2026-03-21 Moved on to St. Thomas, company arrives

We hung out in Culebra waiting on mail to arrive.   We had new credit cards, some miscellaneous parts for the engine, a new temperature gauge for the engine instrument panel, and most importantly our boat documentation which was set to expire next month.   All of these got shipped to our son Derek, and he packaged it all up and shipped it to the Culebra post office - general delivery.

Large mural in Culebra

Did some walking around town in Culebra

Of course, we had to have Zaco's Taco's one night

The United States Post Office in Culebra

Our mail came in on Monday, but winds were not favorable to move east, with 20 plus knot winds out of the east.   We moved from the town anchorage, up to the quieter and calmer anchorage Dakity for the next two days, before motor sailing to St. Thomas on Thursday.    

Approaching from the west we pass by one cruise ship dock

Another cruise ship dock in the main harbor in Charlotte Amalie

We got in early enough to head to town for lunch and to pick up groceries, then back to the boat in the lumpy anchorage, with winds from the SE, there was quite a roll coming into the anchorage, plus wind chop.   

Friday we took the bus up to the Cost U Less grocery store, and stocked up on food, then back to the boat. Did not do much, as the anchorage was still very lumpy.   

There are some very large private yachts here - always fun to look at.

Passed this yacht while going to the dinghy dock.  Yes, in the side of the yacht is an opening to store the "dinghy"   An inflatable that is probably close to 35' long.

Huge overhanging bow on the boat.   There is a helipad up top.

Saturday our niece Lindsey and her friend Zach came in the morning, and we immediately headed out to St. John, as the anchorage in Charlotte Amalie was ever lumpier than before.   

Had a nice sail to St. John, and got a mooring in Watermelon Bay.  Dean made goodies on the sail over

Homemade cinnamon rolls and bread

We will hang out in St. John until Lindsey and Zach have to fly out, then back to St. Thomas to take them to the airport.

2026-03-08 Trip to San Juan, lumpy seas, and manatees

Sunday and Monday were boat days.  Kris did some more work on wood refinishing, and on Monday took an old temperature sender out of the port engine in prep for our shopping trip coming up.

Tuesday we picked a car up at the Marina at 9:00, and then headed north to Old San Juan.  Found parking after a bit of drive around in Old San Juan, and then enjoyed a few hours of walking the town, having a nice lunch out, looking at sites, and touring Castillo San Cristobal.  The Castillo is considered the largest fortress built in the Americas.  It has 3 levels and numerous tunnels.

Here are a few photos of the day.

Some street were jammed packed with cars and tourists, and others were quite peaceful

Inside Cathedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista

A house burned down, and the land donated to make a small park

Many roads have these blue cobblestones

San Juan harbor

Castillo San Felipe del Morro

Capilla del Cementerio Santa María

One of the streets of Old San Juan

Floor tiles in the Castillo

Very thick walls and shuttered windows in the Castillo

View from upper level of Castillo San Cristobal

Tunnel in the Castillo

Just wandering around - one of the many streets

On our way back south we stopped in Caguas, at the Home Depot, and got some items, and next door to the Home Depot was a Cold Stone Creamery.   Haven’t had one of their ice creams in many years, so of course had to have some.  It was quite yummy.

Yummy Ice Cream

Finished the day at Advance Auto Parts, picking up a spare diesel jug - which we have never had, and 6 gallons of Rotella oil for the engine and sail drives.

Long day, but enjoyable.

Wednesday we headed back into town, and picked up our Amazon packages, then to another Home Depot, Walmart and grocery store.   The little rental car was packed.   Then we took two trips with the dinghy to the boat to unload it all.   Back on the boat it took a while to put everything away, and some relaxation was in order.

Thursday Dean started to make bread and pizza dough, and realized we had very little sugar.  So it was back to town, this time walking to the close by store to buy some sugar.   Stopped at Wendy's for lunch, and surprise, the tree now decorated for Easter.

They are really getting a lot of use out of this tree.

