52. Abandon Ship

I am abandoning ship, but only temporarily. Sonic Boom will be left in Kima Kalki marina for the next couple of months, while I head to San Remo, Italy and some boat work with Captain Harry.

Kima Kalki Marina

Kima Kalki is a lovely marina, small, very private, tucked away in Spanish Waters amongst the mangroves, run by Ron, an old Dutch guy. Mateo from s/v Galaxie, who I met in Bonaire, is here, and another boat I recognize from Trinidad. Unusually I’m surrounded by Italian sailors, Mateo’s from San Remo.

Spanish Waters

Maybe not the best set up for an abandoned boat, but the only marina I could afford. I’m stern to the dock, European style. As I motored into the marina I dropped an anchor, swung round and reversed in, although it didn’t go quite as cool as that sounds. I put another anchor out and feel more secure.  Hopefully everything will still be there when I get back.

51. At World's End

I had an OK sail to Curacao. Somehow I didn’t really enjoy it, I hope it wasn’t my last. In the morning I saw s/v Ouma reefing sail and looking ready to go. I asked if they were going to Curacao, and they were. ‘I’ll follow you I shouted’, thinking this would make life much easier. However, twenty minutes later I was racing past them and they were following me.

Spanish Waters, Curacao

A huge rainstorm was also behind me. I used its winds to keep ahead of it, and then headed south a bit to let it past. I got one or two sprinkles, but nothing much. S/v Ouma disappeared behind a grey block of rain. I was doing about 7 knots and managed to keep ahead all the way, but all the time I could see this wall of rain a few hundred yards behind chasing me, so it was a fairly tense sail. S/v Ouma on the other hand, looked like they got sucked in and spent most of their day getting rained on.

Arriving in Spanish Waters with my main sail in tatters felt a bit like the scene in Pirates of the Caribbean, where Captain Sparrow arrives at Port Royal, climbing his mast as his boat sinks, eventually casually stepping off onto the dock. My boat’s got no sails, my dinghy’s only got one oar, and I’m down to my last $150.

50. Carry On Sailing

This is my fiftieth post; another milestone. I'm on my way to customs immigration to check out.

Kalendijk waterfront

Despite the high winds, and the state of my sails, there’s a small weather window on Friday that I’m going to take. I’ll try going the 40 or so miles to Curacao with a reefed in main. Because that’s all I’ve got really. It should be a fast sail.

P&O cruise ship leaving Bonaire