We need to get as far East as the Dominican Republic before we can veer south towards, preferably Los Roques perhaps Bonaire or even Curacao would be good.
Modern technology can be frustrating but also wonderful. We installed an AIS (Automatic Identification System) last year, an excellent device which will detect any ships over 300 tons. It gives their name, heading, and at what speed they are travelling. We set the alarm for about 8 miles range. It will sound if any ships are within that radius. We can contact them on the radio and ask if they have seen us, inform them that our intentions are to proceed on our course and in turn what
their intentions are. I have heard Chris dealing with this situation therefore one night during my watch I decided to let him sleep and deal with it myself. With trepidation I called ‘Blue Star, this is s/y Scorch’ ‘Do you read me?’ a foreign voice replied but I could not understand a word he said, apart from channel 10. I promptly tuned the radio to 10 but no one replied. I was at a total loss and had to wake Chris to help. The ship was still on channel 16 waiting for me to confirm that I was moving to 10. I have progressed since then and I am less nervous but many times I can’t understand a word they are talking about but I am reassured that by calling we would make our presence known should they be asleep and hopefully will avoid us.
Few sailors we have spoken to mentioned that they like the Marina Errol Flynn, Port Antonio but were not enthusiastic about Jamaica. We have been here nearly here two weeks and we have thoroughly enjoyed the place. It is beautiful, mountainous and green. It is a tropical rainforest country; hot and humid. Its people of definite African decent and appear very laid back and gentle (could be marijuana induced) This Country where Bob Marley : King of Reggae was born reverberates with loud bass and rhythm everywhere so loudly that we can sometime feel the vibrations in our chest, Heaven help our eardrums.
Close your eyes and practically anywhere you can hear music. Radios blare out on the street; buses pump out nonstop dancehall and every Saturday nights the bass of countless sound-system wafts through the air until the early hours.
The Market is full of fun.
Chris and I decided to see some of the country and took a shared taxi ride 17 miles West.
Many of us piled in this bus and the driver drove at full speed overtaking at the most inopportune moments. Now I understand why Chris did not want to drive here........
Not for the faint hearted!
Our goal was Annoto Bay, but on arrival, we took one look at the place and decided to stay in the Taxi and return to base. We created quite an argument among the waiting taxis who suggested we were jumping the queue, but we explained that we had not got off. It caused great merriment with our driver and his co-partner known as the Dr. The latter is responsible for touting for business, nearly grabbing anyone passing by, screaming the destination at the top of his voice, taking the money and opening /closing the door. When we think there is no room for passengers, the Dr. shuffles everyone and in they get. Not seat belts of course, but we are so tightly squeezed like sardines that even if we turned over we could not go anywhere!
The next day we repeated the excise in the opposite direction. We went East 25 miles.
Boston Bay is famous for its Jerks stands. Jerking of meat originated in this part of the Country. The cooking (Jerking) was done in the ground by the slaves to avoid the smoke being seen.
Today the meat is seasoned in a mixture of Island grown spices and grilled slowly.
We paid the tourists prices and were charged double. We have tested better food.....
Boston Bay beach was beautiful.....Chris was offered some Marijuana, a lad put a bag full of Ganja on his chest and said ‘Fancy any?’ ‘No take, sorry’ he then offered teaching surfing instead....
The Police boarded us at the anchorage wanting to see us and checked inside the boat. They were very friendly, but very thorough in their search. We had a fun time with them. They confirm we could go anywhere but advised us it would be safer to return to Port Antonio at night should the weather turn. We wave them Goodbye and told them they could come anytime but not every day as we could not afford the beer they drank on a daily basis.
The following day we sailed to San Bay to see the Blue Lagoon.
We radioed the Marina to informed them of our intention but it never filtered through to George, the Manager, who though we had done a bunk. After some enquiries he was told of our plans by the Police.
The Police boarded us at the anchorage wanting to see us and checked inside the boat. They were very friendly, but very thorough in their search. We had a fun time with them. They confirm we could go anywhere but advised us it would be safer to return to Port Antonio at night should the weather turn. We wave them Goodbye and told them they could come anytime but not every day as we could not afford the beer they drank on a daily basis.
The following day we sailed to San Bay to see the Blue Lagoon.
We radioed the Marina to informed them of our intention but it never filtered through to George, the Manager, who though we had done a bunk. After some enquiries he was told of our plans by the Police.
Enchanting mooring.....
The Blue Lagoon was greenish through lack of sun but still beautiful
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