Navigating The Islands

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We hung out around the marina in Providenciales for a couple more days, hoping to catch a change in the weather. Not that the weather has been bad—it’s just been consistently blowing. A lot of the anchorages around the islands here are really exposed and not a lot of fun in a swell. We were also debating whether we’d stick around for long because of the three-hundred dollar fee for staying longer than a week. It’s one thing if you’re staying a month, but another entirely if you’re staying ten days. Anyway, in the end, the weather decided for us. We’ll be bouncing around the Turks and Caicos for a while.

Long Bay—pretty, but too windy to enjoy anything other than kiting.

Back around to Sapodilla Bay again.

Thursday night fish fry in Provo.

The captain gathered up a centerpiece for his mama.

After a week in the marina we were desperate to leave. The pilot boat led us out through the reefs again, and dropped us off in deep water.

Fort building underway.

This one did not work.

Along the west side of Provo there is a string of dive boat moorings in about 30 feet of water. Another fifty feet behind the boat “The Crack” dropped straight down to a few hundred.

Continuing on around to the south side of the island we cruised between the reefs at Wiley Point Cut. Always a little nerve-wracking going through reef passes, but a bit of swell actually makes it easier. Waves on each side mark it out pretty clearly.

Of course, once through the cut in the reef there is this to contend with. Despite appearances, it was all plenty deep for our 4′ 2″ draft.

Sapodilla Bay yet again, but this time with our home.

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18 Comments on “Navigating The Islands”

    1. Thanks, Peter. Always funny to think that we are “living the life” when we are doing “without” so much than normal families.

  1. Hey Bums!

    I finally bought a boat for $200 on Tuesday, 24 APR 2018 through a very unusual combination of events.

    It is a regular “Navy Sea Story” in that it consists of at least 60% sober fact, another 60% to 80% exaggeration for effect, and perhaps 120% out right fiction. I’ll save this intricate yarn for the next time we meet.

    Readers’ Digest sober fact version:

    I paid $200 for a vintage sailboat that the previous owner had spent $35,000+ on upgrading her.

    I did not know of the existence of this boat not had I met her owner when I donated the $13,000.

    I donated the money to help get Schooner Bill of Rights through her biennial haulout so she can go back to sailing Wounded Warriors and children.

    As a result, I was offered a 1971 fiberglass sailboat in “as is” condition by another member of the South Bayfront Sailing Association (SBFSA); the not for profit charity that owns and operates the schooner.

    Her (Thin Edge) outer hull is pristine. Her exterior cabin is a wreck. Her mast, spreaders, and metal rigging are new. Her engine was replaced with a rebuilt one.

  2. I love following the blog and love the boat. I want to do this some day too maybe around Indonesia surfing… 🙂

  3. Looks like the kids have color in their skin now. The U.S. sun block does not work as well as your Mexico one 🙁

    1. Yeah, we had to make a run for it, as the place we were at was pretty exposed. We’re hunkered down now. Not looking forward to the wet, windy, weekend.

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