Vieques

Wereda approaches Vieques

Majestic Spotted Eagle Ray

 March 26, 2010. Finally we have a daylight. Sailing from Salinas going East took a whole day yesterday and before dark I was only as far as Punta Tuna on Puerto Rico's East coast. I tacked away from land and around Midnight tacked back again laying the course for Vieques. So now we have a glorious morning and Vieques less than 8 miles ahead. Looking at the sky, I noticed a strange jet contrails. I was wondering what kind of emergency has made this jetliner do such an abrupt 180. Only later it became clear that these were military training exercises. I thought the military were long gone from Vieques.

Relaxing afternoon in the White Bay, Vieques

Being quite tired after all night watch, I decided to make Punta Arenas, aka Green Beach, on the west side of Vieques as my first stop. To my surprise there were 3 mooring buoys there and one was just made available by a leaving sailboat. This was my first mooring on a ball so I decided to go for it. At a third attempt I was finally tied up.

Example of a local art

Polish crew at the bar in Esperanza

Palms lined beach merely a fifty or so yards ahead of Wereda's bow, had a classic, beautiful tropical paradise look. A quick snorkel trip down clear, warm water, revealed a fairly recent setting with a screw type anchor. Satisfied, I did some more snorkeling around and saw a manatee and a spotted eagle ray. After that, it was time to catch up with some sleep.

Bioluminescent Bay near Esperanza

March 29 I left the Green Beach and sailed along the south coast of Vieques and picked up the mooring in Sun Bay, just East of a quaint town of Esperanza where I was able to do some provisioning. A walking distance from Sun Bay is a Bioluminescent Bay. Well worth visiting.
Earlier, I received a word from Maciek K. that he will fly from Poland to St. Thomas on April 15 and will join me on Wereda for a cruise all the way down to Trinidad.  Early morning, April 1st, I left this pretty island and headed East towards St.Thomas. 
After a day long sail, Wereda anchored in Honeymoon Bay on Water Island, St. Thomas as the last lights of the day turned into a deep darkness. Click HERE to see all pictures from Puerto Rico to St. Martin.

To watch the Vieques Video, click here:  VIEQUES