Showers, rain, wind, sun shine, clam seas, peace, dolphins … All the ingredients for a day out sailing on a catamaran.

The 9.30 am departure left nearly an hour later … all to do with food not arriving on the ferry.

Setting off the day was overcast and grey with at times rain / drizzle falling making for an unpleasant start. But hey, will be getting wet shortly anyway. With the initial assistance of the iron spinnaker (engine), we made our way across to dolphin bay. Yes, the dolphins were there but so far away. Trying to time my shot to catch them fluking (about to dive with their tail in the air) was a challenge especially at that distance.

Then the first of our snorkels in amongst the coral. Seen much prettier.

Lunch of a turkey sub roll was being prepared while we were underwater. Yes, we did get some tomato (from the ferry) and ate our roll as we sailed across the bay to where we had our second snorkel. This time to see the fish.

Listening to the skipper explain what life was like when he arrived here some 15 years ago ... one food market with a single fridge for its cold product, now how the cost today of bringing a truck across on the ferry is now US $300, the amount of litter around and no real plan for its disposal - no one wants to pay for trucking it back to the mainland, the amount of plastic bottles when before the locals would be happy to drink natural fruit out of the fruit itself but now wants its out of a tetra pack or plastic bottle with that added extra sugars, beer in cans and not as much available in recyclable bottles … Yes, this is happening not only here but all round the world.

The snorkelling on both occasions was not the best, water too murky and visibility not that great compared to the previous two times underwater on this trip. The amount and variety of fish seen was limited as well. With the recent rain in the area this may have been an explanation for the poor water condition.

Overall this 6.5 hours on the water was a nice relaxing day out with most of the times just listening to the wind flapping in the sails, the music, sound of the water lapping under the hull and at times enjoying the sun on ones face.

Dinner at Maracuya and one of their day’s specials was lobster with their pad thai. That plus an imported can of Presidentale beer from the Dominican Republic came to US$ 20. Don’t you love the tables set out on the tiny pier over the water, so close to the edge.