Norman Island

Leaving midday for Norman, with sandwiches and beer in hand we made quick work of the short trip. With just the jib up and the wind behind us we flew across the water at a strong 8 and sometimes 9 knots. The boat was proving itself.

Norman Island is popular with many of the charters and private boats for its good moorings, abundant coral and fish life, and good hikes. We took advantage of all. The pelicans, seen from below with their round bellies and large webbed feet are quite comical. When they dive from 20 feet or so above the surface for a fish it is startling. The occasional tarpon swam by and in spite of their size were not in the least menacing. The barracuda, however, lurking just below us looked like it could have had us for dinner. Many varieties of fish and coral are present in these water and everywhere you look, and some places you don't, there are new creatures to see. Comparing notes after the swim we discover what different sets of eyes discern. Returning to the boat we were all thrilled to find a school of tarpon, perhaps 20 of these very large fish, just hanging out below the boat.

The stitching of the leather covering of the boat's wheel was showing wear from its previous owner so my husband, Frits, set about the task of restitching it. Having made moccasins in his hippy youth he is quite handy with the needle. The eight segments divided by the spokes presented a challenge in that with fewer days on the boat than sections he has to complete more than one section a day and only when the boat is at rest. He's on the third as I write. As the sun was going down we mixed ourselves a rum punch and climbed into the dinghy for a harbor cruise. Translation - 'let's go check out the other boats'. The charters hold little interest but our hosts had spotted friends across the bay. Semi- retired folk who spend 3 or 4 weeks at a time on their boat, Marion and Bob greeted us warmly and made plans to meet up later on Tortola. A small cruise ship was anchored further out so we took a lap around that too. Condo ships cropped up a few years back that appealed to some segments of our aging population. Older ships no longer useful in today's mammoth cruising industry have been converted into moving luxury apartments, each privately owned. This one is probably based in the Virgin Islands but there are others in constant movement around the globe. Cocktails and hors hors d'oeuvres were being served as we cruised by.

More snorkeling and hiking slated for the morning before moving on.