Thursday, September 22, 2011

Sensible PFDs (lifejackets)

We needed new PFDs (lifejackets).  Our inflatable PFDs with harness that we bought back in our European days, died a few years ago. I wore mine constantly during our transatlantic crossing and it was very heavy and chafed.

A couple of years ago we bought new inflatables with harness which are nicer but, as they are not USCG approved, we have had to buy this sort to be legal.

We also have a pair of these in our dinghy. I must make a cover for them soon because they don't last long exposed to the elements and UV.

Today, I'm excited because we have bought a pair of new USCG approved lifejackets, the MTI Calcutta Angler PFD.


These are cool because they have pockets and the fit allows movement. Here's their blurb:
This all-person-fit jacket is all-equipped for kayak fishing! Sized to fit slim to super-sized torsos, with cool open sides, and adjustable front buckle straps that can be loosened for quick ventilation. Five pockets for holding all sorts of fishing gear -- 2 big tackle-box cargo pockets with 2 interior pouches, plus an exterior mesh pocket. D-rings front and back, a lash tab, and a pin-on retractor holder for attaching accessories like pliers, a fly-patch, or net. Reflective trim for safety and hook-resistant shell fabric.
If they only had a built-in harness...

So It Goes...

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

JetBlue airlines: NEW routes: San Juan to St Thomas & St Croix

Jet Blue airlines announces that starting December 12, 2011 it is launching twice daily service between San Juan, PR and St Thomas, USVI and daily flights between San Juan and St Croix, USVI.


SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

JetBlue Airways (Nasdaq: JBLU), Puerto Rico's largest carrier, today announced that it will launch San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport's (SJU) twice daily service to St. Thomas (STT) and daily service to St. Croix (STX) International Airports - the airline's 69th and 70th destinations - on Monday, December 12, 2011, three days earlier than originally scheduled. Customers seeking a jumpstart on a vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands can also save money on flights today through 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, September 23, 2011 at www.jetblue.com/new, where trips are selling for as low as $39 each way for travel through February 15, 2012.

JetBlue's schedule between San Juan and St. Thomas, effective December 12, 2011:

SAN JUAN to ST THOMASST THOMAS to SAN JUAN
Depart - Arrive
8:25 a.m. - 8:53 a.m.
3:15 p.m. - 3:43 p.m.
Depart - Arrive
9:30 a.m. - 9:59 a.m.
5:30 p.m - 5:59 p.m.

JetBlue's schedule between San Juan and St. Croix, effective December 12, 2011:

SAN JUAN to ST CROIXST CROIX TO SAN JUAN
Depart - Arrive
2:25 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Depart - Arrive
4:04 p.m - 4:44 p.m.

Read the full JetBlue press release for Puerto Rico to USVI flights.

JetBlue's inaugural service between Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS) and St. Thomas will operate for the winter season with five weekly departures beginning December 15, 2011 and will operate nonstop on the southbound flight and direct via San Juan on the northbound flight to Boston.

JetBlue's schedule between Boston and St. Thomas, effective December 15, 2011:

BOSTON to ST THOMASST THOMAS to BOSTON
Depart - Arrive
9:35 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Depart - Arrive
3:20 p.m. - 7:29 p.m. (+1 stop SJU)
  • Flights operate 5 times a week effective December 15, 2011
  • Northbound flights will operate via San Juan, PR

Read more about Boston/St Thomas here.



We only make a few pennies on purchases but everything helps and we appreciate it!


Sunday, September 18, 2011

Roseanne Roseannadanna & Tropical Storms

As Roseanne Roseannadanna would say,
"Well, it just goes to show you, it's always something. If it ain't one thing, it's another".

Well, here's one thing...

Invest 98L - Sunday, 18 Sept 2011, 2pm models

And another!

Invest 99L - Sunday, 18 Sept 2011, 2pm models

Saw these this afternoon and I thought I was gonna be sick. So I says to them, "Hey Weather Guys, what are ya tryin' to do, make me sick?".

