Still in the BVIs

We are in Soper's Hole, tied to a dock to access some power, water, and wifi, after 5 days on a mooring ball.  The marina guide advertised laundry and an ice cream shop also, but they were just kidding!  Today, we got out the sewing machine and did more repairs:  even fixed the dodger of our neighbor, who just arrived after a very difficult passage (10 days from Florida, on a 52 foot boat), and who had a rogue wave blow out the zipper on their brand new dodger. After recovering from their hangovers, their task for today was to find someone to fix this, and they would have been out of luck had Volver's sewing machine not been employed from the easily viewed cockpit, as there are very few boat services here!   They wanted to pay for this service but I'm not operating a business illegally from the marina!  We started but did not finish completion of a boom shade (thank you for the fabric John and Judy), which will help with shade and hopefully with ventilation, as it has been raining so much we've frequently had to close our hatches for the better part of many days. 

Soper's Hole facing south, daytime

We enjoyed the beautiful sunset here, while on the mooring ball.  

Sunset, Soper's Hole, BVI

Of note, please see the mangled block from our unintentional jibe, which the captain has hung from the arch, as a badge of honor, rather than as a badge of shame.  Perhaps it is a rememberance:  never again.  The first mate does not know:    why is it there, and what does it mean?   

After leaving Nanny Cay, we went to Norman Island, "the Bight," where there is good snorkelling. While there, the first mate got to climb the mast three times in 20 knot gusts!  We waited until the gusts slowed to a rate of every three minutes, from every one minute.  Technically speaking, she was hoisted, but this is hard work for the captain, so she tries to help.  There was mild fear at times and there is still significant bruising of the sternum, one thigh, and one shin, where she was shimmying to try and lessen the captains load!  And now we have new lazy jacks!  Then we went to Peter Island, another cute anchorage.  We took the ferry into Road Town and did another big provision.  Left our dinghy on the beach all day, tied to a tree.  We were hoping it would still be there when we got back with more groceries than planned, for it was far too far to swim to our boat!  Fortunately, the BVI are a pretty safe place:  hardly anyone locks up anything!

It looks less and less like we will make St. Martin by Christmas.  Fellow Salty Dogs Bill and Maureen from Kalunamoo visited today and gave us a synopsis of the latest weather update from Chris Parker.  He says this uncharacteristic weather has lasted for 6-8 weeks, and shows no signs of abating until December 23.  The winds continue to be straight from the east and seas are 8 feet, which would make for 24 hours of very unpleasant motoring.  Even though Christmas is not that big a deal for us, I'm not convinced I want to spend it beating to windward or searching for a place to stay.  I suspect there will be very little movement around that time.  So we can either "import" our boat to the BVIs (ie., pay them $200 if we stay longer than 30 days) or we can leave.  The advantage of staying would be to take the opportunity to join some fellow salty dogs in the Bitter End for the Holiday Festivities, and this departure point would give us a better point of sail than if we left from the USVI.

The plan. as of this minute, is to head to Jost Van Dyke tomorrow.  Party central there, but not much else.  Hopefully we can find a laundry!  Amazing how much time it takes to just live down here!  

BTW, the first mate was quite convinced she was the cat whisperer in Nanny Cay, when cats would follow her and nudge her for more cuddles, but it turns out that the cats are so loved and cared for, with shots and immunizations and food, that they are just suckers for a tummy rub.    Here is a tree cat, same thing in Soper's Hole.  All of them have names and can be picked up if you dare.

Soper's Hole Tree Cat, Pusser's Bar and Restaurant