Back to the Boat and Cruising

With the New Year over, we flew back to the Virgins to put Frolic back in the water and start cruising again. We really worked hard for 5 days to get the boat ready for the water. There were many jobs to be done. We started with bleeding the fuel lines of the engines and starting them. This was made difficult by the start batteries being down to 9V. The house batteries were great as the solar panels kept them charged so I had to jump the house to the start batteries. Once started Carl put in the impellers and ran salt water into the strainer and started them again. This reveled to us that  the starboard engine fuel filter needed a new gasket and a new start relay. With those engines set Carl put fuel in the generator and got it started so we could run the battery charger for the batteries. Then he tried to pull the start cord on the outboard. It didn’t move so it went to the mechanic who was able to put a wrench on it and free it up and it ran. We also spent a day washing the decks as they were gray with soot and dirt. One washing would not be enough. Other equipment was tested and made ready and the dinghy inflated, patched, and put on the davits so the day before launching, when our friend Diane arrived we were ready for shopping and provisioning.

Jumbies at Leverick Bay

Lelsie and Diane at Leverick Bay

We launched, checked the thru hulls and bilges and all was dry so we motored into a 20 kt. wind to North Sound to put up sails and wash the deck again off Prickly Island. As we were going through Mosquito cut into North Sound Leslie checked the starboard bilge and the call came up, ”Carl there is water in the Starboard bilge!” Carl went down to check and it did as did the port bilge! This was nerve wracking as this is a very narrow, shallow channel. However we slide over the bar and once on a mooring Carl found the starboard bilge wasn’t water but fuel, but he couldn’t find the source! The Port side engine exhaust elbow had sprung a leak so that was the source of that water. We cleaned up the bilges and hanked on the sails, put up the deck hardware, washed the decks, and went for a swim. The next day we went onto the dock at Leverick resort and washed the decks again, this time with fresh water, filled the water tanks, got gas for the dinghy and put up the bimini and lights. 

Dancing at the Jumbies

Diane and Leslie with the Jumbies

Then it was time to relax! Massages one day, a pig roast, a Jumbies party, lunch at the Fat Virgin and swim and drinks at Bitter End and Saba Rock. Now we were ready to sail!

Jumbies dive into the pool

He survived the dive

Coopers Island Resort

The resort has been remodeled
and is very upscale

We left North Sound headed for the US Virgins, but stopped at Cooper Island, and Norman’s Cay.  Both have done much renovation and have up scaled. 

Real time video watching the reef
at Coopers Island

Leslie and Diane relax off the boat
eating ice cream, which was $15 off
Deliverance

Deliverance delivers food and drinks
to the boaters

Normans has added a new building

Tom and Lena and “the boy” are back on Normans as the manager, so good to see them after a few year hiatus.  Now Willie T’s is still the same and as much fun as ever.

Normans remodeled resturant

Drinks at Normans

Sunset from Normans Beach

Willie Ts is still at the Bight 

customers at Willie Ts

Diane overlooks the Willie T dock

A swim through at the Indians

Diane snorkeling at the Indians

We did a stop at the Indians for snorkeling on our way to Sopers Hole for checkout and lunch at Pusser’s.

Puffer fish hides under coral

We enter Sopers Hole 

Lunch at Pussers

sucker fish under the boat at Maho

Leslie reads at Maho

We checked in at St. John and spent a night at Maho Bay and Caneel Bay so we could shop at Cruz Bay and have drinks at Dave’s Driftwood, and Woodys. We also had dinner at Morgan’s Mangrove and ran into Bobbie! Bobbie was with us on the delivery of Midnight Rambler to Florida! It was good to see him and catch up!

The Pizza boat at Christmas Cove

Carl brings home the Pizza

On our way to Water Island Honeymoon Beach we stopped at Christmas Cove and visited the St. Thomas Yacht Club and had Pizza from a Pizza boat in Christmas Cove!

Sunset

Honeymoon Beach at Dinghys

Carl got fresh at Dinghys

The Dinghy Beach Bar in Honeymoon has a revised look with newly painted restrooms and new menu, but the same fun and friendly atmosphere.

Diane and Lelsie at Jenns Cafe

New paint on Honeymoon Rest rooms

Honeymoon Beach

Cruise ship goes out past Honeymoon

Diane left us and it was time to get the parts needed to put in a new electric winch for the main sail and install a new high pressure pump for the water maker, but now we are back into the cruising life so there is no rush, except the week of angst trying to contort to put in the power winch.  Amazing how small spaces are when you are trying to run wires and screw in 30lb motors!