The Spanish Virgin Islands with Trudi and Mike

Culebrita April 4

Once the happy wanderers returned to Kaos, we decided to up anchor and head over to beautiful Culebrita, since the winds are forecast to strengthen over the next few days. We were afraid that we might miss our opportunity to show them this beautiful island paradise, complete with a gorgeous white sand horseshoe beach and the jaccuzzi’s if we didn’t act quickly. When the wind and swell are up, the moorings in Culebrita become very rolly and uncomfortable, and one can be trapped for a few days.

We moved the boat, and once securely tied to the mooring ball, we had a swim and walk along the beach. Kaos and two sail boats were the only vessels over-nighting in Culebrita.

As we returned from our swim ashore, we found the bow of the boat covered with about 200 sleepy bees. We had been told that other boats had similar recent encounters. While they didn’t seem to be bothersome, Alan is allergic to them, so we opted to close up the boat and turn on the A/C for the rest of the evening. As darkness fell, the bees disappeared.

Overnight the wind increased slightly and the ocean swell rolled into the anchorage, causing the boat to roll from side to side. The roll became increasingly noticeable, so we deployed a stern anchor with dinghy. It was not the easiest of jobs to pull the boat against the wind, as we tried to point the bow into the swell, thus reducing the sideways roll and increasing passenger comfort. It quickly became evident that conditions would continue to deteriorate, so we decided to head over to visit the Jacuzzis while we could.

The tide was rising, so we were fortunate to experience the Jacuzzi phenomenon when the waves rolled and crashed through the opening in the rocks. While swimming in the pools, the sunshine was punctuated with much cloud cover. Still, it was a great and relaxing experience.

When we returned to Kaos a short while later, the wind was up and the bees had returned, so it was an easy decision to depart and head for the calm of our favourite Alvomodar Bay, just a few miles away.

Heading out of the Culebrita anchorage, we took some heavy seas on the side, causing Kaos to roll for about fifteen minutes, until we could clear the reefs and make our turn. The ride smoothed out, but Mike was feeling a bit queasy.

The rset of the afternoon was spent relaxing and swimming off the back of the boat in Alvomodar Bay, as we watched the waves crash outside of the reef protecting our anchorage.


April 3 Fuladosa Bay

Alan, Trudi  and Mike dinghied ashore and walked up to the Bahia Marina Resort (no marina here) for lunch and swim afternoon at their pool. Trudi treated herself to a great massage in the pagoda overlooking the bay from Susan, the massage therapist. She said the massage really helped loosen her troublesome back, and was the best she has experienced.

As a result of skin cancer, Susann has to limit her sun exposure, and chose to remain aboard and out of the sun for this afternoon.

Once the happy wanderers returned to Kaos, we decided to up anchor and head over to beautiful Culebrita, since the winds are forecast to strengthen over the next few days. We were afraid that we might miss our opportunity to show them this beautiful island paradise, complete with a gorgeous white sand horseshoe beach and the jaccuzzi’s if we didn’t act quickly. When the wind and swell are up, the moorings in Culebrita become very rolly and uncomfortable, and one can be trapped for a few days.

We moved the boat, and once securely tied to the mooring ball, we had a swim and walk along the beach. Kaos and two sail boats were the only vessels over-nighting in Culebrita.

As we returned from our swim ashore, we found the bow of the boat covered with about 200 sleepy bees. We had been told that other boats had similar recent encounters. While they didn’t seem to be bothersome, Alan is allergic to them, so we opted to close up the boat and turn on the A/C for the rest of the evening. As darkness fell, the bees disappeared.

April 2

Trudi and Mike awoke refreshed to a windy but warm and sunny day, and no snow in sight. We had a choppy and sometimes wet dinghy ride into town for breakfast at Mamacita’s.

Mamacitas on the canal

We were greeted by one of the resident iguannas sunning himself on the dinghy dock. Following breakfast, we walked through town and did some grocery shopping.

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I think Dewey was smaller and more rustic than Trudi envisioned. Since we did not wish to swim in the busy harbour, we moved the boat down a mile to Fulodosa Bay, where the water is clear and is flushed twice a day with the tides.

A relaxing afternoon was spent swimming off the back of the boat and enjoying the warm, sunny weather.

April 1, 2011 Dewey, Culebra

We departed Alvomodar Bay, one of our favorite anchorages after coffee, for the three mile trip into Dewey, the only town on Culebra. It is Friday, the day that the produce truck arrives from the mainland and sets up along the roadside. We, like many other cruisers and locals, head off in search of some fresh veggies and fruit.

Bridge at canal entrance

Dewey from anchorage

Susann’s sister Trudi and husband Mike arrive from Canada for a ten day visit with us here in the Spanish Virgin Islands. Alan greeted two weary but happy travellers at the airport, then dinghied them back to Kaos.

Dock for dinghys at El Batey

They were weary after three flights and a long day of travel. Their flight into Dewey from San Juan was aboard a six seater, twin engine plane that they said sounded like a lawn mower when it started up. It was just a 30 minute flight and they made it here safely.