Jamaica Outbound

Hi everyone, 

At 1200 today we were at 19 15N 075 08W steering 080M, motoring at 5.5 knots. Sunny sky. Wind 3G6 from the S. Our noon to noon daily run was 133nm by the log.

Yesterday afternoon we had a nice SE breeze which allowed us to make good easting.  By midnight the wind had backed to NE and we turned with it, taking the chance to make some northing.  All just about close-hauled, perhaps cracked a little to keep Zen Again moving well through the swell.

At midnight we dropped a reef in the main when apparent wind rose above 16 knots.  That was much more comfortable.  We had one furl in the yankee.  At 0730 we shook out the reef and were back under full sail.  We tacked from tracking 000M to 150M, then back again.  We have an adverse current which is slowing our progress.

Overnight we had a crescent moon initially which was very bright.  After it set we had an amazing starscape to watch.

This morning there’s barely a cloud in the sky and it’s a nice day.  Except that the wind is very light.  Until 1130 we were beam reaching E in light airs.  The swell from the NE wasn’t helping, and nor was the current.  So at 1130 the donk went on and we’re making good progress.  When we start the engine we have to give her a burst astern to throw off accumulated weed on the prop.  The AutoProp is great, but as a feathering type it’s a good weed catcher.

Wind should return this evening so hopefully we won’t be motoring for very long.

Trust all’s well where you are.

Jamaica Departure

Hi everyone,
At 1200 today we were at 18 25N 076 16W steering 070M, sailng under full main and yankee at 5.5 knots. Sunny with a few small cumulus. Wind 10G14 from the ESE. Our run from departure at 0730 to noon today was 21nm by the log.

We departed Port Antonio in a very light rain shower. Passed a Jamaican coast guard cutter in the harbour channel. Hoisted sail once through the channel then set course close-hauled on starboard tack. Initially it was very lumpy but it has been gradually settling down.

We cleared out yesterday afternoon for Matthew Town on Great Inagua Island in the eastern Bahamas. To get there we need to sail through the Windward Passage, and it is certainly to windward for us! But Zen Again's tramping along well and at the moment there's a nice bit of S in the E wind. We don't expect that to last but it's nice while it's here.

Our passage to Matthew Town is about 260nm. So it's similar to a Geraldton Return in distance and point of sail. Different since we have a 1 knot current on the nose until through the Windward Passage. Once through the Passage we should be able to ease sheets onto a reach.

Trust all's well where you are!

Jamaica Adventures

Hi everyone,

We've been in Jamaica for 11 days and are now cleared out for departure.  With apologies to 10CC "we don't like Jamaica - oh no - we love her!".

Appleton Estate tour

We spent our first week in Port Antonio doing boat jobs and exploring the town.  The locals were very friendly and helpful too.  The only exception was one well-dressed gent who demanded money "or I'll knife you".  In the absence of a knife we thanked him for the offer and walked away.

Port Antonio has several supermarkets.  None are large but they're pretty good.  We visited the Roots 21 cafe for a Seafood Boil.  Awesome.  Biggest and best crabs we've ever had.

Zen Again in Port Antonio's Errol Flynn Marina

Very nice local ice cream!

Local market

Seafood Boil at Roots 21

We hired a rental car for two days.  Our plan was to drive around the island and it worked out well.  About 550km total.  On day one we drove along the north coast to Montego Bay, stopping briefly in Ocho Rios.  Didn't think much of the latter but enjoyed a very nice lunch at the Montego Bay Yacht Club.  The road along the north coast is pretty good.

Manicured beach at Ocho Rios

Montego Bay Yacht Club

Lunch at MBYC

MYC clubhouse

From Montego Bay we drove to the Appleton Estate rum distillery on the south side of the island.  This was on the B6 road and was the most challenging drive with heavily pot-holed, narrow, twisty roads.  Lots of fun!  Along the way we noticed many very well-kept churches.  Jamaica is quite a poor country but its people are generally up-beat and most are church-going.

Into the hills

One of so many well-kept churches

Nice countryside

We arrived at Appleton Estate just in time for the their final tour of the day.  The tour is quite expensive but includes a welcome rum cocktail, very interesting tour and rum tasting.  We saw a donkey crushing sugar cane, then I volunteered to try it myself.  Two of us kept the cane feeder busy as he kept doubling over the cane in an attempt to slow us down.

'Tis good stuff

Appleton Estate welcome hall

Sugar cane crushing by donkey

Model of three step Copper-based distillation

There's lots of it (most aged in Kingston)

Very nice tastes

From the distillery it was a very short drive (by design) to our guesthouse where we stayed overnight.  Our host took us out to buy locally made jerk chicken and pork.  Yummy!

Authentic Jerk Chicken & Pork

On day two we drove from our guesthouse in the SW of the island to Kingston.  Pretty good roads, with the second half on a toll freeway.  We drove through Kingston and out onto the peninsula where the airport and the Royal Jamaica Yacht Club are located.  Like Montego Bay this YC was also very nice and we had a good lunch there.

RJYC bar and pool

RJYC clubhouse

From there we drove north out of Kingston on the B1 across the Blue Mountains via Strawberry Hill to Buff Bay where we rejoined the north coast road.  The B1 was pretty good on the way up, perhaps since a lot of tourist go up there from Kingston.  But the north side was pot-holed and as much fun as the B6.

Along the way we stopped for an authentic Blue Mountains coffee in the Blue Mountains.  It really is VERY good coffee.

Into the Blue Mountains

View back towards Kingston

Up into the clouds at about 4000' ASL

Blue Mountains coffee ...

... for all!

We've really enjoyed our time in Jamaica.  Highly recommended!

Trust all's well where you are.