Cove Bay, Anguilla
After an overnight sail from Antigua, dawn saw Sea Cloud II in the lee of the island of St.Martin (St.Maarten), shared between the Dutch and the French, with the low, long island of Anguilla off the starboard bow and the volcanic cone of Saba way off to stern. As we crossed the turquoise waters towards Anguilla rainclouds scudded across our path and white caps spewed sea spray across the bows. During early morning coffee a red billed tropic bird suddenly landed on the Lido deck in the stern and sat there somewhat dazed and was the object of much attention and camera clicking until the ships boatswain or ‘bosun’, Mammacom from Armenia, armed with leather gloves nonchalantly picked up the bird and set it into flight once more.
After breakfast it was lifeboat drill, and stuffed into our orange “Mae West’s” we got our safety briefing as Sea Cloud II coasted along the north shore of Anguilla. The ship made for Road Bay, the main anchorage of the island, to check in with immigration and customs. Originally the plan was to shift position for the day to the Prickly Pear Cays some six miles away but the wind and swell on those exposed islets caused a change of plan and Sea Cloud II Made for Cove Bay on the more sheltered side of Anguilla instead. In spite of rain and slightly choppy seas the Zodiacs were lowered and we made ready for some swimming and snorkelling at Cove Bay. After a while the weather cleared and we spent a pleasant morning on the powder-soft sandy beach. Lindblad staff member Berit led the snorkelling but sea conditions had churned up the light sand so although visibility was not great, we got our first chance to try out our snorkel gear.
Behind the coastal vegetation and sand dunes were rain-filled salt ponds where Tom led a small expedition to look for birds. The group were lucky to see grey plover, great American egrets, snowy egrets, sanderlings, snowy plovers, pearly eyed thrashers, tropical king birds and grey king birds.
Back on the Sea Cloud II in the afternoon we gathered on deck to see the agile young crew go aloft and unfurl the sails as this beautiful vessel sailed off with officers explaining the ropes and sail manoeuvres. With expert ease the ship turned into the wind and we set off across the 65 mile Anegada Passage that separates the Lesser Antilles from the Virgin Islands and the Greater Antilles. During cocktails Captain Nemerzhitskiy introduced the ships officers who come from a variety of mainly central European nations. It was a windy night and there was news of a late tropical storm named Olga approaching Puerto Rico to the north but sturdy Sea Cloud II ploughed ably into the swell as we made our way westward with flickers of lightning on the northern horizon and a starry sky above.
