10 January 2020 Waiting for weather

waiting and relaxing

Our morning priority after a cup of tea is to download weather gribs hoping for a break in the near continuous north winds that have been blowing hard for almost two weeks. It is an unusual weather pattern. Having constant north or north easterlies with strong easterlies on the south coast of Cuba isn't the norm Chris Parker, weather guru advises.. What this means for us is we stay here in Cayo Levisa until the winds abate to allow us to sail safely around Cabo San Antonio, the western cape of Cuba and sail to the east on the south coast.

On New Year's Day the wind had piped up and switched to ENE. The night before when we were at the NYE party Shanti had dragged and next morning Mon Ark was ploughing their anchor through the sand too. Later in the day Jackster joined the dragsters. The bottom near the resort is sand and turtle grass of shallow 4m depth and not good holding, there was also an uncomfortable wind chop, anchors come up clogged with a ball of sand, mud and weed. With stronger north and east winds forecast for the foreseeable future we, Jackster and Mon Ark, felt it would be prudent to move across to the western anchorage. This is deeper water behind mangroves which would give us more protection from the prevailing winds and we'd be able to sleep at night without fear of finding ourselves on a sand bank in the morning.

bonfire beach

It was a really good decision to move. There was good depth all the way in and we dropped the hook in 7m. To the north of we could see the beach through a break in the mangroves and to the east a dinghy channel through the mangroves back to the resort jetty a mile away.

sunset drinks by firelight

Quickly our days settled in to a pattern while we waited on the weather. We'd take the dinghy into the beach and walk twenty five minutes to the resort where we'd do internet. Some days we go in early and have a mega breakfast which would see us through to dinner. The twenty minute walk each way justified the breakfast. In the evening on the same beach where we landed the dinghies we'd build a bonfire of dead mangrove wood, take our deck chairs, drinks and nibbles, watch the sun set and stay for a couple of hours just chatting.

When we needed it the resort helped out with finding us supplies of eggs and vegetables and so the days passed. Why leave such a great place and throw yourself into the mercy of the elements when you don't have to?