February 5th, 2018
Turks and Caicos
Made it to the Turks and Caicos islands which are stunning with the most amazing water and in turn swimming.
I was being eyed up by a big Barracuda which was a bit unsettling as he wasn't at all scared of me when I swam towards him. In fact he went from side on to pointing straight at me which I have since heard is a sign of eminent attack. The locals are more frightened of them than sharks so it was an interesting encounter. Fortunately I had my unique counter measures on my side in that a 'Fat old Cornishman ' doesn't look that appetising!
We arrived in Cockburn Harbour on the east side of the Islands after a three night sail from the BVI's. Good easy sailing but a bit lacking on the sleep stakes as there are a lot of banks and reefs in that area. I saw a huge Humpback whale breach in the near distance with a mighty splash as it came back down. This area is also littered, literally, with cruise ships of gargantuan size. One had a massive outdoor film screen so I had a few minutes of some action film though the binoculars.
The Turks and Caicos Island water is the clearest water I have ever seen with every hue of blue as the sand banks below wax and wane in depth. The odd area of seagrass bringing dark patches of contrast and coral heads look like billiard balls in random place after the first break. I say billiard balls for the main feature of the Island is a forty mile bank of sand which fills the gap between the east and west islands at a depth of about two and a half meters.
We crossed it yesterday to make landfall at Providentcials after one of the best sails we have had so far. Once we had felt our way through the coral heads to the clear part of the bank a lively wind saw us making 6-7knts in flat sea's. The water so clear it felt as if we were low level flying as we dodged the odd corral head. We sat on the coach roof in the shade of the mainsail drinking tea as this magic carpet rolled out underneath us, it was just amazing.
After dropping anchor we hit the beach, literally, and found ourselves a nice little restaurant to top the day off with my first 'Surf n Turf'. Good food, a lovely view over the nature reserve and excellent company in the form of JP and Joan. We met in Spanish Town on the BVI's and have been loosely sailing in company ever since and they are a joy.
February 5th, 2018
Goodbye BVI's
February 5th, 2018
The Bath's
February 5th, 2018
Paradise
February 5th, 2018
Its still paradise
A short taxi ride in an open truck and we were able to enjoy the 'Baths', an amazing area made up of huge boulders, tropical beaches and blue sea's.
February 5th, 2018
Where do you start to untangle this lot
February 5th, 2018
Hurricane
The BVI's have been an humbling experience with a full cross section of sights and emotions. On the one hand we are in paradise, and it really is paradise. On the other we have witnessed utter destruction where a community has lost everything. What is humbling is the quiet dignity and fortitude of the people. Amidst the devastation they shine through and this is captured by the children going to school in immaculate uniforms, their head held high and a bright 'Hi' as we pass them. This place will triumph and if you want to help come here on holiday for its your business that will give this community oxygen.
The catamaran upside-down in the picture started off on the hard on the other side of the basin!!
February 5th, 2018
New friends
The blue boat is the 'Isle de France' which is crewed by the lovely French Canadian couple Jean-Pierre and Joanne. We have spent a couple of evening with them, the first on 'Pearl' and the second a lovely meal on 'Isle de France'. The people we have been meeting along the way have been both a pleasure and an inspiration.
