Our first day getting away from work and the marina provided everything you would expect. The last few weeks of getting the boat ready for departure at the same time we were finishing work as the Operation Managers of Ranguana Caye had left us exhausted both physically and mentally. So our plans to leave one day, got put off to the next. And then to the next. Finally, we were ready to leave the marina but weather reports had high winds for offshore so we would not be going all the way to Lighthouse Atoll until those died down. We decided a sail to South Water Caye was just what we needed. Get away from the marina and drop the anchor for a few days in a nice anchorage just inside the Barrier Reef. We could have a rest while we waited for the weather to calm down.
SAILING UP THE CHANNEL ON STARBOARD TACK
We departed Thunderbird Marina at 6:10 a.m. We were still inside the lagoon in protected waters when we raised the mainsail. As expected, after being stowed for 4 months, it got stuck a few times. We motored out of the lagoon, past the end of Placencia Peninsula and Placencia Caye before pulling out the head sail. The wind was from the direction of East to South East. As we headed north, we had expected to have to tack around Sittee Point but with these winds we were able to point East of North. Straight up the channel with no tacking – it was beautiful. The winds were strong but with the protection of the cayes the seas were flat. Whitey and I fell in love with our boat, Gypsy Blue, again as she sailed along at 6.5 to 7 knots all of the way up the channel. Feeling the wind and sun and a slight heal to the boat. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. We had planned for a 6-hour sail but it looked like we would arrive at South Water Caye within 4 hours.
DOLPHIN ESCORT TO THE ANCHORAGE
As we neared our destination, we prepared to drop the sails so we could motor through the different cayes of Bluefield Range. Whitey started the engine and as he put the throttle into gear, it did not engage. It was just a loose throttle with no gears. (Guess our perfect first day was going to give us a few challenges.) Luckily we were in a deep channel with lots of room. We were still able to pull in the jib. Then Whitey tried to bring the boat in to the wind so we could drop the main. Pop! The topping lift fitting had broke at the back of the boom. Very carefully we lowered the sail to make sure the boom landed on the dodger gently and not too fast or it could damage our dodger. The main sail got stuck 2/3rds of the way down but we left it there while Whitey tried to see what was wrong with the gear shift as we circled the boat while still in deep water. It seems as an allen key screw had backed out. He was able to put it back in position and the gears were now working. With an engine, we were able to point the sail in to the wind and bring the mainsail down the rest of the way. At that point the topping lift had wrapped around a shroud but we left that until we got in to the anchorage.
We wove our way through the islands and reef, keeping an eye out for any shallow spots or coral heads. I was on the bow with head phones on as I relayed to Whitey which way to turn. Oh look. There are a couple dolphins showing us the way. These headphones are called ‘marriage savers’. Keeps us from having to yell at each other from the front of the boat to the back. I am up on the rail looking out and I hear Whitey yelling to me – ‘Maaaaxx!’. I turn around ‘What?’ ‘The headphones are not working, we need to change the batteries’. Guess it’s just another thing not working after no use.
CLIMBING THE 53 FT MAST. WHAT FUN!
We arrived at our anchorage, dropped the anchor and attempted to retrieve the topping lift. After multiple attempts with the boat hook, Whitey decided he had to go up the mast. On the plus side, we have mast steps so he can climb the mast as opposed to me hauling him up on a bosuns chair, but still a lot of work and exercise to climb a 53 foot mast. But he got to the top, was able to reach out and grab the topping life and bring it down to secure. If he was exhausted before he was serious exhausted now.
So that is how the first day away from the marina works. Beautiful in many ways but some surprises. A boat is not meant to be kept at the dock, but should be out and be used.
Keeping the adventure alive! Just living it!
