Lil and Aunty, sleeping like babies, are woken at 0238 precisely by a loud whirring sound and the quacking of ducks. Noise is relentless - is it an alarm? What can this mean? where is it coming from? The other cabins are investigated - no noise there. We hone it down to a bag in our cabin, which contains Adam’s iphone - this is the culprit. We resist the urge to throw it overboard and manage, eventually, to turn the wretched thing off. Getting back to sleep isn’t easy - Aunty manages to find the world service on her mini radio and learns a tsunami warning has been issued for the British Honduras - very re-assuring.
Dawn breaks - we wakes - 0600 - kettle on at 0700, and Adam is interrogated. Of course, HIS night has been peaceful and undisturbed.
The children head for shore - loos are beckoning, and the rest of us eat breakfast down below. Capt H has ordered double rations all round, as we have to get through the enormous food pack provided by Sunsail. We have an early departure as we need to reach Jost Van Dyke in time for a good berth. Before this, we hear a very loud thud/splash from the stbd side. Has Lil jumped ship? - it appears not, but this remains a mystery.
The start is hampered by a lack of wind - always a problem sailing between islands. Lil is at the helm today, and we eventually get a good 4.8 speed to help us along. Our pegging technique has changed today. Observing the German u-boat moored alongside yesterday, we noted their novel way of pegging out clothes, and a very efficient use of ze pegs. Richard, always interested in this subject has now named this task as ’Deutsche-peggen’.
Forgot to say that Marina Cay is opposite Trellis bay, which is alongside the airport. Every time a Liat craft flies overhead, Aunty can be heard yelling b-------! and giving them a digital salute.
The wind situation means engines on and off a lot, and frig light on and off too. We pass Guana island, Green Cay, Sandy Cay, on to Grand Harbour, at Jost Van Dyke, which is the home of Foxys - another ’must see’ on the list. No buoys here, but our boys do a good job in anchoring. We have a good spot and gradually the place gets busier and fuller with other boats. We see the sex boats arrive, and notice yet another sex flotilla quite close by. It is said that this place is one of the best for New Year’s Eve, and you get to the shore by walking from boat-to-boat.
After lunch, the plan is to walk round to White Bay for swimming etc. The local cop advises against this, as it will take over 30 mins., and it is too hot in the middle of the day. We bundle into the trusty dinghy, and motor round the coast. White Bay is gorgeous - lots of white, smooth sand, and clear waters. The boat is beached, and we clamber out, and head for a sunbed. The local bar is called Ivan’s Stress-free Bar. Ivan is there, quoting from the Bible non-stop - he is quite a celebrity apparently, as many photos adorn the walls of his shell-covered establishment.
Debs goes snorkelling again, and at last finds her elusive turtle. Overcome with emotion she comes to tell us as much. Her quest conquered, she flops onto her sunbed and returns to Harry. She saw a parrot fish as well, but this did not make her emotional. Snoozing and relaxing , followed by a drink from the bar, which doesn’t serve hot drinks, even though they say they do, is enjoyed by entire crew. This is particularly enjoyed by the men-folk , as they pour their own measures of spirit- happy days.
5pm back on board Lazy Daze, and people -watching. The sex boat nearby has been visited by two testosterone-fuelled American youths, who are also drunk, and shouting obscenities for everyone to hear. Trouble isn’t too far off, an argument ensues, and one guy decks another, on-deck, so to speak. A bit of girlie intervention follows and a sort of peace descends. As for us, it is time to make-ready and get to shore. We have a little walk along the sandy prom, and notice local police station, and other eateries - not much custom there, as it is all directed at Foxys.
We get a table and look at our surroundings. Tee-shirts, bras, other items of signed clothing, hang down from the ceilings, and photographs, business cards, notes, etc. are stapled to every available surface. There is a guitarist strumming his stuff, and we soon discover the place is jammed full.
The food is delicious - the crab chowder is enough for a small meal. We eat catch of the day, King fish, served with rice (again!), the boys devour spare ribs, and then we are all full to the gunnels. The dinghy is boarded, and we are in bed by 10 - so many late nights!, and we go to sleep with the sounds of Foxys in full swing and the anchor chain rubbing………………Various noises thereafter, but nothing untoward.