Slipped out of the midnight service...

Merry Christmas to all my great buddies and darling friends and precious family.
We arrived here in Bequia about three days ago.We sailed from The BVIs ,with Philippa for 48 hours and anchored in a beautiful harbor in Dominica for an overnight rest. Apparently we missed he lunar eclipse that night!OH brother and Ive even got the moon phase app on my ipad.
We did,however get this long begged for treat of spotting a whale the next morning and later that day,just before the sun set,we had the best play with a big pod of Dolphins. I tried so hard to invite them  telepathically many times before,finally they came.We have footage,in a chip,a chip that is too full to hold anymore and a computer that is also to engorged to accept it,I guess I have to trudge to the shop in town and get a disc made. Anyway,it was a thrill to lie up on the trampoline of the bow with the beautiful swimming mammals so close and so cute! It made me miss Sister and Charlotte.
We sailed into LowerBay around 7am.We started hopping and waving and shouting to a familiar house up on the hill,the house our friends Rose and Melanie and Tom stay in. Wed planned a reunion a year ago . We had come and stayed at a place called Keegans and met this adorable family and said,next year we'll be back but this time it will be on a boat. How far fetched is that? Finally,the kids swam over,walked up and left a note. Eventually we were greeted by the three swimming up to give us  blessed wet hugs. It is that moment when I realized the strange intangible nature of time, a year seems brief at that moment. Look again and examine what has happened in just a year and it is baffling.
The really great thing that is like a holiday within the "holiday"that really isnt a holiday....is, that we booked Keegans again so that the kids and Jay are staying on the dry, a sailing term I just made up,and David and I are on the boat. It is so beautiful,just  in the harbor and being out here with the sea and very warm wind,but ill tell you,the swell! Im slightly seasick just writing  and Im deliriously tired as I never seem to catch up with sleep.Last night David and I had a night to cook for ourselves,lobster,and the swell was massive,it was like the boss rollers we had at the end of our passage down from Virginia,which,I haven't properly described here on blog yet I do realize.
But,seriously,the swell was so big that David had to get up a thousand times last night to check the anchor.We do have an alarm on the GPS which did buzz a bit.In the morning it was evident that we did indeed move. The boats around us,many from Europe sailed with the Arc,(a rally much like The caribbean 1500) are monohulls and the light on top of each mast swung like a metronome.Today we wrapped the few presents,went for a good swim,David took dingy to town to shop and kids went on an adventurous trek to find the surf via a long walk down to the beach and a stop at the  turtle sanctuary with Melanie and Rose. I was finally about to launch into my blog when David arrived back exclaiming GOTTA GO...we had to shlep all dinner makings and breakfast fixings and presents into dingy,to town to dock and take a taxi back to Keegans all because of the large surf and impossibility of a safe and dry landing on the beach. The beach is but a swim away. We enjoyed gobs more lobster for dinner with brownies and custard for dessert with Tom Melanie Rose and thats when David Philippa and I walked back to town to hit the midnight church service in town and I was so exhausted and so hot we just had to bail early!Im sad we missed the carols . It was bizarre how the "heathen" bass club music was blaring its seductive energy next door and the church sadly lacking the vivacious vibe it surly should have at Christmas !!.What a contrast. Luckily the devil didn't draw me into dance as I was determined to write this and send alot of my missing you - love and to say, Christmas wishes good friends

Merry Christmas
I am really missing Jeremy this year,sad that Philippa has to leave early Dec 26 and happy to anticipate Mum and Dads visite very soon.

A Fine Marina Moment in December

I'm what you would call,"Christmas shopping" See the mall,a wooden dock rows of sailboats.Hear the halyards whistle a sound that is accentuated wind see the divers and "Boat Project Team " Boys,employed with aplomb.Up here, a raised boardwalk ,lovely shops for presents and if you feel nobody is looking, sneak in a new fresh sale item of clothing,perhaps and coffee as you may just be getting very sleepy.Last nights dinner for16( loads of help,dishes by John.. Divine desserts from Asteroid)was fun ,late and especially,in honor of John!
We love you dude
I like Christmas shopping when there are no expectations...well that ain't true but that's my mind mantra to keep the zen purchase flow or Ill unleash the ,"inner mall -sanitarium nut case."
Philippa left very early this am from Toronto via Grandma Sue and the 2/3 part of the flights was delayed and she sleeps in Miami tonight .She arrives here tomorrow.
Jay returned yesterday and how infectious to feel his excitement and energy as he told us what an adventure he had for the 5 days away. The best was St John a US Virgin Island that is mostly parkland.He rented a jeep,slept in it,hitchhiked,went to a church that's service was on the beach,early the next morning met the two girls who ran the church and had a full on yoga,hike,surf explore kind of power -day with them! He told us of an eco camp ground where you can stay for60$ a night in a hut with 360 degree view up on the hill,it has board walks to link the huts ,just like Swiss Family Robinson.
I wish we had time to go back their with Philippa but Id like to get off on the passage to Bequia

