Sail Caribbean: Chris and Chili

Well, we survived Tropical Storm Chris. We couldn't get dock space anywhere and were stuck on mooring balls, which worried a number of us, but Chris just barely missed us. It's center got as close as about 40 miles away, and we got some gusts and a lot of rain, but it just sneaked around the BVIs without really hitting them. It looks like the storm is dying now, but it was almost upgraded to a hurricane when it was next to us. We were lucky. Even then, Chris gave us two days of boredom at the Bitter End Yacht Club. It was too close to risk moving, so we had to stay. It was wonderful for the staff because we got to catch up on sleep. The day before we had sailed about 50 miles and got up at 3:30am for a night / early morning sail. I took my group on Pine out to the open ocean until we lost sight of the mountains of the BVIs. Doing that gives such a great sense of freedom. The last time I was able to experience that was when I did my SEA semester. We had the chili cookoff for this program about 2 weeks ago, and although they aren't going to announce it until the end of the program, there's a good chance Pine was able to pull it out again. We ended up winning last program with our "redneck trailer park" theme and this time we did an Indiana Jones theme. The presentation started when the staff judges pulled up in their rib. Indy immediately greeted them and took them on a trek around the boat. First they went through the jungle (from palm branches I chopped off on shore) where Indy was attacked by a couple of evil scuba men. Indy used his rope off the side of the boat (held up by a raised boom off the side of the boat) to avoid one and swing back in and kick over the other one. He them preceded to punch both of them off the boat into the water. Continuing around the boat, he freed a couple of damsels in destress who were tied to the mast. Immediately after that, another group of crazy invaders attacked from the open ocean in a dinghy but were again beaten by Indy. Finally, Indy made a mad dash down the companionway (stairs) and just managed to avoid a giant boulder that chased after him (a big trash bag full of towels..Think opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark). Once below, he worked through the cobwebs (toilet paper) to his treasured bowl of exotic chili under a single light! He made a fast switch, replacing the chili with just the correct weight of water in his nalgene (again, opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark), to make a mad dash back up the companionway to his escape vessel (our kayak). As he departed, the boat sang the Indiana Jones song. It was sweet. We'll find out in a few days, but hopefully Pine will make a chili cookoff sweep! That's all for now! Coming home in 5 days, then it's on to Hawaii! Hungry Hungry Huey

Sail Caribbean: Hungry Hungry Huey

My boat, Pine, is hanging out waiting for tropical storm / soon-to-be-hurricane Chris to pass by. It looks like the center will just miss us 60 miles to the north, but we'll still get a bunch of rain/wind. We're hunkered down on a mooring ball at the Bitter End Yacht Club. It's currently sustaining 60 knot winds with gusts to 75. Could be fun!

So, I mentioned in my last email that I got my open water certification for scuba diving, but I failed to give the complete story. One of the things you have to do to get your certification is pass a multiple choice test. So I took the test and my buddy, the diver coordinator Sam, was correcting it and looking it over with me. We got to one question where there was a picture of a guy underwater with his hand going towards his mouth and the question asked "Does this motion mean: A) Are you hungry? B) I need to buddy breathe C) Let's talk or D) None of the above." Basically, it was the easiest question on the exam, and I swear I knew that it means buddy breathing, but somehow I bubbled in "A) Are you hungry?" Want to know the best part? I failed the exam by one question. Quickly word got out to the staff, and my old handle (or VHF call name) of Huey as now been updated to "hungry hungry huey."

By the way, I took the make up exam for my certification and passed, WOOO HOOO!!

Adios,
Hungry Hungry Huey