Choices
We all have choices to make daily. Whether to have cereal or toast in the morning, or to eat breakfast at all. Whether to buy the Netbook or the iPad, or again, nothing at all. And for us, when it comes to traveling, do we head here or there, or simply stay put. I mentioned yesterday that we had a couple of destinations in mind, a very short hop to Isla Caja de Muertos, aka Coffin Island, or a slightly longer trip to the city of Salinas. I deferred to Rebeccafor that decision and I’m happy that I did because her choice, Coffin island, rocked.
Isla Caja de Muertos lies only 8 miles from the anchorage at Ponce making for a super short day of travel and less time traveling means more time exploring and playing. For nature lovers like us, there was plenty to see and do. After a short repair of our chafed main halyard (see pics below), we dinghied to shore and immediately started following the trail up the hill towards the lighthouse. This particular lighthouse is one of fourteen built around Puerto Rico by the Spanish in the late 1800s. It became part of the Coast Guard in 1939 (I’m not a trivia geek… I just read the sign on the trail approaching it).
After enjoying the fantastic views from the high hill upon which the lighthouse sits, and taking in the rugged flora and fauna of the approach to it, we made our way to the ranger station. I should point out that at no time during our exploration of the island did we come across any signs of human life, save for the faint sound of music and the smell of something tasty cooking (garlic?) as we passed the buildings there. Now, we were told the place is packed during the weekends, and I can see why. It would be a great stop for families in the area to visit in their boats.
While the morning’s exploration took place on the island, the afternoon’s took place in the waters around it. There is a nice snorkel park on the southeast corner of the island and again, we had the entire place to ourselves. You can see from the buoys that they have set up there, and the signs in the water, that this would not always be the case. I’m confident that it too is quite popular on the weekends. While snorkeling we found lots of Bahamas-clear water, plenty of cool fish and only one scary looking barracuda.
In keeping with the theme of this post, choices, we also decided to live with the 60-some feet of chain for our anchor rode, at least for the time being. Of course, even that required cutting off the short piece that was on there and then splicing the other length to the nylon rode. Having only done a chain to rope splice once before, with new line, not old stuff, it was a challenge but I believe it’s done OK. How important can it be though? The anchor rode is only the one thing that keeps our boat from hitting nasty hard objects while we’re sleeping. That’s right… it’s very important!
You can see in the above pic how the main halyard is very chafed. My hypothesis for why this occurred is that the line is too thick where it had been spliced to properly fit through the sheave at the top of the mast. As for the repair, before cutting the spliced area off, I quickly whipped it with the green twine.
John, an occasional commenter here, posted on his blog about using this method for attaching halyards. A bight is passed through the head of the sail, in this case a large shackle, and a stopper not is passed through the bight.
When it’s snugged up it looks like this. This will do until we get all of the nice Dyneema running rigging that we won. Yes, we’ve received word, it is coming!
Project 2. In order for the chain to line splice to run properly through the windlass, it needs to be done just right. Getting it started is definitely the most difficult part.
As with all splices, this would have been way easier with new line. Every time I fed one of the three strands under another, I had to pull each individual thread to tighten it up. Groan!
Patience paid off though. By the way, because we were able to pick up one of these nice free moorings at Coffin Island, we had the perfect opportunity to fix this as our anchor was not being used.
One last thing on choices… in spite of any minor bit of irritations that we have, such as the above mentioned messing about with rope and chain, we give thanks daily that we made the tough choice to get out here and do this. Anyone sitting on the fence about doing the same should just go for it. If you need some additional motivation, check out the images from yesterday’s exploration of Coffin Island that we put in the movie below!
Nice to see a well prepared crew, taking care of their house.
We do our best. 🙂
The video is private! Can you please open it up? Would love to see the video/pictures.
Unfortunately, we can’t see the video.. When it is clicked on, it says “This video is private”.
