If I could figure out how to subtitle a post it would be Brrrrr…

Determined to do our share for the June 18th, worldwide Sailstice celebration we spent the weekend at the lake hoping to represent Idaho and get some sails up… the weather had some other ideas though.

Friday was mixed weather and basically no wind (although there was enough wind to make the windex do a 720° rotation, with no pauses), but we did get Turnstone out at least long enough to see that I had the topping lift trapped on the mast by the upper shroud… attempts with a boat hook and the whisker pole proved it couldn’t be freed on the water. Fearing we might have to drop the mast, we wallowed around for a little while just jib & jigger then returned to the day dock where – luckily – the topping lift could be yanked free once I was standing on the dock. Friday, ’nuff said.

Saturday dawned COLD… 25 degrees… and overcast; by 11:00 it was raining sporadically. Hunkered down in the van with the furnace on we read, napped, and possibly consumed an adult beverage. Emboldened by said beverage(s), we decided weather be damned we’ll make a showing for Sailstice. A cold wade to the boat and a fly by of the day dock got us both on board, and we actually managed a quite nice sail in a lucky weather window… not clear, but not raining, and a bit of breeze, enough to show one sail on the lake for the day. In fact, we were the only boat out except the shuttle running once an hour from end to end on the lake… enough to make one extra careful when you consider the water temp is about 46° right now. The heavens opened again soon after we returned to shore, so our timing was about as good as it could be.

Sunday, while still an empty lake and a cold breeze, was actually quite a nice day of sailing with the sun trying to peak out, although some very fluky winds as the system that pounded us Saturday started to move out. But we got out again as the only boat on the lake, how nice is that in late June! Some good speed dried the sails and everything else out, and has us chomping at the bit for more!

Neil’s Dream was nice, but it sure is pleasant to be back on Turnstone!

Pictures from Saturday’s rally:

Video from Saturday (2 mins 22 seconds):

Day 8, Sunday, May 8

Sadly we reached the point in our vacation where we had to wrap our brains around leaving Neil’s and heading home. This morning we are pensive, trying to figure out how to get back down for more sailing in BVI and when. We have to make good time today as we have a long way to go. We say our good-byes to Saba Rock and motor around the outside of Necker (Bass: to the northeast of Virgin Gorda). We want to sail downwind but the winds are erratic and we have following seas (lots of slatting of sails, somewhat irritating). We drop the sails and motor along Virgin Gorda heading to our destination, Fat Hogs Bay on Tortola. As we come to the end of Virgin Gorda Island (staying far away from a few rock pile islands with scary names like Fallen Jerusalem and Broken Jerusalem) we raise the sails to head into the Drake Channel. The afternoon sun was calming and the winds steady. We were on a broad reach heading south of Round Rock. There was a an old working boat wrecked on the reef around Round Rock, and we concur with the map which notes never trying to go north of Round Rock into Drake, even though it looks quite viable.

We sail through the cut between Round Rock and Ginger Island and across Drake Channel into Fat Hogs Bay (a beautiful run in strengthening winds shifting from a beam reach to close hauled as we approach the bay). This is a local bay with many inter- island container ships anchored on the outskirts of the mooring field. It was clear there were many live aboards also enjoying Fat Hogs (including the gentleman who dinghied out to his boat and promptly lay down in his hammock on the foredeck for a little nap). We were envious! On the container ship nearest to Neil’s (the “Sky Seal”… follow this link to see where it is now!) we see a barking dog running around on deck, tail wagging. It instantly tweeked our mindset, reminding us that going home isn’t all bad as we terribly miss our 16 year old lab Hannah, who is being spoiled rotten by Coach and Barb, her grandparents, in Idaho.

Day 9, Monday, May 9

We rise with a brilliant, clear sunrise, make coffee and tidy Neil’s. At 6:30 a.m. we motor around the corner to Road Town Harbor. It’s a nice morning to sail and as we head into Road Town we see many single hulls in full sail. It’s beautiful sight! But alas, it is time to return Neil’s to Sunsail, pack, and fly home. Bass radios the marina (sure convenient to have our own handheld VHF radio with us!) and they come out to assist us backing into the slip. Okay, the Sunsail staff backed us into the slip while we took in the last bits of BVI.

We checked out with a nice staff member who was really easy going. Mostly she was concerned, not with the condition of the returned charter, although it was in perfect shape, but rather she wanted to know if we would be back to charter again with SunSail. We looked at each other, smiled and replied “You Bet!”

Click the link below to download a Google Earth .kmz file that will take you on a fly-by tour of our sail from Saba Rock to Fat Hogs Bay:

Pictures:

Video 50 seconds: