Underway (again)....

We left the Caicos Islands at 9 AM heading for Luperion in the Dominican Republic. We had to wait for 9 AM so we would have sufficient sunlight over the banks to spot the reefs, rocks and coral heads lurking just below the surface. Remember, NOTHING is marked in the islands....no bouys, no nav aids, no nothing....so, it is all eyeball navigation. If it is dark, you go around it (sort of like eating rice pudding in the school cafeteria). Some of the rocks and coral heads are very close together, (often 25') so you have to thread the keel between them.

We sailed south from Sappodilla Bay 15 to French Cay; a tiny, uninhabited island which sits on the edge of the banks. At French Cay the water drops from 12 feet deep to 3000+ feet in a matter of a boat length or so. There is a distinct line of color change in the water marking the drop off. On one side of the line the water is turquoise and the other cobalt blue. So, out came the trusty fishing pole at the drop off, to see if we can haul out dinner.

Perfect day for sailing...sunny, with a light breeze (10-14 kts) from the northeast. Persephone loves playing in the ocean, galloping along at 6.5-6.8 kts....As for the crew, we are getting more accustomed to over night passages in the ocean. If the wind speed and direction holds, we will be off of the DR by morning. We are watching our speed, as we don't want to arrive too early; as we can't enter Luperon until well after sunup, again so we can see the outlying reefs. (Usually, we are trying to make the best time possible, today we don't want to sail too fast and arrive too early !!)

All is well aboard, with everything functioning perfectly. Knock on wood it stays that way...

Our position at 12:10 is 21 266N 072 11.66 W Or 3.5 miles south of French Cay (18 kn miles south of Provo).

More later.....THE CREW)