Slow Flight Out

After a bumpy night sleeping on deck and being stalked by the US coast guard in the darkness, we sailed our way into the USVI's. With 1300 miles under our keel, 3 remaining crew members, 42 days at sea and a smile on everyones face we hooked our last mooring buoy in Maho Bay just in time for celebratory flambéd pineapple pancakes and a strong coffee. 

After the many highs and lows of the past 6 weeks we all headed into the sea for a splash, the little ducks got exceedingly silly on their noodle, impersonating sea creatures and out swimming baby barracuda's, floating over stingrays and spotting turtles snacking on the sea grass. 

With 5 final miles to bob the crew of Slow Flight look forward to bringing you our final video finale after christmas... there will be plenty to giggle at, watch this space.

Thank you for following our epic journey, for your comments and kind words. With much love, Freyja, Pippa, Esmé and Captain Abe.

SLOW FLIGHT OUT.

Anatidaephobia

A case of Anatidaephobia

Anatidaephobia is defined as a pervasive, irrational fear that one is being watched by a duck. The anatidaephobic individual fears that no matter where they are or what they are doing, a duck watches.

Caja De Meurtos - Coffin Island

Being coaxed out of bed at 3am was not on the top of everyones fun list this morning. Pulling up our socks after our beating the previous day we set out for the little island of Caja de Meurtos or Coffin island. Arriving 4 hours later just as the wind was starting to blow we picked up a mooring and retreated back to our beds for a few hours of recuperation. 

Feeling slightly more human after some kip (and some much needed bread making) we headed into shore to see what we could find. Isla Caja de Muertos is a national park but as the season here has not yet started we had the place to ourselves. Following some rather confusing signs we headed along an overgrown path up the hill, past giant cactuses, avoiding spiders webs and keeping a keen eye out for the Cobras that live on the island. There were more than a few jumpy moments as we heard a scurrying in the bushes! 

Finally we reached the top where an old lighthouse built in 1881 stood falling into disrepair. The view was spectacular, if slightly overgrown and ‘authentic’! Our stomachs were soon rumbling and the knowledge of another overnight journey ahead of us led us back to the boat for a quiet and relaxing afternoon on 'Slowy', getting back onboard just in time to find the bread dough rising up out of the tin and spilling onto the deck....luckily once baked it was just as yummy! Fingers crossed again for calm weather as we make our next jump 50miles to Las Palmas on eastern coast of Puerto Rico...under cover of darkness we pass the miles below our keel. 

Farewell to our favourite 'Bobbing Blonde'...

Yesterday was Pippa’s last day aboard Slow Flight, she must have secretly spotted the weather for the next week (the wind barely forecast to fall below 20 knots on the nose), and has bid a hasty retreat to New York for some retail therapy and food! For her last day we wandered through Puerto Rico’s mangroves, taking our last cheesy crew shots and feeding the plovers Special K Red Berries, befriending one appropriately christened ‘Stumpy’, making sure he got lots of sugary sustenance. 

As dusk settled we set out on a manatee hunt...these shy creatures have not been spotted since a brief encounter in Florida when our girlie cries of excitement sent them immediately diving for the bottom out of sight, this time we went lips sealed and armed with cornflakes. After a less than fruitful hour of manatee hunting we became the prey for a menagerie of large and hungry swap bugs...we attempted to outrun them with a speedy trip to the bio luminescent bay...as darkness descended and Pippa sat ensconced in her rubber ring on the side of the tender (safety is no accident) we frolicked in the phosphorescence. Our prop aglow in the moonlight. We celebrated Pippa’s last evening with Champers and silly games...

As the sun rose it was time to bid farewell to our favourite bobbing blonde and her monsterous sized bag. We will dearly miss this sleeping beauty...

After dropping Pippa at the dock the remaining crew set out to sea in an attempt to get a few more miles under the keel towards Tortola...after two very wet and windy hours in mounting seas all eyes turned to the coastline and a hunt for a sheltered spot to get the coffee brewing, the sea salt out of our eyes and some dry knickers....it’s time to attempt to come up with a plan B. 

Alas, upon arrival in our little rolly anchorage (5 miles from where we started!) Abe is not happy as there is free radical rice running around in the fridge...Disaster was averted with the discovery of the last Green & Blacks buried under the cheese box....The wind is still howling and so for the remaining three of Slow Flight’s crew there is little to do but read the bird book and ponder the 150 miles straight to weather that we still have to go. It’s going to be a wet one!