and the locals – more fun. Some day soon we’ll sail again – but for now, the Regatta goes on.

Hope You Had a Happy Valentine’s Day

Yesterday we celebrated a lovely Valentine’s Day, beginning with a breakfast of bacon and heart-shaped French toast on the boat, and ending with a gorgeous dinner at St. Francis resort – crab salad and conch chowder, rack of lamb and all the fixings, and tira misu and cheesecake for dessert – yummm!

In between, we dinghied all the way across the harbour (first time) to do errands in George Town, including contributing to the library fund-raising to build a new roof on the local library. The sailors here are very active in contributing to the welfare of the local community.

Then back to fun ‘n games on the boat to prepare for the Regatta costume party (“under the sea” theme) – for which I created an octopus top hat J. Granddaughter Stella called in the middle of that, and I was able to show her my creation on What’s App – she got quite a kick out of seeing her aging grandmother making such a fool of herself!

Regatta continues through next week, then our friend Susan comes to join us, and we start some serious sailing again – possibly Long Island, Conception Bay, Cat Island. Until then, the pics and stories will be frivolous – but what’s life without a little of that?

Hangin' Out at Red Shanks

So the wind’s back to blowing stink and we’re sheltering in beautiful Red Shanks Harbour with only about 7 other boats. It’s an hour motor south of George Town, and either people don’t know about it (and we’re not telling) or it’s too shallow for most boats. We only draw 4.5 feet – so shallow water works for us. Given that now there are about 200 boats in Elizabeth Harbour, this is a relatively very quiet refuge.

 It’s also enforced relaxation! There’s really not much to do here .... Jeff got a few light boat jobs done before lunch, while I had a phone meeting with Schulich. Then we dinghied to the near-by beach – quiet mangroves on our side, and crashing surf as you walk over the hill. We did laps on the beach from one end to the other for about a mile. Finally, we got back in the dinghy and I drove us around the bay looking for sea turtles (with no luck). Back to the big boat for tea, hanging out in the sun, watching the sunset and cooking a lobster stir-fry dinner. Life could be much worse!!

Tomorrow we head back to George Town for the annual Cruiser’s Regatta – races, contests, variety shows, etc. I may join the conch-blowing contest again, and perform with my tambourine as part of a group in the variety show. Hardly riveting excitement, but after last week’s sails with guests on 4–foot rollers, and lots of Schulich work since then, a pleasant break from the action.