Oh, Gilda... those were the days! Miss your humor...

So it goes...



Thursday, September 15, 2011

Scored at the animal shelter thrift shop

Every time we walk up to Pueblo Supermarket we stop by the thrift shop which benefits the St Croix Animal Shelter.

A couple of weeks ago we came across a sextant and navigational tools that you can read about in Bob's Boat Bits.

This weekend we found an almost pristine Jimmy Buffett hat which will replace the one pictured below that we bought at the 2007 Tunes on the Dunes concert in Anguilla for $20. Our new treasure cost only 40 cents!


Definitely a well loved hat!

That was such an excellent day. Can't believe it was over 4 years ago! Fortunately the event is documented in a DVD/CD set. If you don't have it, you can order it from Amazon.  We are in it if you know where to look :)

Jimmy Buffett - Live in Anguilla - DVD & CD Combo
A double CD and an 82-minute DVD were recorded LIVE at the Dune Preserve, Rendezvous Bay in Anguilla, in Bankie Banx's backyard and the site of famous Moonsplash Festivals. The CDs include 30 songs, all of your favorites, plus some special in-concert rarities like Domino College, Waiting In Vain, When Salome Plays the Drum, King of Somewhere Hot, Treat Her Like A Lady, and Distantly In Love.
It Goes So well with a pitcher of margaritas!



Sunday, September 11, 2011

Tropical Storm Maria... Bye!

Well, TS Maria was certainly a challenge for those weather folks and quite frustrating for those of us in her projected path.

At various times they had her going below us, just to the west, over to the east by St Martin, even more so to the east missing all of the islands... and, of course, right on top of us passing over St Croix.  Prediction of windspeeds up to 70MPH with it becoming a hurricane on the other side of Puerto Rico and, my favorite, the forecast where she was to fizzle out and possibly be downgraded to a lowly tropical WAVE... not even a TD :)

This didn't happen.  She stayed a tropical storm but we were pretty much unaffected. We've had a few non-TS days like this over the summer where you have some swell and a bit of wind. My type of storm... a non-event! We appreciate it, Maria.

From Wunderground.com
Sunday, 11 September 2011, 09:14am AST

We made our storm preparations and don't mind that it was "for nothing".  Not so... We got provisions, water, fuel, charged up the 48V battery bank, straightened up the boat, threw things away, etc... Not a bad thing at all.

The bad part about preparing for a storm is seeing that your neighboring boats are once again doing nothing. One guy, who we'll call "Homer" called us at 5pm the evening before the storm is to hit to say he'll be out at about 6pm to sort out his mooring and can we give him a ride to his boat. Leaving it a bit late, aren't you? He said he didn't come out the day before because he didn't feel like it. We told him that we were busy laying out another anchor for OUR boat but we'd help him tomorrow after we finished our preparations. He laughed and implied that that was too late (is that MY fault or PROBLEM???). I just said we're busy, bye, and hung up.

I could rant on about this but I will refrain.  Bob has a bit about it in yesterday's Boat Bits. I will add that the second anchor that was deployed for his boat (Homer stood on deck while Bob did the work) was a lightweight Bruce that Homer only paid out a total of about 35 feet of chain (15 foot depth + 4 feet to bow roller = how much chain on the bottom?). Chain does no good on the boat, as we thought everyone knows, but...

Fortunately the storm gave us a pass.  Bob has definitely earned some good Karma points helping this guy, even though his real motive was that it was helping us.

No more ranting...

Bob has made some lovely Sunday morning blueberry waffles. It is a nice day. Life is good :)

So It Goes !

Thursday, September 08, 2011

Tropical Storm Maria... No need to stop by

It looks like Tropical Storm Maria has not turned northwards as early as they thought it would.

Je n'aime pas the new projected path... Right over us!



Stormpulse, Sept 8, 2011, 11am

Hopefully, she'll continue to head west and give us a wide pass when she does get around to hanging a right.

2pm update... I like the degenerating into a tropical wave part... after that ???

So it goes...