Tried watching the Video “coffin island” & it comes up its private ? even on you tube say’s the same, You tried putting a ‘sleeve” over the rope to chain ” as well to help stop the chaffing, I seen some one with a plastic ‘shrink wrap” on one & it looked & worked ok.
& where you are now looks a great place in the rear of the picks we can see. I just love that clear water 🙂
Cannot watch video. Says “This video is private”,
Again, a good post.
I’ve always thought halyard splices were WAY over rated, and you see one reason. You size the line for stretch, not strength, so…. what’s the point?
Chain-to-rope is different. Nice. For other readers, if you have a finicky gypsy, stagger the endings and taper the yarns (hard to tell from the pics); I’m guessing yours is not as fussy as mine. Also, some gypsies won’t tolerate a splice that long; you may have to consider fewer tucks.
And I’m still jealous of your lifeline splicing… but I’m still “aging” mine a bit more. I promise my splices won’t be so smooth.
You are the only one who didn’t comment on the video not working. 🙂
PS: The splice was tapered. Ugly, but tapered.
Looks like the video is set to “private”. We can’t watch.
Thanks.
I can’t watch the video. When I click on the arrow on the black square where it should play, a message comes up: This Video is Private.
🙁
ya’ll look like your having so much fun. visit the Bacardi factory in San Juan. your video from todays post is not working. it says its private. dont forget about the soggy dollar bar on jost van dyke.
Dang, I couldn’t view your movie! It says it is a private video.
Hi Mike. When I tried to watch the Coffin Island video, a message popped up saying “This video is private.”
Hey Mike, I’m a back-in-Canada (Ottawa) follower who’s been reading yr. blog for while now. The video above returns a “This video is private” message when clicked on. Thought you should know.
I attempted to view the movie in your last post and YouTube displayed a message “This movie is private.” Did you mean to make the video private?
Glad to hear that you’re happy with your decision to cruise. We’re not “on the fence”, just workin on getting out there. Anyway, we tried several times to watch your video, but it keeps saying “private”. Hmmm
Mike
The video doesn’t work man !!!! Gotta see it..lol
Sorry everyone. I was in a hurry yesterday and didn’t get to proof the post. The video is now unlocked. Enjoy.
Video is still saying private. Looks like a great trip.
Still says private! Can’t see it!
I can’t wait to be sailing down there again. I am enjoying following your cruise. Don’t miss the Spanish Virgin Islands on your way over to the BVI’s. The islands around Tortola are a blast.
Hi Tom. We’re there now (Vieques). Heading to Culebra tomorrow.
Now when I click on it I get a different message :
This video contains content from UMG, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.
I am currently in the USA so not sure if it’s talking about here or back home in Canada.
Mike,
I am in the USA and when I tried to view the video I got a message that said it was blocked because of copyright.
I tried to copy and paste it to here and even emailed it to myself and still could not get it pasted. 🙁
Bill Kelleher
Now getting the following:
“This video contains content from UMG, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.”
Video says it is blocked for copyright reasons now.
Will your new Dyneema lines come with eyeplices?
PassageWeather.com shows some wind heading your way in a couple of days. Look like it will be out of the east which means on the nose!?!?!
Re: splices… Yes, they should.
Re: wind… OF COURSE it will be on the nose. Except, and east wind tomorrow will give us a nice beam reach to Culebra:)
LOL Now it says it’s blocked in my country (US) on copywright grounds.
Its working great on my APPLE MAC. 🙂 but a little fast on the change of pic, but great any way
Hit the pause button 😉
Hi Mike and Rebecca. Video working just fine today(24th). Enjoy your story and the adventure, fair sailing, M
For those who are getting the content blocked message, send hate mail to UMG. It “should” only be blocked in Germany though. Apparently Germans don’t like Bob Marley.
Apparently US doesn’t like Marley either. That’s ok, the still pics are nice. Look forward to seeing the USVI when you get there. That’s my next sailing trip…I hope
Sorry you can’t view the video, JP. Hate mail to UMG.