Bonaire to Curacao

While on Bonaire, we took a tour (guided). It was enlightening. This island is very flat and dry compared to all the lush, mountainous islands we have grown accustomed to seeing. We did see huge flocks of Flamingoes down by the salt flats but they were very far away. At the south end of the island, they make salt. There are also kite boarders and windsurfers by the gazillions. The north end is hilly and home of a park that we didn't get to tour as it is another half day of walking trails :(

It seems that they (the island inhabitants are mostly Dutch) really like fireworks this time of the year - the big boys!  Someone just launched one close to our boat and it sounded like an explosion. Hope we can sleep tonight.

We had a lovely day of sailing on Monday to reach Curaçao. The red carpet welcome was rolled out by Tom and Lilly of S/V Tiger Lilly!  Thank you guys!!!!  Our own personal guides to take us to Customs, Immigration, Port Authority, and a sight seeing tour of downtown. 

Curaçao is more photogenic but we sure enjoyed the diving in Bonaire!  And this island loves fireworks too!!  At least we are not close enough to shore for any to be launched at our boat!  New Years fireworks was a 360° panorama here in Spanish Waters.  We have gone into town a couple of times since we have been here – there is a large supermarket with a free shuttle bus transport.  Grocery shopping is a highlight of Ann’s week if there are an abundance of choices. 

We spent a day repairing sails (minor sewing) to get ready for the next passage.  There are several options that we are examining for stops along the next portion of our trip.  We have to be ready for somewhat heavier winds off the coast of Colombia.  In fact, this is one of the most windy areas in the world.  Chris Parker, one of our weather sources, refers to this as “the typically windy area of Colombia”.  The following gives an explanation. 

What creates this phenomenon is a combination of factors: 

1.  The Santa Marta Mountains form a ridge (almost 19,000 feet high) that the trade winds are forced to go around.  This increases the speed by about 10 knots over the normal gradient winds. 

2.  There is a stationary low that sits over Colombia – increasing the gradient winds. 

3.  At night, cool air falls down the mountains toward the sea, increasing the night-time winds by another 10 knots (catabatic winds). 

4.  The waves that are created by the wind blowing across the Caribbean Sea are pushed up on a shelf that is 200 to 500 feet deep (most of the Caribbean Sea is thousands of feet deep).  This increases the wave height. 

5.  There is a current that flows up from the Bay of Panama and along the coast of Colombia.  Current against the wind shortens the distance between the waves, creating what sailors refer to as “square waves”.

So we sit, waiting on the RIGHT weather window to make the next passage and prepare to have 30-35 knot winds.  Surely growing up in the Texas panhandle prepared us for this!!  Lol 

On the up side: 

★We have internet on the boat 24/7. 

★We bought a sim card for the phone so we can call our family. 

★We are in the company of many sailboats in this bay. 

★The shopping is good.

★Roxy has a boy come by every day and take her for a walk.

★The same boy picks up our trash every day for a small fee.

“I got my toes in the water, my a** in the sand, not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand, LIFE IS GOOD TODAY!”