June 16. Puerto Patilla

After many squalls in the afternoon we enjoyed a breeze free evening. The scenery was spectacular as the rain washed the air clean and we could see every single plant in the distant mountains. After a restful night we pulled anchor at 5 am and slowly inched our way out the harbor into deeper water. The wind was still asleep and so we had flat seas with occasional swells. That didn't last long as the east sky was covered with squalls, the question at this point was which squall would hit us. We found out soon enough as you can see the rain on the radar screen. It looked like there was no wind involved in this squall and knowing we already had a reefed main and staysail up we shouldn't have any problems. It started raining no big deal, but a few minutes later we saw that huge squall line in the water and knew trouble laid ahead of us. Luckily we were prepared, Manuela on the helm and Sid tending the sails. We got hit with 32.2 knots of wind, the sails were flapping noisily in the gusts and we headed right into the squall. About 5 minutes later it was all over, us soaking wet with an adrenaline rush and glad it was over with. Poor Tika didn't know where to go before she decided to hide down below, we didn't see her anymore for the rest of the trip. A few more squalls skirted us but no problem as we even reefed the staysail. We only sailed 18 miles, which seemed a whole days trip. The trades started to blow again and we started doing the two step forward and one step back deal and started motor sailing in a zig zag pattern along the coast to make it more comfortable. We're anchored now in a very beautiful tropical anchorage in Puerto Patilla. Plan is to raise anchor again tonight at 1.30 am (if the wind dies down) and to sail to Isla Vieques in the lee of the night and arrive just around 8.30 am to enjoy breakfast on deck, maybe even a Bloody Mary.