Barbuda

So inviting - "come play on the beach"

March 19th.  It's a tad windy today.  Tom started the day with coffee and then strainer cleaning.  Eewww. Next it was time to change the watermaker filter.  Eewwww.  It's amazing how fast it fills up with....eewww. But I guess that means it's working.  I decided to tackle a couple of galley cabinets.  Dinner the other night onboard sv Right Turn made me realize how icky and unorganized our cabinets had gotten as theirs are neat as a pin.  That is usually what happens.  There are things you know you need to do but somehow ignore or put off.  Then you look around an anchorage to see someone doing their teak or stainless or whatever.  Crap!  Now you are shamed into doing the same.  I guess it's not unlike yard work in the suburbs.  One person starts mowing or mulching and then everyone has to do it.  Bastards!  Ha!

What a view

We wrapped up chores around 12:30 and launched the dinghy to explore 11 mile beach.  We noticed sv Right Turn had not yet launched his dinghy so we popped by to offer a ride to the beach.  For some reason, we chose to go ashore near one end of 11 mile beach and start walking.  In hindsight, perhaps we should have gone ashore in the middle.  We walked nearing all of the beach but this then meant we had to walk all the way back.  We were very tired.  Ok, we didn't walk the WHOLE thing but a good chunk of it!

11 miles pink beach

The beach is supposedly pink.  At first I couldn't see it but as the waves came in and out I was finally able to see a pinkish tint at first in the tiny pink colored shells and then in the sand because it is made up of pulverized pink shells.  Being on the leeward side of the island, it was super clean with little to no trash, seaweed, washed ashore Garmins, or such.  However, we did find a dinghy kit washed up but left it in case someone lost it landing their dinghy on the beach and came back looking for it.  Later we decided it had been at sea for some time and now washed up on the beach here in Low Bay Barbuda.  If is there in the morning we will claim it.

There is some pink to it

While ashore looking at the lagoon on the other side of the dunes, we met local water taxi guy, Goldilocks.  We made inquire about touring the frigate bird colony and Codrington, the only town on Barbuda.  Goldilocks said he could take us tomorrow so we arranged to meet him on the beach at 10 am.

The above butterfly just flew in and boy were his wings tired - ha!  But seriously, he flew in from the water and landed on Tom's hand.  He stayed there as we walked along the beach.  Tom finally found a fence post and the little guy crawled from Tom's hand over to the post so he could continue his rest while we continued our walk down the beach.  I really do think he was exhausted.    

Antigua to Barbuda

11 Mile Beach

March 18th.  We pulled up the anchor and set sail for Barbuda at 8:30 am.  Currently it takes us about 1 1/2 hours to prep to sail.  We had dinner aboard sv Right Turn the night before, so none of that prep got done until morning thus the 8:30 departure.  But that is just fine as we had a lovely time at dinner.  Thanks Mike!

Low Bay looking south

Winds were 13-15 with gusts to 18.  We were beam to close haul at times on starboard tack. Seas were lumpy and uneven hitting on the beam to aft.

Low Bay looking north

Even though Barbuda is only 25 nautical miles north of Antigua, it is flat, flat, flat so you really don't see it until you are upon it.  There are many submerged reefs and coral heads so we were careful to read and re- read the cruising guides and Active Captain as well as consulting the chartplotters, Garmin mobile Bluechart and paper charts.

We decided to anchor on the west side of Barbuda in Low Bay.  This is home to the famous 11 mile long beach.  We dropped anchor at 15:45.

Anchored off the beach

It's a bit weird as the beach runs north to south and with easterly trades, you simply pull straight into the beach and anchor.  It's 16-13 feet nearly all the way into the beach so it seems like you are literally beaching your boat when anchoring.  We felt much like a powerboat pulling straight into the beach and chucking the anchor out.  Weird.  There are approximately 15 other yachts but with 11 miles, there is plenty of room.

Sunset our first night in Barbuda

*Kala, you are going to LOVE running on this beach.  I hope your parents on vs Terrapin take you here.  

Sabrina's Sail Loft - Cockpit Cushions

I couldn't resist buying a yard of "grape" aka purple Sunbrella from the Doyle sail loft in the BVI's.  FYI - most sail lofts are willing to sell you fabric and notions and often times will give helpful advice...if they have time and it's not right before race week or some such.

I decided to make cockpit cushions with this lovely purple Sunbrella but I also wanted them to be utilitarian as well.  We have two K-State stadium blankets that zip up to make pillows.  We often use them on passage in the cockpit to keep the chill off while napping off watch.  However, they are not waterproof.  No problem,  I can cover them in the grape Sunbrella to protect them.

To date we have been using a couple of life jackets as pillows.  They have come in handy as actual life jackets a couple of times as well.

SO....I decided to combine all three for my design.  I put the stadium blanket pillow inside the life jacket and then I put those two inside a pillow cover made out of grape Sunbrella.  A Velcro closure across the bottom gives us quick access to the life jacket or stadium blanket should we need. 

They are comfy too.