Category: 2014 – Caribbean Islands – Trinidad to Florida Voyage – Position

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/20 19:29
LATITUDE: 18-06.57N
LONGITUDE: 065-22.79W
COURSE: 268T
SPEED: 0.6
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 17
WIND_DIR: ESE
CLOUDS: 30%
VISIBILITY: 20
BARO: 1014.9
AIR_TEMP: 30.6C
COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Punta Conejo Anchorage – Isla de Vieques

We decided not to go the 1/2 mile into Ensenada Honda as there is NOTHING there!
It\’s \”the port of entry\”…go figure. We\’ll call and check in with customs by phone (if it works) as requested.
Happy Easter….I\’ve been able to connect via HF now to Winlink – so we\’re up to date.
New Blog soon…
KIT,
Scott and Nikki

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/20 16:02
LATITUDE: 17°58.04\’N
LONGITUDE: 065°03.38\’W
COURSE: 302T
SPEED: 8.1
MARINE: YES
WIND_SPEED: 19
WIND_DIR: ESE
WAVE_HT: 0.3M
WAVE_PER: 7
SWELL_DIR: E
SWELL_HT: 1.6M
SWELL_PER: 8
CLOUDS: 30%
VISIBILITY: 25
BARO: 1017
TREND: 30
AIR_TEMP: 28.3C
SEA_TEMP: 25.6C
COMMENT: Beach House – EN ROUTE – St. Croix to Isla de Vieques (US Territory)

We enjoyed our stay at St. Croix and really could have done it more justice. However, time is pressing a bit, so on we
sail to Isla Vieques. Most known as a former US Military bombardment island, now cleaned up and in a quasi status between
the US and Puerto Rico. It appears to be very nice and we\’ll be staying a few days before heading off to Cuelebra (it\’s sister island only
10 miles further north).
1/2 way to Vieques…KIT,
Scott and Nikki

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/16 18:55
LATITUDE: 17-45.11N
LONGITUDE: 064-41.78W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 12
WIND_DIR: E
CLOUDS: 40%
VISIBILITY: 35
BARO: 1012.1
AIR_TEMP: 29.4C
COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Christiansted Harbour, St. Croix (USVI)

A really nice sail in lovely calm conditions. We\’re anchored here in 10 feet of water with only a few other boats.
A very nice change. We\’ll head into shore soon with our \”local knowledge\” and see what\’s going on!
KIT,
Scott and Nikki

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/16 15:53
LATITUDE: 18-00.44N
LONGITUDE: 064-45.64W
COURSE: 162T
SPEED: 5.9
MARINE: YES
WIND_SPEED: 12
WIND_DIR: E
WAVE_HT: 0.3M
WAVE_PER: 10
SWELL_DIR: ESE
SWELL_HT: 1.0M
SWELL_PER: 8
CLOUDS: 30%
VISIBILITY: 35
BARO: 1013.8
AIR_TEMP: 28.9C
SEA_TEMP: 25.6C
COMMENT: Beach House – EN ROUTE – St. Thomas to Christensted, St. Croix (USVI)

Fabulous day, fabulous sail! On recommendation of friends Mike and Beth Lonnes, (who just sent us all sorts of lovely local info)
We\’re off to the most remote and least visited of the USVI. Full report soon. Next blog will be on St. Barth\’s.
It is very strange to be hearing the USCG on the VHF! We re-set our radio back from International VHF channels to US VHF channels
in St. Maarten. Getting close to the USA!
KIT,
Scott and Nikki

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/15 21:38
LATITUDE: 18-18.48N
LONGITUDE: 064-49.98W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 15
WIND_DIR: ESE
CLOUDS: 50%
VISIBILITY: 30
BARO: 1011.3
AIR_TEMP: 27.2C
COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Christmas Cove, Great St. James Island (USVI)

Nikki got to get her mini tour of Charlotte Amalie and we re-proved what we already knew… \”Cruise Ship Central\”.

We may go to St. Croix (32 miles south) of here tomorrow if the weather works out, which it should.
Nice anchorage, 30 boats or so, but not too crowded.