The weather has not been conducive to heading east at all, with strong east winds and short period steep waves for the last few days.  Looking at the weather, it was going to be another week at least before the waves and wind abated, so we decided to tough it out for one long night and motor east in unpleasant conditions.    And they were unpleasant.   We left at midnight giving the wind a chance to die down, and the first 3 hours were OK, with lighter winds around 10 knots.  We were able to motor at about 4 knots, which made the speed just right for riding up and down the swells, without crashing into them.  Then it got worse.  The seas became more confused and the seas steeper, so then we were at about 2.5 knots to keep the motion bearable, and minimize wave crashing and pounding on the boat.   We made it into Roosevelt Roads anchorage on the east coast of Puerto Rico on Friday around 2:00.  44 miles in 13.5 hours.  That's an average of 3.26 knots.   Not our best night ever.

Had one storm with 35 knots winds and dumping rain

After we got in, cleaned the salt off the deck and tidied up, we had an early pizza dinner, and went to bed early.

Saturday Kris got busy and decided to clean the over and stove top with some oven cleaner.  Also started laundry.   Heard a funny noise from the stern of the boat, and she went out to look, and thought a rubber fender was bouncing against the boat, then did a double take - that was not a fender.  

A large manatee was hanging onto the boat.

We think that it was eating the slime off the bottom of the boat.  We watched and enjoyed and talked to it for about the 15 minutes it continued to "graze" off the hull.

Enjoy the photos

At first, we were a bit nervous about damage to the boat, but since he was just resting mostly one flipper to hold position, no damage done.   Didn't seem bothered by us at all being close and talking and taking photos.  Quite a unique experience.

Later in the afternoon a local sailing club headed out for racing, and lessons on small Thistle sailboats.  Fun to watch.

Most the sailors were kids - maybe 12 to 15 years old.

The larger boats headed further out for racing, but the kids stayed closer to the anchorage area where the waves were milder.

We will stay here a few more days waiting on better weather to head east to Culebra.  Or we could run out of patience and do another lumpy night to get there as it is only 24 miles.   We will see.

2026-03-01 Boqueron and Salinas

On Sunday we left Puerto Real, and motored the short 5 miles to Boquerón.   In the evening we headed into town, to wander around, and met up with Harmonioum and Shally for a nice dinner out.    Boquerón is a local weekend party and vacation town, so the music was loud, lots of it, and lots of folks out enjoying their weekend.

Charm anchored in background right

Lot of vendors and small food stands along the roads

Narrow busy streets with folks enjoying the weekend

Karaoke done in the street at the bar/restaurant

Just a nice bug

A mural we had not seen before when in Boquerón last time

Night falls, and the lights come on and the music gets louder

Monday was a relaxing day, some odd jobs around the boat, cleaning, laundry, the usual.  Monday night around 5:00 we headed out and motored the 60 miles overnight to Salinas.   The wind dies at night close to shore, so it is the best time to head east.   It wasn't a bad trip, a bit lumpy, but we made good time, enough we had to slow up to come into Salinas after the sun rose.   Harmonium and Shally made the trip as well.

Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

Tuesday afternoon Dean felt like having a cheeseburger, so we walked into town up the Wendy's and had lunch.  Stopped at the grocery store and then back to the boat.

Last time in Salinas our dinghy was shot at the dinghy dock, so far so good this time.

In the Wendy's - don't take down the Christmas tree - just decorate for a different holiday

Wednesday Kris started working on her wood refinishing again, and Dean did some metal polishing.  We also started working on making flight arrangements to head back to the states in June - working on finding the best flights and prices.  Our friends Matt and Sharlie on Matcha came into the anchorage, so visited with them a bit.  Last saw them in Trinidad in 2024

Thursday we had another boat day.  Went and visited with Matcha again, and saw their nice new custom bimini and dodger.  Took a short tour of the Salinas harbor.  Unfortunately, Salinas seems to be congregating a lot of "never leave" boats, as it is a nice-protected harbor, and convenient to town.  There are quite a few "junker" boats and sinking or sunk boats in the area.

This one still might be saved, but seems no one cares

Sailboat, burned to the waterline

Lots of pelicans around which are fun to watch

Friday we went out for dinner with Harmonium and Shally, as they were leaving that night to make another overnight passage.     

Nice dinner out

We will be here longer, as our Amazon packages we are having shipped in won't all arrive until Tuesday.