We are trying to catch up on our blog as we now post most live updates to our Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/svIslandSpirit/ So, this post is a photo essay on the process we went thru to haul out the boat in Puerto Rico and prepare her for hurricane storage July 2020 to Nov 2020. Enjoy this photo essay and the captions. I hope you enjoy this….
Sailing from St. Thomas to Puerto RicoHeading 270, WEST, very oddJob one, drop all the sails and store them below deckWe flake our sails on the deck, then fold them and tie them upWe do LOVE our MACK SAILSHere are two sails stored below deck, nice and neatWe covered all the varnished teak with a new material called CAP WRAP by ULINE, lets hope it worksWe covered the ports and all teal with this cap wrapWe pulled out the 250 foot of 5/16″ HT Acco anchor chain and washed it, desalted it and then added WD-40 to the links for storage.It was a full moon while we were in Fajardo, Puerto RicoThe boats around us had underwater lights that light our boat us and looked so coolWe protected the hatch and wrapped it for dinghy storage on deckThe 10’6″ AB RIB dinghy fits on the bow of an Island Packet 35We changed the oilShe is now ready to haul outWe buy hurricane tie down strapsOur shade cloth, COOLAROO ships in and we pic this upWe roll out the coolaroo and pre-cut the shade fabricHaul out time,, we have to back into the haul out slipThey lift her out of the water and drive her to the storage yardIt is always exciting to see this yacht out of the water, 20,000 llbs and 39 feet over all length looks big out of the waterThey transfer the yacht to a trailer that is remote controlled. This allows them to move the yacht very tight and close to the next yacht maximizing the storage yard.We hired Ruben to powerwash the bottomNext we rolled out our shade fabric and covered the yachtWe extend our spinnaker pole to make a tent aft of the mastThe bow piece is stitched to the aft piece and pulled tightThere she is with a full top shade cover to protect her from the hot Caribbean sunWith the spinnaker pole tent, we can still get into the boat and workWe added 8 hurricane straps to secure her to the concrete footingsHurricane straps from bow, midship and stern pull down to concrete footings. This is required by insurance companiesThe straps and the tie down set upWe wrap the rudder and the stern to keep the hot Caribbean sun off these surfacesit is recommended to add Vaseline to the straps and stands to keep ants off the boat!Same thing on the jack stands…. add Vaseline to the stands to keep ants off the boat!We take a break and tour the rain forestOh yes, Puerto RicoAbd the beachWelcome to HOME to “SALTBOX 13” our home we built and love….
And that is a wrap on cruising season 2020, where we started in Grenada, launched the boat and made repairs to get sailing by Dec 25, 2020. We sailed up to Bequia for Cruisers Christmas and then on north. We were in Antigua, in February and early March when Covid-19 was breaking out. By mid March we were running back to Grenada to be secure frm covid-19. We docked into Grenada and there we were, “stuck for March, April, May, with a covid-19 lock down. Safe and secure but with a closed airport we decided to sail for USA on May 18, 2020. We sailed 60 hours and 425 nm back up to St. Croix, USVI. There we quarintined 14 days on anchor and then moved up to St. Thomas for provisions. From there we moved to St John and waited for our haul out in Puerto Rico. We sailed over to PR in July 4, 2020 and immediatly had a covid-19 test. Locked down on the boat until results came back we then could begin to derig the yacht.
We down rigged for days and then hauled out July 9th 2020. With the boat now on land we worked on securing her for hurricane season. After we finished that, we moved to San Juan. There we enjoyed a weekend and then flew home to Philly, USA.
Once home, we were once again quarantined for 14 days. W placed a yellow Q Flag on our home and stayed home. This would make the 4th time we have done 14 day quarantine. After that, we began to return to a somewhat normal life….whatever normal is…
Hayden & Radeen walking the closed cruise ship dock of St. Croix
Arrival into the United States Virgin Islands after our wonderful ocean sail of 425 nautical miles direct from Grenada to St. Croix. We dropped anchor, washed all the salt off Island Spirit and then made breakfast and then crashed. After a wonderful sleep with the boat NOT moving, we dropped the dinghy and went for a swim in the crystal clear waters. Ahhhh, the beautiful virgin islands where the water is crystal clear and here in 30 feet, we can see the chain out to the anchor. That is wonderful. After a few days of rest, we did go for a walk on the locked up and closed cruise ship dock, but this was the only land we stepped on as covid-19 shut down the island and we will quarantine 14 days onboard.
Laundry In a Bucket
We have been washing clothes for months in a bucket…Sailing the Mack Sails Code Zero into Pizza PIAnchored out off St. Johns living a dream, watching sunsetsThe T-shirt map of the USVIThe closed up shops of the cruise ship dock in St Thomas, COVID SADThe closed up shops of Charlotte Amalie and the main shopping area…COVID SADThe Logo of the USVIFull moon rise over Island Spirit off Water IslandTypical tourist photo op, St. Thomas on the cruise ship dockSailing out of USVI for Puerto RicoSailing south to St. Croix USVI to visit friendsThank you “Caribbean BILL” for this amazing mooring ball in town, St. Croix, we love it hereSt. Croix at sunsetOn our friends mooing, thank you Caribbean BILLLook at this mooring ball location, right off town…..perfect…St. CroixDate night, St. CroixCaribbean Bill and Cindi, our hosts in St. Croix. Thank you so miuchNight shot of our boat off St. CroixThis says it allTypical Caribbean SailingRadeen at the helm, sailing St. Croix for St. Thomas USVIAnchored off USVI, St. John and Honeymoon BeachRequired selfie off Honeymoon Beach St JohnSunset over St. Thomas as seen from St JohnsThe dust from the Sahara Desert blew inThis is life on anchor with the sun shade upOur windshield and the Sahara dustRadeen at the helm and taking charge of the boatOff to Red Hook for some provisionsTypical scene in the USVI as we motor back west to townThis is THE PIZZA PI BOAT, yes, you can order pizza from this boat.Pizza Pi, and look…..it is not a burnt one! YESMoon over St Thomas
So, as you can see, living on a boat off the USVI is a dream life an we really enjoyed this. COVID has hit the USA and the world and we have been waiting here for it to die down. Well, it never really did die down, so we moved to Puerto Rico, hauled out and flew home to Philly, PA, USA. We will return here in Nov, and resume our sailing and living aboard.
