Sunday
1605 Pictured in this photo is Antonio on the right, Lawrence (of Arabia) to the left. Lawrence will bring us down the Indian River….Antonio was supposed to pick up our trash until “Danny Boy” did it for free when we contracted to buy a Dominica courtesy flag and some mangos from him. “Mosquito” will also bring us down the river, but after witnessing the territorial argument that ensued between Danny Boy and Antonio I think best we stick with Lawrence!!!

Welcome to DOMINCA BABY! Almost 8 years to the day since I last stepped foot on this beautiful island whilst sailing aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer with SEA Education. Making it back here was a personal goal of mine and I literally have goose bumps as I sit writing here at anchor in Prince Rupert Bay. Thank you world! Today we cleared customs at the officer’s private home around his kitchen table (we assume it was legit ) Jordi and I then went for a run by the remains of Fort Shirley at the Cabrits National Park whilst Byron protected our boat from would be Dominican entrepreneurs selling whatever your imagination can imagine. God bless all on this day of the lord.

Safety first!, customs office, trip route and a couple posts from the high seas below

Saturday 0006 Calm seas, cool breeze, we be on the high seas! Under sail by the moon light and what a night as we glide steadily across the Sombrero Passage. Recalling a quote from Shackleton “And in the space of a few short hours, life had been reduced from a highly complex existence, with a thousand petty problems, to one of the barest simplicity in which only one real task remained, the achievement of the goal” Our first overnight since early February and with yet a new watch schedule instituted of 2 on, 4 off we are going strong. Byron continues to do a magnificent job of soaking up all the info Jordi and I feed him. Fact: Did you know this is his first ever sailing experience! Thankful that some close calls with close boats still have us afloat…we are at sea and filled with glee. Goodnight, sleep tight, don’t let the Audax rash bite!

1200 For whom the bell tolls. Its noon time aka LUNCH TIME as we pound past St. Kitts and Nevis under cloudy/rainy skies. A generous reprieve from the trades until now….most reminiscent of our eerie experience off Charleston way back when. With Byron at the helm praying to the fish gods ( he has promised tuna by noon on Monday ), Jordi resting/reading on the saloon setee and myself doing a few off line emails whilst navigating us closer and closer to the highly anticipated ‘sail by” of Montserrat, home to the Soufriere Hills volcano where an eruption in 1995 destroyed the capital city of Plymouth ultimately cutting the islands population in half as parties fled for safety… life is grand, spirituality is high and we forage forward fantastically.

Our last guest, Nat in Tortola!, (Jordi’s Brother), coconut nut and the Dominica passage photo album

PS: STEVEY - did you catch the name of the restaurant in the first photo of the post: