Preparing for the voyage back to the U.S.

After our friend Christine left Puerto Rico, Andrew and I had two weeks to prepare for the 8-10 day trip back to Newport, R.I. The first week we explored a few new anchorages, one not far from the Puerto Del Ray Marina and a popular weekend spot for the locals. We left the marina late on a Saturday afternoon hoping the day trippers would be leaving the anchorage. When we arrived, there were less than a dozen boats and by nightfall only three. The next day however, was the Sunday before Memorial Day and everyone and their uncle was out! Our quiet anchorage had over 30 boats in party mode by noon, but at sundown, less than a handful again. 

We spent the days resting, reading, and planning for the voyage back to the U.S. I usually like to swim everyday but in this one particular anchorage the current was so strong, I had to tie myself to a line, swim along one side of the boat and without going anywhere, pull myself back on board when I got tired.

Bt June 6th, we were back at the marina in the anchorage, when our first crew, Jon Sauer arrived with his girlfriend Marlene & her son, Aidan. They stayed one half hour away in a nice condominium community called Palmas Del Mar, with a private pool and views of the ocean.

Fortunately for us, they also had a well stocked kitchen which we used to prepare a number of meals for the trip home. The rest of the week would entail finalizing meal plans, cleaning out bunks to make room for crew, making grocery lists, cooking, looking for locals to help cook (which we never found), shopping for dry stuff, then shopping for fresh, defrosting the fridge & freezer, storing 10 days worth of food in the boat in the order of planned usage, etc. etc. And that was just my stuff! Andrew tested all the communications equipment, downloaded the appropriate charts, cleaned the topsides, hired Jorge to install the new wind instrument & check the mast, etc. etc.

On June 10th, the rest of the crew (Doug Firth & his daughter, Casey and Bill Read) arrived, along with Bill’s significant other, Barbara. Over the next few days, they all chipped in on the aforementioned chores and we celebrated with an outstanding dinner (with Arturo & Katie, as well) at La Estacion, a fabulous barbecue joint in Fajardo.

On June 14th, I flew home to be with my mom on her 91st birthday and Andrew took off with the crew and Bermuda in their sites. Since there was a storm brewing in the Atlantic, their weather advisor suggested that they plan a stop and 6 days later, that’s where they are, enjoying rum drinks and the Bermuda hospitality, I’m sure!

I’ll be writing more about their trip when they arrive in Newport and I can can interview the crew, but in the meantime, you can follow Billy Ruff’n at https://share.Garmin.com/CharwynPartnersLLC.

Note: If there are any inaccuracies in this publication, it’s because my editor is offshore and unable to comment.