Askari Sailing: September 2019

Some ramblings from last night's 'midnight adventures' in Spanish Water......

Normal service again today....

So it’s 11pm and I’m alone in charge of Askari - Andrew’s been gone since 9.30pm when the wind dropped enough after the storm to go and help the other boats.....

Two boats broke moorings and 4 or 5 dragged anchor tonight when a storm cell past over us in Spanish water, Curacao. We saw 38knots of wind from the south when all boats are anchored into prevailing east winds.

The boat next to us, a Bavaria, wedged itself in the front of a catamaran, the boat behind us ended up moored to the shore....(that’s where andrew is now securing that 60ft boat so it doesn’t drift back out into the anchorage when the wind changes).

We had the air con on and we’re enjoying a lovely New Zealand pinot noir with a movie when we heard the noise of the rigging all around us. Spanish water is always so calm and protected; so when Andrew popped his head out and found 30 plus knots blowing it was all a bit of a shock. He quickly grabbed off our sun covers while I started the engine and turned our nav lights on. We have an app the records our position on anchor. He grabbed that and a torch and we watched in horror as boats so near to us, left unattended, drifted, as we just pleaded for our rocna to hold tight. Then the radio started as other boats called to alert more danger. I didn't take my eyes off that anchor app for half an hour, calling out the distances

Andrew went to assist in moving the Bavaria with another dinghy. All I could see was lashing rain and the alarm on our hand held vhf going off - it doesn’t like being wet. Then eventually the boat moved away from the cat and alongside Calabuig. Next up the 60 footer on the shore... Andrew checked its long heavy mooring and found no end but we were then worried it could drift back out and collide with Askari or other yachts. Andrew asked me to report to the coastguard - I called in VhF 16 and followed up by phone 913 (they never attended).

Meanwhile a french aluminium yacht was also aground so Andrew and ‘the dinghies’ went to assist getting him free. The coast guard is also calling ships on the vhf. I think I’ll put the air con back on and enjoy the rest of that Pinot noir

Oh maybe some chocolate too

Reflecting on our wonderful 3 months in Bonaire - what was it about this small, dusty, windy island that has captured my heart???

The view from our mooring ball - $10 per night

Many people permanently living aboard a sailing boat sit out a winter in a marina or hide up a river during hurricane season. We have never done that, we generally opt to keep sailing in another direction or take some time out to do something different. The last two years we have been on the East Coast of the USA. We found it very stressful sailing back down the East Coast as hurricanes approached from the South and gales were starting to appear from the north. We weren't ready to rush into the Pacific at the end of the season and really didn't like the idea of hauling out Askari in the Caribbean - we've worked too hard to get her to leave her to fend for herself in a hurricane zone even if we could get insurance.

So the idea to stay in the Caribbean during hurricane season with her developed and Andrew did a lot of research on the path of storms. He then managed to persuade our Australian insurers to cover us in the South of Grenada, Bonaire, Curaco and Colombia to Panama. Andrew timed our arrival in Bonaire late June to coincide with when he thought hurricane season might start. We had planned to spend some time in the marina there and then if we got bored knew we could head to Curacao where there's a good haul out yard or alternatively to Colombia or Panama where there are also marinas or haul out options.

Dushi Bonaire

Bonaire was always a destination I wanted to return to from our first sailing trip but when immigration gave us approval to stay three months I never thought we would be looking to take advantage of every single day. The things we loved about Bonaire:

1) The weather - virtually no rain, mostly constant cooling wind 15-25knots from the East, and a few clouds most afternoons. Our teak deck has never looked so good. We might have used a bit of water for weekly boat washes but it's much better than having to constantly close hatches when squalls come through. One day the wind came from the south and swell from south west - not good but we just went to Klein Bonaire for the day - not too much of a drama.

At Klien Bonaire on 'Reversal' Day

2) The water - so very clear and with diving straight from the back of the boat in visibility often over 30 metres. The water temp was 28 to 29 C every day we were there. Flat calm mostly without swell and because we were moored so close to shore the boat hardly moved.

Calm day in the anchorage - wind a little to the South East

3) The people - the cruisers here were seriously adventurous and accomplished. Lots of folk that love hiking, backpacking, diving, windsurfing, kiting, etc. We met so many people during our time in Bonaire, both cruisers and people who are currently living on the island, that inspired us to look beyond our current dreams and stretch our horizons. We met more boat kids in 3 months than we met in 3 years and they create a lovely energy. Overall I think it was the people.....

Tjaart and Mariska over for sundowners

Beautiful Berber learned so much English we could chat away by the time they left Bonaire

Craig can actually play this weird didgeridoo

Just an afternoon stroll for Max, Sarah, Nael and baby Mia whose was born in Bonaire the week we arrived

Last night with the Fat Susan crew - off to explore the US but they'll be back

Esther made us real paella and shared her Scoby

Out out with the Fairy Queen's - Nicol and Ronald

4) The diving - Andrew logged 111 dives and I logged 95 in Bonaire. We dived over half the dive sites marked in Bonaire, including the East Coast and every site at Klein Bonaire. We did clean up dives, dived with other cruisers, I took part in international women dive day, Andrew took boat kids on their first qualified dive and a night dive plus so much more. I would say our buoyancy control is near perfect and we've learned lots about keeping our equipment going and improved our photography. Diving pictures on Instagram

Clean up dive - over 80 divers (we are at the back)

Women's Dive Day

Womens Dive Day

Women's Dive Day

Gerard & Louis First Dive - filmed by Andrew edited by me

Diving the East Coast with Craig

5) Social life - you can literally party every night in Bonaire. It might be small but there's lots going on, from cruiser pot lucks /happy hours, to formal wine tasting, to jam sessions to island cultural events. There's great restaurants, food trucks and a fabulous supermarket. There's also lots of opportunity to volunteer.

Sylvie & Veronique didn't approve of our french wine

Wine Tasting at La Terrazza

Wine tasting dinner

Taste of Bonaire night - each month, such a fun local event

Jam night at Woodstock Bar

Music by the fire at Delfins Resort

6) Sunsets - since we left Western Australia I don't think I have seen so many great sunsets, the wind always eases off and it's just perfect at sunset in Bonaire.