Commodore
April 23, 2022

A good sail under the clouds

We did the same thing as last time and secured our big round fenders on the mooring line in the hope that nobody would take our mooring while we were sailing. There was a good wind around 20 knots, we were soon out to sea going out beyond Klein Bonaire. It was amazing to see how quickly we lost sight of the big white round fenders, it makes you realise how quickly you would lose a head bobbing around the sea! Matt and Stella were both very keen sailing pupils and Rowan had then steering, we have got so used to using the auto pilot, especially when the sun is shining and it is too hot to be out at the helm. The cloudy day made it ideal for being at the helm, it was lovely and warm just no burning sun.

Grey cloudy day at sea

We were out for a few hours and returned for a relaxing afternoon on the boat. In the evening we had drinks with Kylie and her crew friend who has just arrived from the States, her name is Gosh, can’t quite remember how she got the nickname. Her parents are Polish but she was born in the States, she is a qualified pilot, in the process of getting her commercial licence. She did the Trans Atlantic crossing with Kylie 3 years ago. Kylie’s boat, Wanderling, sat in Grenada for over two years during the pandemic. Never good for a boat to sit that long, so she has had endless issues, with things needing to be replaced or repaired. Luckily she has made a lot of money crypto trading, long may it last for her! We had a good look around her 50 foot Benateau boat, it is a great design with a very spacious cockpit and all under cover that can be kept up for sailing. Downstairs is very comfortable too, with lovely woodwork and plenty of light and hatches for air. Afterwards the 4 of us went to a restaurant called Rains Fishes, handily just opposite the dinghy dock. We had a very good meal, a good atmosphere on the beachfront. It was our waitress’s last night, and she kept arriving at the table a little flustered, apparently the kitchen staff were spraying her with whipped cream every time she went back in. Interestingly she is a local woman, who left the island with her parents and went to Holland, she has been back here 5 years but is heading back to Holland as she says the schools and opportunities are so poor here for her kids. Rather sad.