dingy getting hoisted,kayak lifted,hatches to be battened

just a second to go before Internet connection cut.We have been anchored one night,our usual length of stay .At Anegada, a flat island ,reef surrounded of the British Virgins.We enjoyed a beautiful sail here from Virgin Gorda where we frolicked in the baths,the name for a group of pretty, smooth, rounded limestone rocks that are huge all sitting like Earth Art on the beach.That was my favorite swim.Fun and a little scary too.I ached for a camera to capture the flow of the surf through the shape shifted rocks,challenging the Canadian shield Georgian Bay rocks to a beauty contest
The engine is starting.We're about to roll on to Jost Van Dyke to a bay with a bar called "One Love" . Ted is here! ,our first guest aboard,so great to have him here, so easy -going,fun spirited..he's actually is doing dishes as I cram to do the remiss writing wee bit before we set the sails.
We love the BVIs,trade winds good for sailing,plentiful bays for anchor.We took a sojourn to St Martin for about4 nights,enjoyed a dinner out,stores duty free, a rocking Pentecostal church with David,Jay and I,must tell you more about that!We met up with our grand friends aboard Asteroid at Anse Marsel on the French side on the north shore and sailed around back to the south Dutch town of Philipsberg with them.We had dinner on Asteroid,always a very fun delectable amusing and warm time
We left Jay to do his desired walk- about,big nap sac with tent et al, until we meet him at Nanny Cay Wednesday .There, we will welcome Philippa aboard for Christmas. Our plan is to sail down to Bequia,stopping where whim or weather has us.I'd love to see Martha who lives in Dominica .We are setting up for Grama Sue and Grampa Joe to meet us there on Dec28
Very much looking forward to our year long date with Melanie,Tom and Rose,Rose who's birthday is September 25th ,just like Grama Sues,

Rule62

This is how I feel. From the moment we heard on the call in radio while underway,That our good buddies Rule 62 had decided to veer off to The Bahamas I was soo disappointed,What!?! OH!? darn,I wonder why. I realy wanted to celebrate with them here,BVI. We didn't spend any time on the radio chatting,something we have since become more comfortable doing.later,it was explained,we could converse before the time where we each declare our coordinates.So,it wasn't until we were in Soppers hole,Monday night ,happily concluded,that I heard that Rule 62 had a "Man Overboard"
What!?! It drove me crazy.I guess I could have asked on the radio? It was after2am and we were beat,8 days of surreal water travel.I actually took a sleeping pill and went to bed,still at last.
We arrived here at Nanny Cay. I was quite consumed with the shadow of this subterfuge .We celebrated the arrival of Asteroid,Moonshadow. We had mechanics come for the generator and declare more attention needed with a hoist out of the water,a date set.We did lots of launder. We met Jay! I went swimming in the ocean everyday and it was there in that big salty water that my thoughts always returned to Rule62, Debbie,Richard and Laura who I had met. It was hard to be fully victorious feeling the unknown but known of their nightmare .The ultimate fear of every sailor. They were very much with all of us there in party zone ,a tent set up on the beach ,a gathering to recognize each boat with a silver plate.We cheered as the last boat sailed in.We ate and drank hungrily,land ho!We did it hesitantly,with subconscious reserve.

What Day is it?No Land In Sight

It was a damn good thing for mind play to have been forced to wait back there in Virginia.
Not so for the crew people who chose to come ,took time off work all with the assumption of a certain time frame.
Personally,the day we arrived in Hampton from Oyster bay via City island,I was not excited.I felt dread,only if I was swimming down could I imagine this to be my challenge,accomplishment.The Caribbean 1500 group we joined to convoy south with held the reigns,we were waiting .They had a schedule ,talks,happy hours and a pre passage dinner.My ears perked up at the womans forum hearing a number of wives were flying ahead....being too competitive,not wanting to miss out and to set an example for daughter,Olivia,I took on the job as chief ships stores packer and cook..So,after 10 days of husband being the general contractor with all systems in dire need(to be tweaked,spent money upon ,help hired parts ordered etc) ,tools spread everywhere and chorus of,"WHERE IS..."...incessant,(boy that was a test)sons,crew Mark and his good friend Betsey, hovering dutifully,no attitude anywhere near the surface, team work.
Then there was the neighbors,new friends found readily in a common world.King Neptune's subjects.

