We left South Caicos on Saturday, May 24 in the early evening under good sailing conditions. The weather outlook was good for making it all the way to Puerto Rico, but we were prepared to stop in the Domenican Republic if the traditional Trade Winds kicked in. The wind was good, either with us for sailing or non existant so that at least we weren't motoring against it and we skipped Luperon, the mosst common first port of call after leaving the Turks and Caicos.
Two days later and the decision was do we head down to Samana in the DR, or keep trekking for Puerto Rico. The weather report was still favorable with the trade winds still down although it would involve motoring. We were still pretty far north of the DR and thought we would have a pretty good shot at getting to Puerto Rico if we kept going.
Three nights down and on our third day we skirted around a squall catching minimal rain. It had been a long time since we had had rain and the boat could really use a wash down. It got a little bit but we really did manage to avoid most of that squall.
Later that day as evening approached we got the weather report of some severe storms coming off the west coast of Puerto Rico heading north west, right on our track!! We started watching the storm cells on our radar to pick our best course to avoid the worst of it. We succeeded in getting rain without the major part of the system affecting us. it was nice to not only get the boat cleaned off, but I got a cool down with a shower myself. The rain lasted long enoughfor me to wash my hair and soap down good.
Just as the rain lightened up we got a strike on the yoyo (a type of hand fishing line.) Yeah!!! We finally caught a tuna, a bluefin at that! Through all the Mahimahi and mackerel we have caught over the last 2 years, This is what I have been waiting for!!
If we kept going at a reasonable pace we were going to arrive in Boqueron in the middle of the night. We slowed down to 1-2 knots arriving as dawn was breaking.
5 comments:
hey mike, tracy, josie, and justin! great blog! i have enjoyed reading about your incredible journeys. you guys are my heroes. that bluefin tuna kicks ass! congrats. i love the photo of you(mike) and tracy on the deck during that rainstorm. all you need is one of those old ahab rainhats and a wooden leg and you could be the next model for a morton salt box. you guys all look well and the rio luna seems to be standing up to some stiff challenges. i will keep checking the blog and sending comments and if i can figure out a way to post photos, i will do that too. sail on my good friends.
gil
Harlers,
Hello and I hope you are well. The last Blog entry I have in June 5. Are you still cruising? Is there anything new? I would love to hear.
I am looking foreard to your return one day and giving a full report to the Cruising Club.
Keith & Lynne Gannett
Hi,
Where are you guys these days? Your site hasn't been updated in quite a long time. Is there any chance we might see you in the near future at one of our Charleston Cruising Club meetings??
Regards,
Joel Arenson
Michael,
You and your family have broken the mold! Need a favor. You tuned up my Minolta Maxxum 7000 several years ago. Could you please give me the name and address of the Columbia or Georgia company that does repair work? My e-mail is graciegrits@aol.com and phone is 843-851-1516. Don't forget to visit the paradise of North Africa - Libya! That's a joke! Many thanks.
Jim Earney
150 Iron Road
Summerville, SC 29483
Sounds as though you are still having fun!! It was nice seeing you during your stop in Charleston and my only regret is that I wasn't able to catch your talk to the CCC. Keep those blobs coming as we are all interested in keeping up with your exploits!!
Joel
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