day seven - in search of Jim Hawkins

Just a wonderful night anchored at Roque Island.  I wake to the sounds of waves rolling up on the sand beach.  Up at 6:15, cool and grey.  Check weather radio, the remnants of Hurricane Debby coming up in a couple of days.  Hot tea with breakfast.

8:40 sail off anchor in a light overcast and a nice little breeze.  Cool enough that I wear the drysuit with sweater underneath.  

2.9 across Roque Harbor.  9:30 sailing between Double Shot Island to starboard and Anguilla Island to port.  9:45 turn east to pass between Anguilla Island and Halifax Island.  The island names make me smile.  

Keep Lakeman Island to port as we head towards Englishman Bay, making 6.0 with a strong helping tide.  Skies clear and crisp wind.  It is getting warmer, strip off the drysuit and sweater.  We've been out a week now and the sleeping gear is a little damp so spread it out to dry in the sun.

I have sailed a good part of the east coast but don't think I have even seen as island as pretty as Roque Island.  Granite cliffs, thick pine forests, green pastures running down towards the shore and white sandy beaches.  I can't help but think of Treasure Island and young Jim Hawkins.  

10:35 less wind and tide, making 2.0, blue skies and beautiful.  Silvery baitfish erupt from the water then disappear.  A small dark shape rises above the surface, a seal taking a break from chasing fish to watch us pass by.

11:15 light wind and losing ground to the tide, dodging lobster floats.  Motorsailing towards Shorey Cove and the white beach on the north side of Roque Island.  The wind returns, 4.0 into the cove for a couple of nice tacks.  

12:10 sail past Squire Point and out onto Englishman Bay.  12:30 tacking against the tide, 4.5.

1:35 sailing into the Southeast wind past Roque Island and Great Spruce Island.  1:55 near Wallace Ledge turn downwind, wing and wing.  2:15 jibe toward the east end of Double Shot Island, sailing between Double Shot and Anguilla Islands to complete the circumnavigation.  Back on Roque Harbor making 4.5 to 5.0 with wind just forward of port beam.

3:15 anchor down in the little bight at the east end of the white sandy beach.  

 19.45 NM