When I left Little Cayman the wind was still to the
southeast, exactly where I wanted to go, so I headed east, happy to get some
easy easting. As I approached Cuba I figured it was time to head south, so I
tacked and managed to go just a little east of south. Although I was going
fast, I wasn’t really going in the right direction so it was taking ages.
After a whole day and night I was still only half way, then
the wind dropped completely. I thought I’d have to motorsail the rest of the
way, but luckily in the middle of the second night the wind picked up massively
from the southeast and I sped along directly east. I accidently fell asleep at
about 1.30, but when I woke up at 4am I was still speeding along on course, my
self-steering working beautifully. A couple of cruise liners and a tanker nearby kept
me alert until daylight.
Sonic Boom anchored in Montego Bay
Forty-eight hours after setting off I approached Negril. A
few dolphins came to say hello and play around with Sonic Boom, but I was only
going four knots, and even though I clapped and whistled, they soon got bored
and swam off. Or else they didn’t like all the clapping and whistling.
I anchored in Bloody Bay, tidied up a bit; the whole boat
was covered in salt, crumbs, spilt drinks. Marine police came, boarded and then
left. And then a thunderstorm brought heavy rain and I got a free boat shower –
perfect. The next day I left all sparkly clean again and motor sailed round to
Montego Bay. Six hours later I anchored just off Montego Bay Yacht Club. I cleared in with customs
and immigration at the Yacht Club, had a swim and a shower and meal and a beer.
Exhausted. Happy to be back in Jamaica.
Montego Bay Yacht Club
