Roosevelt Roads
Puerto Rico
18.14.018N
65.37.582W

As quietly as we could, we hoisted our anchor at 6:50 am and motored out of Charlotte Amalie through Haulover Cut by Hassel Island. We ghosted along West Gregorie Channel between St. Thomas and Water Island, past the airport, past Porpoise Rocks, Saba Island and finally past Sail Rock. We were in familiar waters heading back to Roosey Roads.

Once again we had light winds directly behind us. After we determined that the few showers left in the area were more than likely going to miss us, we rolled in the jib, rigged the asymmetrical, then hoisted the giant colorful sail. Boy does it make a difference! It’s a little trickier to use but we were flying along with up to 8.5 kts over the ground in breezes rarely above 12 kts. We were in the process of leaving Culebrita behind us when Snap!! The giant sail above us was suddenly laid out perfectly in the water beside us.

Dale ran forward while I tried to keep us pointed in any direction that would keep the sail to the side of us and not beneath us to foul on the keel, rudder, prop, or anything else below the waterline. We decided the best course of action was to open the forward hatch over the head and stuff the sail down into the boat and figure things out later. This, of course, was easier said than done. It took a bit of heave-ho on Dale’s part but he finally was able to pull the monster out of the water and stuff the last of the sail, lines and dousing sock (which had turned itself inside out during the process) down the hatch. A check later on showed that the halyard had severed about a foot from the top.

We unfurled the jib once again, turned a bit off straight down wind (we’d had enough excitement for one day) and continued our trip to Roosey.

About an hour out of Ensenada Honda, the official name of the harbor at Roosey, we called ahead for a float plan number to relay to the Coast Guard in requesting permission to enter. A half hour after that, we were granted permission to enter and weaved our way through the empty mooring field up to the fuel dock. We were in our slip by 4:00pm.

Tom & Jordan on the catamaran St. Christopher, whom we had met the first time we came through Roosey, came out to greet us. They had decided to stay in Grenada during the hurricane season and had made it back before us.

While Dale rinsed off the Palace and plugged us into electricity, I grabbed a couple of loads of laundry and started cleaning from a different point of attack. As I’ve said many times before, this is our home away from home. We feel very comfortable here and know that all of our pieces and parts can be repaired or replaced here. We’ll have no problems keeping busy until Gerry & Nicky get to Puerto Rico.