Happy Birthday to \”Beach House\”! 10 years ago today, \”Beach House\” was launched.
Hugs to you all, keep all those you love – very close.
Scott and Nikki

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/15 16:36
LATITUDE: 18-20.17N
LONGITUDE: 064-55.57W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 16
WIND_DIR: ESE
CLOUDS: 50%
VISIBILITY: 30
BARO: 1012.3
AIR_TEMP: 29.4C
COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (USVI)

We had a nice time at Cruz Bay last night in St. John. Fuelled up this morning and we\’re now in \”Cruise Ship Central\”..
Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. Doubt we\’ll stay here long. Contemplating going to St. Croix?

We had a perfectly clear night last night (3 am to 4 am local time) and got to see the full lunar eclipse for about an hour. The blood red color of the moon
was noticeable to to the refraction of light.
KIT,
Scott and Nikki

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/14 20:16
LATITUDE: 18-19.18N
LONGITUDE: 064-47.43W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 10
WIND_DIR: E
CLOUDS: 50%
VISIBILITY: 20
BARO: 1011
AIR_TEMP: 32.8C
COMMENT: Beach House – MOORED – Grand Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI)

We took a tour of the island by sea but ended back just south of Cruz Bay in Grand Cruz Bay where the Westin Resort is.
We rented a private mooring for the night and we\’ll dinghy the one mile back into town.
Most likely head to St. John\’s tomorrow.
KIT,
Scott and Nikki

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/14 15:27
LATITUDE: 18-20.02N
LONGITUDE: 064-47.73W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 10
WIND_DIR: E
CLOUDS: 60%
VISIBILITY: 20
BARO: 1014.1
AIR_TEMP: 31.7C
COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI)

OK! Nikki took the Ferry to enter the USVI \”via commercial carrier\”.
I checked in and waved to her as the Ferry went by. Fortunately only 7 miles each way!
So were in The USA…sort of…:-)

We\’ll move in a bit and decide our plan within the islands of the USVI (St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix). After leaving here we\’ll go to the Spanish Virgins (which are part of
Puerto Rico) and then decide from there!
KIT,
Scott

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 2014/04/14 15:27
LATITUDE: 18-20.02N
LONGITUDE: 064-47.73W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 10
WIND_DIR: E
CLOUDS: 60%
VISIBILITY: 20
BARO: 1014.1
AIR_TEMP: 31.7C
COMMENT: Beach House – ANCHORED – Cruz Bay, St. John (USVI)

OK! Nikki took the Ferry to enter the USVI \”via commercial carrier\”.
I checked in and waved to her as the Ferry went by. Fortunately only 7 miles each way!
So were in The USA…sort of…:-)

We\’ll move in a bit and decide our plan within the islands of the USVI (St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix). After leaving here we\’ll go to the Spanish Virgins (which are part of
Puerto Rico) and then decide from there!
KIT,
Scott

YOTREPS: YES
TIME: 201 4/04/14 00:35
LATITUDE: 18-23.17N
LONGITUDE: 064-42.19W
MARINE: NO
WIND_SPEED: 10
WIND_DIR: E
CLOUDS: 65%
VISIBILITY: 20
BARO: 1016.7
AIR_TEMP: 26.7C
COMMENT: Beach House – MOORED – Soper\’s Hole, Tortola (BVI)

We\’re back in the BVI and Nikki will take the 8:30 a.m. Ferry to Cruz Bay in St. John\’s. So she can arrive by \”Commercial Carrier\”.
There are so many ways this could have been done simply, but the bureaucracy simply dug in it\’s heels.
I will meet here there an send an update then.

We had a lovely dinner and are more than quite tired. Tomorrow will be \”another day\” and a big one.
Though most of us don\’t realize it – The US Virgin Islands, the Spanish Virgin Islands (part of Puerto Rico) and Puerto Rico are ALL effectively
\”inside\” the USA. As such, it\’s like landing in a big American city near you as far as Customs and Immigration are concerned.
More in the blog!
KIT,
Scott and Nikki