Twilight (Anegada 7.25.09)

One of the many pastimes that the girls shared was reading Stephenie Meyer’s books Twilight and New Moon on the trip. Jen and I couldn’t put the books down (Mandy had already read the entire series)! Check out this new moon shot during twilight while moored in Anegada.

Family Photo (Anegada 7.25.09)

When planning a sailing trip, it is very important that you plan your guest list carefully. In close quarters, for even a day (much less 12 days) temperaments can differ and before you know it, company can become quite unwelcome. But, when you mesh well, the kids adjust to having extra parents, and the adults become in sync with each other very soon. By the end of the trip you really become a family (in the true sense of the word). Although I don't have a picture of all 10 of us together, here are some shots of members of our family grouped together by last name.

Things You Don't See Everyday (Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada 7.25.09)

Like any good businessman, Mitch's open air taxi was ready and waiting for us at the dinghy dock when we stepped off. (From the looks of things, he had been waiting for quite some time.) When he told us that all the other tourists on the island on this day had gone to Loblolly Bay, we promptly asked him to take us to Cow Wreck Beach.

This beach offers the sailor pristine waters, spectacular snorkeling, and quite frankly, things you don't see everyday. Check out the reason they call this place Cow Wreck Beach (things like this don't happen in Florida, kids --and yes a cattle ship wrecked here a long time ago!) as well as the tiniest sand crab in the world. And, the shells you buy at Pottery Barn don't have conch eyes peering out at you, either!



Since CWB is deserted and has little shade, it's always a good idea to have some cold drinks to enjoy. Ting is our favorite Caribbean drink.


We spent some time talking with Alex, the local who keeps the bar/restaurant at CWB. He told us that we just missed Richard Branson ((British business tycoon/Virgin enterprises) and his son by one week. Branson's Necker Island is off limits to average sailors like us, yet, it is surreal to know that even the rich folks enjoy this beach as much as we do. Nature's little secrets, indeed!

Blue like No Other (Anegada 7.25.09)

Anegada is referred to as the Drowned Island. I suppose this is because the reef surrounding it has claimed more than 300 known wrecks, and many aboard these ships drowned. Or, maybe it's because its highest point is only 28 feet above sea level , and sailing to and from this place creates an optical illusion that the island in fact is drowning. About an hour into your sail northward from Tortola or Virgin Gorda, you start to see on the horizon what looks like peach fuzz (no mountains or other recognizable terrain). You adjust your vision, and learn that what you are staring at are the beginnings of trees that line the coast of this wonderful island.

Anegada was believed to be created by the movement between the Atlantic and Caribbean plates. Because everything is so shallow in surround, the water here is an indescribable blue. And, because the path to get here is trecherous for many deep water monohulls, we have the advantage of being some of the only tourists on the island! For the introvert and anti-cruise ship Captain-- this is his paradise!

Weather and Waterspouts 7.25.09

I'm a weather girl. I watch the news for the sole purpose of catching a glimpse of the weather, and I want to know the forecast and temperature outside regardless of the season. Maybe that comes from my dad, who has kept a farmer's weather diary for as long as I can remember, or perhaps its totally unrelated. Regardless, when weather hits in the islands, I am always curious. Usually it's 75-90 all through out the year with occasional squall lines passing through, particularly in the rainy season. This day as weather passed over, a waterspout started to form off to the west. We watched it from the beginning to end: the formation of the funnel cloud, the spraying on the ocean surface also forming a spiral stretching upward, and then, the dissolving of both upper and lower parts.

Catch of the Day 7.25.09

The tuna we caught yesterday served as excellent bait for this day's fishing expedition. On the way to Anegada, Lloyd reeled in a medium sized mackerel. Dinner for all! Chef Lloyd baked it on the grill with a little butter and lemon. Yum!!!

Mandy and Harrison both caught fish too! The tricky part was trying not to cast in the other boats around us in the mooring as well as avoiding the turtle who was coming up for air beside our hull.

Sailor Knots 7.25.09

Traveling with kids sometimes takes a little more effort than traveling alone, but as long as you plan some "activities", we've found that the kids bring so much excitement to our trip. One of the activities this year was tying knots. The older boys (both 7) especially enjoyed this, as they are in training to be crew for our ship. Practicing on these sailor knots, all the kids built a pulley system of empty water jugs, camera cases, and whatever else they could find. Even Lloyd and GB ended up amidst the knot making games. A pastime for all.

Another pastime would certainly be lingering at our breakfast table. GB made pancakes for breakfast and we all enjoyed them with fresh island fruit. We fed the remainder to the Remoras (or suckerfish) who had attached themselves to the bottom of our boat from the previous night. See if you can distinguish the sucker on the Remora's head (which is actually a modified dorsal fin).

Other sea life encountered this particular morning included two black Labrador retrievers (unusual) and a big sea turtle (usual) swimming in the anchorage before we set our compass northward towards Anegada.