March, 2012 - CALABASH BIGHT, ST PATRICKS DAY ROATAN

We leave French Cay Harbour and go to Calabach Bight, Roatan.

We stay on a mooring at the "Turtlegrass" (wwwturtlegrass.net) owned and operated by Mark & Lori.  Mark is an avid HAM radio operator and we had been talking on the radio for months and looked forward to meeting him and Lori.  They have a small marina (4 slips and 3 mooring balls) and operate a small restaurant, currently 2 days a week (Tues & Thurs).  In addition Mark assists boaters who need to bring in parts & equipment.  Items costing less then $1.000 US (including shipping costs) can be brought in duty and tax free using his service.  We brought in a new OB motor and new Honda generator to replace the ones that died this year and were very happy with the results.

We arrived in time for St Patrick's day.  We joined Mark & Lori at a local restaurant to celebrate.

Thanks to Lori for the picture of  SV "Passat II".

The Tirtlegrass Marina restaurant.

Passat II on the mooring at Calabash Bight.

Sandra at St Patty's day lunch.  Where's the green???

Irish songs.

Jim & Laura SV  "Nilyah (sp?)"

Mark & Lori share and Irish kiss.

March, 2012 - FRENCH CAY HARBOUR, ROATAN

The Mayor of Roatan served notice on the West End Park to remove all boats from the West End by the end of March.  Rummer has it that he wants to put in a marina next to the land he and his family owns there and does not want competition from the mooring field. 

Not one to overstay our welcome we move on to French Cay Harbour to re-provision and check out the new Brooksy Point Marina.  We have anchored out and stayed at the Fantasy Island Marina in past years.  Early this year Fantasy Island raised there rates so high that the boaters boycotted them.  Mike and Lila at Brooksy Point built a VERY cruiser friendly yacht club in just weeks to meet the need.  Fantasy Island have since reduced there rates, but are still having to work hard to bring boaters back.

We checked out the facilities at Brooksy Point and are happy to report that they are great.  Prices are reasonable and the service second to none.  Services include med tie moorage, weekly shopping trips via free bus, 10% discount at Eldon's grocery store, clean washrooms & showers, reasonable priced self service laundry, garbage drop off, fuel delivery (2 Jerry cans per week), bar and restaurant, Wi-Fi, almost daily cruiser organized events.  Current membership fee is $15 US per week.  We recommend this as the best facility on Roatan and possibly the Caribbean.

The sun deck at Brooksey Point YC

"Tinker Toy" at the dingy dock.

Moorage for boats up to 9 ft draft.

Babe at the Bar.

Something to live by.

Wayne's (SV "Big Fun") birthday party..

Sandra & Joyce (MV "Eileen Farrell")

March, 2012 - WEST END ROATAN RAINBOW & PASSAT II RESCUE

Near the end of our stay at West End, Roatan we had several days of rain.  Had we known that we were to get so much rain we would have saved ourselves the backbreaking work of hauling water, as described in the previous post.  On the plus side we got one of the most beautiful rainbows ever.  On the downside we got "Boat Fever" an extreme form of "Cabin Fever".

When the sun returned we went to shore to enjoy a lunch with fellow boaters.   While we enjoyed lunch "Passat II" went "walkabout".  The pin holding the shackle at the base of the mooring backed off and she headed for the reef.   If not for the fast action of our fellow boaters in the anchorage we would have lost her.   Our heartfelt thanks to these unsung heroes.

Picture of the SV "Passat II" rescue by Jonesy on SV "Niki Wiki".

Rain, rain, go away!!!

Rainbow over SV "Sun Bow"

The rescue o"Passat II"