Still anchored in VIRGIN GORDA SOUND while the wind continues to howl, but at least the sun is out and we are not short of things to do ................. Around us more and more majestic yachts keep appearing ................ Many of whom are charter vessels doing the 'Caribbean in winter/Mediterranean in summer' trick ............. Their crews congregate at the SABA ROCK pub (above) ................ At least we think there's a rock beneath the structure barely feet above the water ..............
This classic beauty built in timber is the schooner "EROS" .................... Check out the crew member just behind the wheelhouse for a good size comparison.............
And then there's "SEACLOUD II" the sister ship to an even older fully-rigged charter vessel that we hope to see further in the Caribbean, which is reported to be the most expensive charter passage you can get in the World .............
Just double-click on this magnificent vessel to count the rigging lines and see the details and then think of the perpetual maintenance costs ............... "SEACLOUD II" is registered in Valletta, on the Mediterranean Island of MALTA with its Maltese Cross flag, as is the blue hulled yacht nearby ...............
But this black-hulled ketch "MANGELE" is the pride and joy of our dear friend Michael Beans, COMPOSER, SINGER, PERFORMER, MUSICIAN, PHILOSOPHER and PIRATE. The Man's a living walking stage show ............... A born artist "IN THE NOBLEST SENSE OF THE WORD" ................. Who also happens to have sunk his dinghy three days ago together with a new 20hp 4-stroke outboard motor................ This is where stark reality meets philosophy, and with the first of Michael's Pirate shows to begin in two hours at Leverick Bay Marina, it's up with the sails for Michael and Pamela and let's get there pronto "Me Hearrrrrties"............. Did I mention that their main engine failed to start ............ Things like that would get an ordinary man down ...............N'ARRRRGH for a 'Pirate'..........
By next morning, there's three of us with inflatables and scuba dive tanks to begin the search for one sunken dinghy in 50 feet of water ............ By the second day the result is still NAAARGH ........... But the Pirate crew have a new plan for DAY 3 ........ That's not to say that the site of the sunken dinghy was not marked........... Aye, that it was ...... There was a stout line attached to this lifejacket and thrown overboard into the water to mark the very spot............ It was just that the other end of that stout line was attached with a good knot to another line but it was not attached to the dinghy.............
What we mean is, it shouldn't be that hard to find this bright yellow dinghy in clear blue water ............... Well, maybe not that clear after the turbulence caused by the Christmas winds, for you can barely see your hand in front of your face down there, but look at the size of this alloy dinghy ............Taken when "Pirate Beans" was with us in Francis Bay, USVI ..............
BUT THE " HAPPY AAARRGH PIRATE SHOW " DID GO ON, AND TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY .................
WELL DAY THREE HAS COME AND GONE ................. The 'morning glory' flowers are in bloom ............. We wake up each morning, we hear the goats on the hillside bleating away ............... Never actually saw them until today, when we finally went ashore defeated ................... And today was no better on diving for that lost dinghy ........... It's gone for good and the water is too murky to continue .......
Captain ARND (below in the inflatable) on his beautiful yacht ZANSHIN, a Jeaneau 52, has provided his yacht for the last three days as the dive platform and today went down himself to aid in the search, all to no avail ............... Back in the office at Leverick Bay Resort, the Secretary Donna proudly displays the new posters for the "PIRATE SHOW" .............. The Pirate is 50 feet down and searching for his lost dinghy ............. He surfaces eventually with a shout and a " I have a new song".............. What a character ....... At least he found something down there ...........
And amidst all the diving we see the four masted "CLUB MED" cruise ship do a slow turn and raise its sails as it heads out of the sound on VIRGIN GORDA ................ Just as we will be doing tomorror on our way to the Island of St. Maartin .............
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