June 22. St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

I think we had just about 20 minutes time to explore our new anchorage in Ensenada Honda, before the next tropical wave rolled in, then it was one squall after another. Just as soon one had passed the next one started and that for a whole day and night. Today we finally had a break in the weather but tonight a new tropical wave will hit us again. We took the opportunity of that 24 hour weather window and headed the 32 miles to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. We actually were very surprised to see that the ocean was kind of calm as we came out of the anchorage, but it was too good to be true, within a few minute the waves started to build up again. In the next hour a huge squall hit us, lots of rain but luckily not much wind. Then we slugged along direction Virgin Islands. As soon as we passed the Vieques island and headed into the canal to St. Thomas a current was pushing us in to the oncoming waves. At one point we had huge waves but right next to us the water looked like a giant pot of boiling water. We got out of that as fast as we could by heading north. The bow went completely under the water several times and it was just another miserable trip. It was a fast trip as we traveled mostly with over 6 knots, but I couldn't believe the mess I found when I went down below. Normally we set up the boat so nothing will fall down inside, but we didn't think about things falling up, they sure did. Everything flew around, even one of the wine bottles fell out of the wine rack which has never happened before either. Well, here we finally are in St. Thomas, knowing that from now on sailing will, could, should be easier. We took a slip in a marina for three days and rinsed all the salty crust off the boat. We'll enjoy the luxury of a marina for before we start heading south. Well, most of it will be spent cleaning up, oh joy. LOL
By the way Terry and Nancy, you're right, as soon as you hit the Caribbean the boaters are naked, makes it hard to have an eye to eye conversation.