Fenced in,on a dock or Entrapment by Tomas

OK We are here,waiting and there is nothing we can do to change that.
We were scheduled to depart with the Caribbean 1500 on Monday.Then Tomas made himself a nuisance .We were grateful as we still had many last minuit preparations.David is list-man and both crew:Jeremy and Mark arrived aboard on Saturday.
Mark Shapiro came with his friend Betsy McMahan,his dance partner actually.They both live in Baltimore and she was sweet enough to give him a lift down drive here where her parents have a place.
That night we decided to celebrate again the wonderful birth of Joey,17.We went to a Japanese Fusion restaurant and sat at a hibachi table.Very fun,something new for us. We piled, frat style into Betsys Toyota convertible back to the Marine Yard.
The days have been a whirl of lists and delegated jobs and lots of money spent and rides begged and given and received with gratitude and money spent again and shopping lists again.
The first day I attended a forum for the woman folk.I was embolden by the knowledge that a handful were actually flying and meeting the boats in the Caribbean.It was reassuring,as it always is to hear the mirror of your very own fears and triggers and loneliness.
Best of all is making friends.Being in a community is so very comforting.Us,We,four, have been extremely c l o s e . We are all embracing the safe and warm family tree of cruiser kin
In fact I should be hunting them down right now.There is Debbie and Richard aboard'Rule 162',so zen and generous and inviting,Olivia wants to live with them.Monday,I filmed Debbie cutting Olivias hair beautifully In a butterfly cape.
Halloween was the night that was supposed to be our last night.They had a dinner,under the tent.Betsy had rescued Olivia and I from Cosco.I was instanced after paying 26$ for a taxi ride there t find I had to pay50$ to join and they didn't even take visa!!! grrrrrrrrr ,AND! It was dumb I went there,it's far to bulk, all on some frequency my brain picked up at the meeting.Brain computed:MUST GO COSCO.Damn brain! So, we were late for the dinner,that's OK ,I couldn't wait to utilize the fine litter of wigs we've collected on board.Joeys new buddy John,a Connecticut boy who is crewing on Asteroid,a stunning 68 ft cutter . He joined the dress up play.We got wigged,set out.Back at the boat with new friends Paul and Monica aboard,Moonshadow.Joey trade costumes tithe Fat Bastard and did a gut splitting Scottish accent.We have pictures,just don't know how to mount on this blog with this iPad.Jeremy was a Canadian,"hoser "with the mullet and denim shirt.Funny and very interesting observing his depleted public respect.You just felt like you were talking to a Canadian beer boozed idiot.Oh ,the powers of a wig and conversely,the powers of attraction!So interesting.
Last night,again,late home from shopping(returns),we'd been doing a sailing drill in the morning,we went to the cocktail hour with our collaborated creation for the appetizer competition:
Crackers w
Goat cheese,honey flavor
Hot chilly peppers
Pomegranate seeds
very good
We finally met up with Loretto and. Brian aboard Asteroid.They are Irish,with a home in England and 5 children,3aboard.We had a fine chat,relating on many levels to the new experience .They invited us over and we enjoyed a grand visit."Grand "I think they might have tired a bit of my superlative love of all things IRISH.They also have a pup on board,BONO.Darling.I'm so grateful and excited to have new friends to meet ,sail away from ,sail around with.
Looks like Jeremy John Joey and Olivia have gone in Emilys car to shop,back for vitals and bowling ?movies?We have another sailors party,not in the tent tonight,at a bar with a band.Olivia can wear her Tommy H boots ,if she comes with....

It's rainy cold,and Im in my bunk under cozy covers.

"calm ,(in a storm,) before the storm"

We invited the taxi,stuffed some bills into our childrens hand and ,they went,off to the movies in the town Riogrande,across a couple of bridges-passed alot of the marchy glades,not the only Florida similarity.A lot of closed for season pastel colored motels with black sedans parked outside and,across the bridge, a lot of docked Marlin fishing boats and kept gardens and new peopleless condos.
It's raining with lightning tonight.Just right to hunker down,drink guiness,light candles,listen to birthday tunes*,and write our big list for tomorrow.
We arrived here in Cape May a week ago,incredulous I am at the warp of time.
We came from OysterBay NY.We had a sweet evening sail that first night to city island-wee spot ,just off of the bronx. We gimped along as our starboard engine wouldn't go into gear. The mechanic at The Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club guessed it long before the confirmed diagnosis once we had hauled out. It was not the transmission,it's oil,it was the prop.The hub. We came here ,leaving wooden ship building City Island before sunrise .This was the closest marina that could handle the hoist up and out.We are on blocks in a boat yard.It's wet and the Shelly gravel from the ground has creeped up onto our home. We fulfilled our prop tasks-shipped out to Balimore,fixed with a weekend to wait in-between
David took the opportunity to dig deeper.The ol hornets nest,well not really ,but - you unveil a web of fiddly jobs ;parts needed,improvements and renewal..David and Joey got into it!! It's like an amusement park for them.
Olivia got really interested in nail art and face masks and hair treatments,all homemade. I fester over my loss of control and work hard on the balance between surrender and throwing in the towel or some such tantrum. Today ,I prepared to send my bike home.
I went to town to cash travelers checks,I spent a long time choosing the very right 5$ T shirt.
I eat a lot of ice-cream and Ginger candies.
So, tomorrow is the day we plunge back into the medium we are meant to inhabit. We'll get up early,stow the books,computers,hose the decks of grit,pump out the holding tank(rank), fill up the water tanks. We'll sail 120 miles directly to Norfolk in around twenty -four hours.
We all look forward to having Jeremy aboard ,we'll have a proper birthday dinner for Joey on Saturday night.We anticipate and welcome meeting our one blind date crew .That makes six of us for the 1500 miles.
We have joined "the Caribbean1500" a rally that has practiced this migration south for the past20 years . There are 80 boats that make the fleet.This family of four needs a mixer,an
extension cord.They'll get us pumped,feeling secure and part of a collective,like the Canadian geese in their fine V formation.