Peter Island (1/3/13)

We finally decided to stay put. We had returned to Little Harbour off Peter Island and this time managed to get a stern line ashore. The circular bay is fringed with coral bommies and fish at about 5m depth, then drops sharply down to a central sandy bed at 20m. We have our anchor in the deep sand at the drop off and our keel is just 1m above the coral and a couple of boat lengths from the shore. During the day, pelicans dive bomb the water for fish, whilst at dusk they are replaced by insectivorous bats. By the morning, the water is still and clear and we can watch the fish awaken beneath our keel.

The reef continues to astound Matthew. His favourite pastime is snorkelling and then devouring the pages of the reef fish guide we have on board. He can now recognise the most common species – yellow-tail snapper, bar jack, stoplight parrotfish, bluehead wrasse, sergeant major, needlefish, barracuda, squirrelfish, blue tang, porcupine fish, queen parrotfish. I was also encircled by a school of almaco jacks which turn out to be uncommon to rare here (I did manage to photograph them!).

James ran some engine checks and drained the sludge and dreaded 'diesel bug' from our tanks ready for refuelling. We have reverted to the Royal Harwich burgee now we have a blue ensign to fly, and again other cruisers are asking after our beautiful boat (although some still ask if she's wood cased in glass). Our house flag and British Classic Yacht Club pennants are looking a bit tatty now compared to our new defaced blue. James will also do a rigging check from up the mast ready for our next bluewater passage. As we are now into March, it may be possible to visit Puerto Rico. This is a US territory and so the only restriction is that the 90days visa waiver will begin as soon as we clear in and James does not want to leave the east coast of the US on the transat home before June.