We've hung about in Fajardo, Sunbay Marina, for several weeks recovering from our conquest of the Bonaire-Puerto Rico passage: actually the Panama-Puerto Rico passage. We sent the dingy off to have the unfindable air leaks found and repaired; the outboard out for a rehab check, service, and repair the reverse drive; replace the lazy jacks, reef lines, main sail sheet and halyards; new DriDeck for the cockpit sole; recover the helm seat and the dingy seat; replace the BBQ; new anchor chain (3/8" BBB); and new blocks for the main sail. Yipes, a small fortune along with the slip fees. Repair of the outboard moves slowly as the plastic sprocket on the cam shaft was broken in its transfer to the shop and had to be ordered from Wisconsin. The Grand boys, Dalton and Parker, joined us after having flown unaccompanied from Orlando, and we set sail for Culebra using the engines: once again into the wind. We got on our mooring which we bought without any hassles and tucked in for the night. Next morning, August 12, we motor/sailed (Holly Cow, down wind) to Melonis beach for a good snorkel, and then, yup up wind again, to Culabrita which is off the NE shore of Culebra where we anchored for the night. The boys fished after dark catching a yellow tail and a shark which we sent back to the shallows. Next morning we came around to the inner bay on the starboard engine (the port wouldn't turnover and start) and took a DRNA mooring. The boys went ashore and hiked over to the Jacuzzi (a rock pool next to the exposed side of the island) to reacquaint themselves with their prior experience. After a rolley night, we one-engine motored back to our mooring where I took the starter out to see what was wrong: it wouldn't even jump-start and the battery was fine. Turns out the bearings were defective allowing the commutator to wobble and scrape the wiring to the point of breaking one of the connections. Bummer!!! Another part to replace!
We have been making water because the free water from Sunbay was tainted by the rotting sargassum weed which is piling up on the shore at Fajardo. Apparently it's smell has permeated the aquifer where they pump their water from: pee-you! We're back up to over half full using sun power as we await the arrival of hurricane Danny slated for a direct hit sometime Monday, August 24th. But, he keeps changing direction, speed, intensity, size, everything. Maybe Sunday night we'll have enough accurate info to make a decision on whether or not to vacate the mooring ball for the mangroves. We can't evacuate to Jobos, near Salinas on the S side of PR, because we need to get back to Sunbay Marina next week for our trip back to Florida and Australia. We also have to pick-up our new supplies from West Marine and install them.
Yes, Australia. On the 14th we're off to the Great Barrier Reef and our cruiser friends Derrick and AnnMarie on Sand Gropper. We plan to be away for four months, spending New Years with them in Sidney harbor. We're leaving Kuhela in Sunbay Marina where we hope she'll be safe. In October our Canadian ex-cruiser friends, Steve and Lorry Clark, will come and stay aboard as Steve convelesses from surgery. We'll be joined for a week by Rob and Lauren Dehaan of Southern Comfort which is at Puerto Lindo's new marina where we started back from Panama to PR from in December. They are flying out, too, 'cause Rob's sister is dying of cancer. We've been having withdrawal anxieties after nearly six years of sailing together. We'll layover in FL for annual doctor appointments, visitations with Linda's Mom, Millie, and general howdy-do with all our friends and family 'till the 14th.
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