Sometimes, you just get lucky

When I volunteered for this trip, I planned to help Bruce down the infamous “Thorny Path” to the Caribbean – typically a long beat to weather. I knew it would be a rough trip for a singlehander, and after spending many days of beating to weather in my life, I knew I could help him on the trip even if it wasn’t going to be fun.

So, I flew in to Staniel Cay and joined Wild Matilda where she was anchored behind Big Major’s Spot off what has come to be called “Pig’s Beach” after the swimming pigs that live on the island. After a few days of waiting for the right weather window, we departed the Exumas and sailed the rhumb line to the Turks & Caicos downwind with a poled-out jib. We were on the banks within 48 hours, and then clearing customs at Caicos Marina a few hours after that.

I figured we’d used up all our luck on that one, but we waited ten days for another weather window and sure enough, after one day’s long slog motoring into the wind across to the eastern edge of the bank, we anchored for the night off Big Sand Cay. But, the next morning, we set sail with a northeast wind and after 50 hours of beautiful sailing on a close reach, we dropped the anchor in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. It truly doesn’t get any better than that.

So, what I thought was going to be a sacrifice of my time and comfort in order to help a friend, has turned into a trip that looks like something out of the sailing magazines. I’m supposed to be working on my books – and it’s been looking a lot more like a vacation around here.

Here, let me show you.



Fair winds!

Christine

<A HREF=”http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?rt=tf_... Widgets</A>

Share on Facebook