Off to a Cayman holiday

Checking out of Jamiaca was easy and interesting. As it turns out at least 6 boats were leaving the marina the same day so they had to process 6 clearances at the same time. Obviously, something they were not used to. We had to carefully manage our Jamaican money so we had enough to clear everything but not too much that we would be stuck with since . We made one last visit to the market to buy some fresh fruit for the trip and we bought a jerk chicken from the Jamdung Jerk Restaurant down by the market to eat on the trip to Cayman Brac.

Port Antonio to port as we head west.

We were very happy with the cost of the marina for the 3 weeks we were there. The daily rate per foot was less than $40/night. But the real surprise was the electric cost. We were plugged in using power for all our appliances and heating water. Additionally, we ran the air conditioning each evening to cool off the boat. Unless it was a mistake our electric bill was $16 for 3 weeks. Our total marina bill for the 3 weeks was less than $ 1200. Imagine getting a resort vacation in Jamaica for $400 a week! Additionally, the food, beer and everything was reasonably priced.  The last day I got a haircut for J$1000 or $8 US.

The marina was well protected from wind, wake and swells. I would recommend it to anyone as a great place to stay to visit Jamaica. The only issue is it is a long way to other towns but with all the great things in Port Antonio and Portland Parish it makes the tourist towns seem irrelevant.

So with sadness about leaving Port Antonio we got underway at first light about 0530 with great hopes for a smooth passage and the next few weeks in the Cayman Islands. Next stop, Cayman Brac.

From the forecasts we expected light winds from behind us with waves less than a meter and a favorable current. But as we made our way out of the Bay we seemed to be running into an opposing current but the winds were filling in from behind. It looked like storms to the east and fortunately we weren’t going that way.

Looking at the Blue Mountains with clouds around them.

Puzzled by the lack of current and even an opposing current I checked the tides at Georgetown and found that the high tide was at 0600 with a high low tide about 1000 with a low high tide about 1400 with a low low tide about 2000. So it looked like we might be facing an opposing tide until about 2000. To overcome the opposing current we pulled out the jib to see if it could give us a lift. It did. We were running high 4’s to high 6’s and with the sail out we moved up to upper 5’s to high 7 knot range. When the current slacked we actually picked up speed to the low 6’s to the upper 8’s.

About noon the wind filled in and we went to all sail. We were able to sail in the low 6’s to the mid 8’s until about dark. Then the wind died and we pulled in the main but using the jib we were able to keep speed using the engine. But as predicted the current changed and we added speed. Our average speed increased and for the next 8 hours we were able to sail between 7-9kts knocking out the miles. Just about sunrise the wind died further and we pulled in the jib.

Sailing into the sunset.

For the remainder of the trip we simply motored running about 7 kts. The apparent wind ranged about 1-2 kts. We made it to Cayman Brac about 1130 and ate a light lunch before landing with Cayman Customs and Immigration at 1300.

Sunrise after a quiet night.

Approaching the Brac.

In-processing in the Caymans was fairly simple. The agents were helpful and friendly welcoming us to the Caymans they explained the process and gave us good advice about where to anchor and things to do on the Brac.

Seems that in this weather pattern a nice sea breeze builds in the afternoon so we were able to sail from our mooring at the Creek wharf where we checked in to a mooring at Scott Bay where we planned to conduct our Cayman Brac adventure.

Downwind sail behind the Brac.

We dinghied down to a very nice jetty where we were able to tie the dinghy and walked over to the Marketplace and got a Digicell Sim Card for the Caymans and bought a few fresh items until the supply barge comes in on Saturday. We dinghied back to the boat to celebrate our arrival in the Caymans and catch-up on our sleep.

Friday we visited the ATM and got some Cayman cash, reserved a rental car for Saturday and made dive plans for Sunday. We then snorkeled the coral heads right around our mooring. Our mooring is in about 30 feet of water and the coral heads grow off the bottom like Christmas trees up to within 10 feet of the surface. The clarity of the water offers spectacular visibility to the reefs, the fish and underwater topography. We dinghied down to the wreck of the M/V Tibbetts which is an old Soviet frigate sunk in about 50-100 feet of water that has turned into a reef. A very great underwater visual.

We picked up out rental car before closing and drove around the island stopping for dinner at the Captain’s Table to enjoy their Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Amekaya from the jetty.

Looks like a good place to go to college.

Finally. Could not find this in the Bahamas or Jamaica.

Nice to be back in what seems like a First World island after months of living in the third world. Well, at least until we really get into the real Third World. So far it seems like the island is a lot like the Bahamas but still rustic. Prices are close to the Bahamas which is painful after Jamaica and there is no produce but the scenery is beautiful.

For years I’ve heard about the great diving and scenery in the little Caymans and now we’re here to see it. Then off to Grand Cayman and at the end of this month on to Guatemala for our summer.

Looking at the dive boats in Sesinger Bay as the sunsets.