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April 15, 2008
Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda
We dropped off the mooring at Cooper Island after what seemed like hours drying out our wet clothes from yesterday's rain. We decided to go to Virgin Gorda, the place where we made landfall in the spring of 2005 on Platina after a fast overnight sail from Sint Maarten.
A reality when living on a boat where no pump-out facilities exist is what and where to deal with the past days' feasts. Once 5 miles from land, one may legally dump the holding tanks. At the precise moment, Chis went below to do the dirty deed. The deed involves rotating a valve 90-degrees, which redirects the bits and pieces from the tank to the outside world. It seems the valve was stuck. By what, I dare not guess. I began pondering the use of "the pail".
It occurred to me that we were healed to the side of the boat where the valve exited, and suggested that we tack so that the hole through which the tank would empty would be out of the water.
We tacked. Chis went below to try again. This time, the valve opened. Now, of course, we had purged the holding tank all over the side of the boat that was out of the water, exposing the evidence of our dirty deed. We tacked again, rinsing the side of the boat.
Successfully cleansed, we resumed our sail and arrived around 1pm. We picked up a mooring. We went ashore, anticipating an iPod cable to connect to the boat's stereo. No luck. We went for a long walk on the island. A little exploration.
We walked the docks at the marin on Virgin Gorda, and stumbled on a Platina sister-ship. She looked HUGE! And terribly awkward. Clearly, our tastes are changing. Perhaps because the world we plan to sail is smaller.
As the sun began to set, we commented on how we felt more like charterers this year, and less like cruisers. There is a definite difference. Perhaps it's because we know that we return to New York at the end of the week. Perhaps it's the fact that we bought a boat that will not take us on our next offshore voyage. Perhaps it's because each day that takes us further from resuming the dream takes us further from the consciousness we left behind. It is still deep within us, a confidence that allows us to roam about these islands stress-free. The sea calls us both, and we yearn for the fresh sea air, the motion of the sea and simple, humbling feeling that Nature bestows on those who respect her.
Posted by dave at April 15, 2008 01:53 PM