Rhonda Liz

Departed North Sound, Virgin Gorda. We raised the sails and did some drills in the sound, specifically “crazy Ivans” as a manuever to avoid collision in an emergency. Then we sailed out of North Sound and almost immediately sailed into a squall with up to 30 kts wind and rain. The squall lasted about 30 minutes, then we settled into a pleasant close reach sail with double reef main and single reef jib (we meant to double reef the jib but it pulled out to single). We rotated different tasks on the boat including helming. I found the boat easy to handle with that sail plan even in 20-25kts of breeze-only needing a light touch of 1 hand to steer. Seas were 4-6 feet with some ocean rollers coming through but the boat and crew handled it with ease. After negotiating the tricky channel to the anchorage, I was the morning ball “hooker”. I was able to hook the line but was unable to unhook it (it got caught on the float buoy). The boat hook got pulled forward and caught in the anchor. But other than a broken boat hook, no other damage to the boat or crew.

Motored from The Baths to Bitter End Yacht Club at North Sound, Virgin Gorda. The crew decided to motor because the destination was straight upwind and there is a large reef at the entrance to North Sound. So we motored. I helmed the boat most of the way and was on the helm when we picked up the ball.

Motored across the Sir Francis Drake Channel. We motored because we wanted to get to the Baths early before the crowds. We were also worried that the beach would be closed due to rough surf. But, we arrived and the beaches were open and there wet enough mooring balls for the whole flotilla. We dingied in then swam in, toured the Baths, which were incredible! After about 2 hours onshore, we got everyone safely on the dingy, then safely back on the boat. As we slipped the mooring, 2 boats that were circling converged. So it was good that we got there early!

Annapolis Christmas Boat Parade on Annapolis Sailing School’s Sabre 34 “Lightsaber”. Ian Morrison was the skipper. Under power the whole time. We went up Spa Creek loop twice-after going through the Eastport draw bridge. Then came out and did the loop by Naval Academy and went down ego alley twice! Temps were in the low 30s. I was on the bow the whole time. Winds picked up by the Naval Academy. I was cold!