Buddy boating - Honduras to Gran Cayman and Cuba, March 2018

July 17, 2018

Buddy boating - Honduras to Gran Cayman and Cuba, March 2018

Tikaroa on a Close haul tack on the way to Gran Cayman.

By beginning March and still howling easterlies, we took the first "window" to Gran Cayman. The plan according to our forcast involved first day sailing N on a beam reach in moderate E winds with a strong NW current.(doing most easting possible) Day two motor- sailing on a close haul NNE in predicted light SE winds, then hopefully by midnight we would find ourselves NW of Cayman, to turn SE in the predicted NE winds. By sunset, day three we had to be at Cayman before anther Norther comes in at midnight.

The points of sail:
A. Into the wind; shaded:
"no-go zone" where a craft may be "in irons".
B. Close-hauled
C. Beam reach
D. Broad reach
E. Running

All went more or less as planned except the winds were either stronger or lighter and the South in the wind did not really happen.
Both our boats's auto pilots gave in, that meant taking turns to manual steer. (our hydrovane does not work while motor sailing into the wind.)
Then our engine stopped on day two, 100 NM from Cayman to the East of us or Swan Islands to the South of us!! We turned around with Tikaroa still in our wake. Luckily Jaco found the fault... turned again. Day three we found ourselves in about 18 knots and 8 ft seas on a close haul. But we pulled through and arrived extremely relieved by 14h00. By 8 pm all checked in and tied up on a mooring ball on the south side, before the Norther set in, we joined our buddy-boat for a looong rum!

The beauty of the trip was cruising with a buddy boat in our wake, dolphins on our bow under clear skies and in full moon!!
.

Very busy harbour at Gran Cayman. First few days we had to anchor, no moorings available.

Canela agreed with us that the skipper is a tad too close! Tikaroa thought they were going to tie-up with us!

3rd time in our lives, when reaching Cuba a tired swallow join us.
Resting for a day on-board Songerie

We spend a week at Cayman filling our hatches with delicatessens from all over the world.

As soon as the wind turned E, we set sail for Cuba. The choice was either departing Friday late night in howling E winds and big seas and rain squills at Cuba or leaving Saturday midday in strong E but subsiding by midnight and possible motor the last half day. Besides that I really did not feel like another strong wind conditions, had Jaco and I our time wrong and missed checking out on Friday.... We motored half the way.

Hee Hahhhh, guess were we are?

Rest my case....

Tikaroa tribe feasting on lobster on-board Songerie. Jaco, Coco infront, Yan and Ludo.

We dropped anchor just before sunset, but still enough sun light for Jaco , Yan and son, Ludo, to find a fish and enough lobster for a nights supper feast and Lobster omelet the following morning.

Upon checking in the following day at Cayo Largo we paid the U$200 fee for our boat and received the shocking news that boats have to pay for anchoring within a 5 NM of the marina. Receiving no benefits like fresh water or wi-fi etc. Total rip-off!!!

We stayed a few days anchored at Playa Serena paying 12 U$ per day. Together with Tikaroa we sailed to Cayo Rico then on to Rosario East stopping on the way collecting fish for the children's coming birthdays.

Nothing like a Cuban mojito.

Sun downers and ceviche with Tikaroa at Playa Serena.

OH, how the dogs love running on this beach.

One night stop over at Rico.

We stopped for a night at Playa Rico where we loved exploring the most beautiful beach, but a bit rolly anchorage.
Perfect for North to Northeast winds, open for East.

We spend a couple of nights at Rosario East. Celebrating both Ludo and Coco's birthdays.

When the winds died down and turned a bit South, we set sail East to Cienfuegos, where our Namibian friends are waiting for us.