Spring is here and we should be seeing the Laughing Gulls in the next few weeks, they'll be here by tax day for sure! We may not have the seasonal changes that are felt up north, no snow or dramatic fall colours, but we do have our subtle seasons and Ray and I are both enjoying the slight warming in our temps, both air and water! If you think we are wimps just remember, the Laughing Gulls go south from here to Venezuela for the winter!
Today we were headed up the north side of St. John with a great group aboard, just about clear of Whistling Cay when Sea Cloud came sailing down the Narrows with 16 square sails set. Wow, what a sight, a couple of hundred feet of glorious square rigged tall ship and we sailed across her bow, not too close of course, but close enough for some great pictures and fingers crossed that Randy remembers to send us a few copies. We tacked under her stern and watched her sail over toward Jost Van Dyke. I am not sure if Sea Cloud or all the turtles we saw at Peter Bay will be the highlight of this day for the Sunberg family!
Happy Spring from Independence!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sailing Adventures Aboard Independence in St.Thomas
We are now on the same time as the east coast, no more worries about what time the cruise ship really leaves and we get our network news and favourite programs at the proper time, at least until next fall!
Thanks to cold, snowy and generally awful weather up north we have been enjoying better then average winds and a little more rain then usual. When Ray and I complain about the cold we get absolutely no sympathy from our guests. "The only ice you find in the Virgin Islands is in your glassm," was the comment from one guest from Minnesota! I guess when your low is 74 and your high is 85 you shouldn't expect anything less and, thankfully, our rain usually appears in brief showers not day-long deluges.
First mate Ray is busy organizing the skim slam contest for the kids in June. Check out
www.skimcaribbean.com for some great shots of this amazing sport and if you are planning a trip to St.Thomas in June plan to be at Morning Star Beach at the Marriott on June 20th to watch our kids in action on the water!
Whale season is almost over and we haven't seen any yet, but everyone in Coral Bay on the south side of St. John was treated to a great show when several Humpbacks came right into the harbour. We have been visited by dolphins several times and that is always a treat, but sure would love to see a whale. I have never seen an Orca in the Caribbean; however, we have heard of several sightings so I guess we will just keep looking.
The baby pelicans are active over on Congo Cay and we have been over a couple of times in the last week. If the north swell is too big, it's not great for snorkelling but a very nice sail down the coast close to the island and just goggle at the birds - they look like baby Big Bird from Sesame Street! We also see long-tailed tropic birds, boobies, oyster catchers and several varieties of terns. Last time two blue jays were sighted, I think they are escapees from the frozen north but they seem to have settled in and are very good fisher birds!
March is booking up well and we are really looking forward to having everyone aboard; we have quite a few families scheduled and that is always fun. The new kid-sized snorkle gear I found in North Carolina is really helping our youngest guests enjoy snorkelling. We are learning all the names of the characters in Finding Nemo!
We have t-shirts, thanks to Kelly Buckner, who sailed with us last November. We finally have new crew shirts and, at her urging, we ordered enough to have a few to sell. I am not a very good sales person and half the time forget to mention them so let me know if you are a t-shirt person. Kelly did a great job on the design which she got from a photo she took as she left the boat!
Come on down to St.Thomas and let's go sailing.
Thanks to cold, snowy and generally awful weather up north we have been enjoying better then average winds and a little more rain then usual. When Ray and I complain about the cold we get absolutely no sympathy from our guests. "The only ice you find in the Virgin Islands is in your glassm," was the comment from one guest from Minnesota! I guess when your low is 74 and your high is 85 you shouldn't expect anything less and, thankfully, our rain usually appears in brief showers not day-long deluges.
First mate Ray is busy organizing the skim slam contest for the kids in June. Check out
www.skimcaribbean.com for some great shots of this amazing sport and if you are planning a trip to St.Thomas in June plan to be at Morning Star Beach at the Marriott on June 20th to watch our kids in action on the water!
Whale season is almost over and we haven't seen any yet, but everyone in Coral Bay on the south side of St. John was treated to a great show when several Humpbacks came right into the harbour. We have been visited by dolphins several times and that is always a treat, but sure would love to see a whale. I have never seen an Orca in the Caribbean; however, we have heard of several sightings so I guess we will just keep looking.
The baby pelicans are active over on Congo Cay and we have been over a couple of times in the last week. If the north swell is too big, it's not great for snorkelling but a very nice sail down the coast close to the island and just goggle at the birds - they look like baby Big Bird from Sesame Street! We also see long-tailed tropic birds, boobies, oyster catchers and several varieties of terns. Last time two blue jays were sighted, I think they are escapees from the frozen north but they seem to have settled in and are very good fisher birds!
March is booking up well and we are really looking forward to having everyone aboard; we have quite a few families scheduled and that is always fun. The new kid-sized snorkle gear I found in North Carolina is really helping our youngest guests enjoy snorkelling. We are learning all the names of the characters in Finding Nemo!
We have t-shirts, thanks to Kelly Buckner, who sailed with us last November. We finally have new crew shirts and, at her urging, we ordered enough to have a few to sell. I am not a very good sales person and half the time forget to mention them so let me know if you are a t-shirt person. Kelly did a great job on the design which she got from a photo she took as she left the boat!
Come on down to St.Thomas and let's go sailing.
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