We woke up to a beautiful sunrise and a half empty mooring field. Most people on this route make their way up to the southern end of Virgin Gorda to the Baths which is our same route. However, our dinghy was still broken so we called our charter company to let them know we needed a new outboard AND our bimini (cover over cockpit) detached at the deck attachment point overnight due to high winds. Caribbean Queen definitely needed some TLC.
The Baths were a unique experience. We moored up to a national park buoy and snorkeled our way to shore which is the only way to get there if yoarrive by boat. It’s a protected coral reef with beautiful fluorescent fish, fan coral and sea turtles. The Baths have a Jurassic Park meets Flintstones Bed Rock feel the minute you step foot on the island and in the caves. 
When we got back to the Queen the outboard was swapped out and the bimini was fixed so we were all fixed up and ready to go the Gorda Sound. Conditions were similar to day one: winds were SE @ 18-20 mph and variable, 8 foot seas and a small craft advisory. Great sailing actually until we headed east into the wind to round the tip of Virgin Gorda. Cruising into the Gorda Sound, the winds were gusty and the water was choppy making mooring quite the adventure. 
After spending 30 minutes trying to find a mooring ball, dropping the mooring ball two times upon entry and then fighting the wind gusts while tying it off made for another interesting arrival on day two. The rum drink and the view was our reward for the awesome day with only one little problem, our dinghy was still broken. Even after getting a new outboard the damn thing still wouldn’t start. We tried everything to fix it and unfortunately, it was too late in the day for our charter company to come all the way from Tortola to fix it. So there we were dinghyless…again. In the words of Tommy Boy’s Chris Farley, we had no choice but to”quit playing with our dinghy” until they fix it tomorrow. 
#GringoRicanSailing 