I have another bad night’s sleep as the mooring lines have become wrapped around the mooring ball causing it to clunk against the hull of the boat continually.
Rachel and Simon get up just after us, Rachel looking very confused by not being the last, or next to last person to wake!
It’s almost 11 by the time everyone is ready to go, and as we are only going around the corner to Apple Bay, we don’t bother to get the sails up.
Photo: One of Tortola’s famous bars – The Bomba Shack
As we arrive in Apple Bay, outside CRC (Malcolm and Candace’s house, Chateau Relaxeau Caribe) and start to put the anchor down, Mike realises that we have caught something on the fishing line. Simon starts to reel it in but it is heavy, very heavy, and fights back. Mike thinks that it is a rock, as the boat had stopped before we remembered that the line was still out, and the lure therefore had time to sink to the bottom. We pull the anchor up and Mike lets the boat drift backwards, allowing Simon to continue to reel the line in. Eventually the line slackens and he brings it all in, only to find that the lure has been bitten in half. As rocks don’t have teeth, it must have been a fish, and a bloody big one at that. Maybe it’s better that it got away although Simon doesn’t think so as it would have been his first catch.
Photo: Attempting to bring in the fishing line – a rock or something huge?
All this time, Malcolm has been watching from his balcony, then the beach, wondering what the hell we are doing so I ring Candace to explain, then Rachel, Simon and I get in the dinghy and Mike takes us to shore. Getting out is fun, and I am glad that I have my things in a bag as there is quite a swell and we get soaked to the waist. I go up to say hello to Candace and Mike goes back to get the others. They put the stern anchor out and leave the dinghy bobbing on the sea.
Photo: Chateau Relaxeau Caribe – with a beach!
We stay for a while, chatting over a drink, and gazing out at the wonderful view from the top floor veranda, then I notice that the dinghy is on the beach, engine rudder sticking into the sand, and the surf is pounding over the side, filling the dinghy with sea water and sand. Not good.
All the boys race down to the beach (except Adam who decides to reserve his energy for when the others are exhausted – yeah, right, Adam!). Mike pulls the plug out of the dinghy but it still fills up quicker than it can empty so they haul it further up the beach then stand there scratching various body parts, wondering how to lift the motor. This has been stuck for some time.
Photo: Hauling a sea and sand filled dinghy up the beach
The boys wander along the shore to Sebastian’s for lunch, and we go along the road to join them. We lunch on hot sandwiches, burgers (the younger members of the crew) before wandering back to CRC.
Photo: Lunch at Sebastian’s
The dinghy is still lying forlornly on the beach and is in need of a little bit of TLC. Malcolm goes back to the house to get some oil, which is liberally sprayed onto the engine bracket. Eventually, with enough spray and a lot of brute force, the bracket lifts.
Photo: Fixing the dinghy
Allison and I watch all the activity from the balcony, sipping water and enjoying the views. Eventually the men wander back, leaving Rachel and Simon completely alone on this beautiful beach.
Photo: Alison and Candace admire the view
Allison and I go for a swim. Yes, you heard right, while the others look on in amazement from the balcony.
Photo: Swimming for the third time this year!
Photo: Do you think Daniel Craig needs a new leading lady? Perhaps not!!
Photo: Feeling brave – before the swim back to the boat
Feeling brave, we make the decision to swim back to the boat rather than struggle to get in the dinghy, and Simon swims alongside to make sure we (well I really – Allison is a better swimmer than me) don’t drown. Half way back, I realise that it is a lot further than it looks but am now in that position where it is no longer feasible to go back to shore, so I swim on, my strokes getting just a little more frantic. Obviously, as I am writing this, I make it and am very proud of myself. Allison and I decide to reward ourselves with a BBC after we have had our afternoon cup of tea.
We motor over to JVD and anchor in Great Harbour. No sooner is the anchor down that a nearby boat moves and Mike declares their recently vacated spot to be much better than ours. John pulls the anchor up and puts it down 40 yards away. Mike declares this perfect and he and John settle down with a couple of dark and stormies, and Allison and I have our BBCs.
Our evening meal is barbecue jerk marinated pork tenderloin, with pineapple relish and coconut rice. It is cool in the cockpit, with a gentle breeze, quite a contrast to the interior of the boat which is boiling hot. The cooker ring has been on and as the watermaker has been going all evening to keep up with the consumption, the air conditioning has not been on. The two on together would blow the generator.
As usual, all the kids are in bed before us, and with the breeze strengthening, it looks like being a rocky night!
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