Clarencetown Harbor

We woke this morning to a total calm.  The winds were very mild.  We decided to take this opportunity and remove our headsail (the sail at the front of the boat).  We’ve noticed as we’ve been sailing, the seams are opening up on the bottom and side edges.  And the last couple of times we furled it up, there were green patches of the protective cover hanging loose.  We want to get it fixed (the green strip of protective cover, not the sail itself) before it is ruined beyond repair.

So … where do you get a sail mended in paradise?  Larry got out my sewing machine and took down the sail.  I sat out on the bow of the boat and sewed away as Larry fed me more sail area.  It was a big job.  As we looked closely at it, we realized almost the entire seams along the bottom and side were open.  I had to sew the complete thing (as if from scratch).  It took several hours but boy … what a relief to have that job done!

Larry dinghied into town to get fuel.  We only needed 11 gallons but better get it while it’s available and you know it’s clean fuel.  By the way, the cost of diesel here was $6.28/gal. 

On Larry’s way in/back from the fuel dock, he saw a bunch of sea turtles.  I had planned on staying on the boat but this was something I didn’t want to miss.  We dinghied over to the place where he’d seen them.  It was amazing.  There had to be at least 20-30, and the water is so clear, you can see them real well.  Larry talked to the guy at the fuel dock and the guy told him these live here … they see them all the time!  Cool!

After lunch, we decided to move over with the other boats.  The winds were supposed to turn northerly and the bay was completely open from the north.   Perhaps we can get a little protection from the island across the bay?

It seemed like the perfect little harborage.  We anchored quite close to shore in about 15 feet of water.  It was calm and peaceful.  That is, until the winds fully shifted and high tide was on us.  Then it was rock and roll … and I don’t mean the music!  The waves came in over the reef area and directly into the bay.  With each wave, all the boats would pitch and roll.  It probably looked worse than it was.  If we went down inside the boat, we hardly noticed it except for extreme waves.  But sitting high in the center cockpit of our boat and looking around, it was like being in a rocking chair and rocking vigorously.  All the boats were performing the same way … even a large catamaran that came in and anchored beside us.  I always pictured catamarans to sit calm and peaceful but in rolling seas like these, he had his own motion to tend with.  Granted, he has two hulls to quickly stead himself so the rolls aren’t as dramatic or extended.  But still … he moves more than I would have thought.