Circles

It seems as though we've spent considerable effort going around in circles, on land and by sea.  Coming and going to and from Home Depot for last minute supplies we discovered ambiguity in Puerto Rican Highway signs.  Plus, speed limits in MPH and "Mile Markers" in KM.  Go figure, who does this stuff?

Boat mechanics are a requirement.  Shooting them, however,  is just not acceptable, even when it appears warranted.  Kai Kanani has had a very slow leak in her hydraulic steering system.  We're talking really slow, like add a couple of ounces of oil per year.  One never knows, however, when a small leak could become a big one!  Our long term much desired boat mechanic, the famous "Undertaker" (hearse included) found the slow leak and dutifully repaired it.  We're pretty sure he even put oil back into the system...just not quite enough, we discovered, in the middle of the ocean 20 miles out to sea.   After much consternation, circling round and round, and adding the last drops of hydraulic fluid we had on board, we determined with some modicum of certainty that we could steer with autopilot, but not necessarily with the wheel!  Could have been worse.  Threading the needle through the fifty foot wide entrance to Culebra Ensanada Honda on autopilot was nerve racking but uneventful.  The sunset, however, was priceless!

Spanish to English at 8 knots

The trip from the "Spanish Virgin Islands" to USVI and BVI is nearly always a slog directly into the Easterly trade winds.  Not today!

Off the coast of St. Thomas we had perfect wind to sail!  As if celebrating the Christmas spirit the wind flowed joyously through four of Kai Kanani's five sails, propelling us at eight knots towards Penn's Landing on the East End of Tortola, where we docked at 4 PM.  Well, to be honest, we anchored in the bay and dinghied ashore in search of hydraulic fluid, because we couldn't possibly dock under auto pilot!  Thankfully Walter's shop had a stock of ATF, and after Kai Kanani's steering system gleefully sucked down another pint of fluid, full steering was restored and moments later we were tied up at the dock.  We celebrated with a wondefrul dinner at the Tamarind Inn.

Merry Xmas to all.