Gilligan’s Island

We decided it was time to get back on the Van Sant (author of the guidebook "Gentleman's Guide to Passages South") schedule and departed Boqueron at 3:30am, however, it was closer to 4:00 am by the time we actually got underway. We have never had any issues with our anchor system but that morning the chain was stuck in the metal descending tube and would not go up or down. Walter went below to see what could be done and I tried moving and wiggling the chain from above. Thank goodness the chain finally unkinked and we were able to raise the anchor and be on our way.

It was still dark and we could see a masthead light far ahead on Field Trip as they motor-sailed along the coast. The winds were still very mild but as the sun comes out and starts warming the land the wind soon follows and follow it did. By the time we reached Gilligan's Island we had over 25knots on the nose, but it was a good motor sail and we had made decent progress against the wind. As we anchored we watched a group of windsurfers tacking across the bay. What a perfect place to windsurf with steady Easterlies everyday.

Windsurfers on the inner lagoon near Gilligan's Island.

Gilligan's Island is a small state park with a ferry service bringing people over to the mangrove beaches throughout the day. We heard it wasn't unusual to have over 300 people visiting on the weekends but fortunately it wasn't too busy during our visit. As we were getting out of our dingy at the park dock we were met by one of the windsurfers, a friendly German named Gerd. He chatted with us and Field Trip and we learned he lived in the beautiful house across the bay and wind surfed everyday. In later conversations, we learned he spends his winters in Puerto Rico and summers in Redmond, Washington and used to work for Microsoft! He had retired some years ago and while visiting some friends in Puerto Rico discovered this bay and loves the island. More later.

Day trippers visit Gilligan's Island using the local ferry.

Many local families were enjoying the beach but most were in the water keeping cool. We found a nice spot near the end of the beach with a little shade and put our chairs out in the water to keep our feet cool. Mark decided to return to his boat and get a couple blow up toys and showed up with a large kayak and a very large blow up stand-up paddle board.

Michael with the kids.

Meryl is a natural on a stand-up paddleboard

The kids had a ball paddling and floating in the mangrove river and everyone got an opportunity to paddle the board upstream against the current and then speed downstream trying not to get hit by an overhead branch.

Walter takes his hand at SUP'ing towing Elizabeth and Michael behind.

Walter and I also attempted a little snorkeling upstream and got quite a workout trying to fight the current. We had to grab a mangrove root every so often to rest to keep from losing forward progress.

Meryl and Walter try snorkeling along the mangrove canals with a strong current.