Another Caribbean Skiff Adventure...Lots of Pics

[Billy Bones]

We decided it was high time to see the new observation deck atop Buck Island. We set off as early as possible to avoid the heat of midday and the rush of tourists on the holiday weekend. After a moments hesitation over where to launch, we were off.

The day was just like one of John B's photos--a good breeze and nearly flat seas. This type of day means it will be pretty hot for the next couple of days, so our timing was perfect.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p6a2bfd9fd758d44abec6c9bb3877b9f2/f913cea2.jpg

I couldn't resist this picture, even though the halyard is a bit off. A last-minute repair to the downhaul forced me to lower my attachment point to the yard a bit so the jib would still tack cleanly without hanging up on the end of the yard.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p4d6606f8ff717b56f41f06f8f3d062f9/f913dda0.jpg

We hauled up on the south shore to the east of the pier and dragged her well above the surf line. The park visitor concessioneers hadn't made it out yet so we had the place mostly to ourselves.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p3831a6acd7e09c01ed48ad3dac87c91d/f913dd8f.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p78b1562ac585e1b5db8c77e8f287a732/f913dd99.jpg

On our hike to the 330' summit we stopped for an impromtu botany lesson. A number of the native orchids were in bloom--this one in a cactus. The bromeliads were in fine form too, and the cactus were going to fruit--yummy! There were a few cactus fruits in the trail which we helped ourselves to. In years past the rats would have found them and eaten them instantly, but thankfully, there are no more rats on the island.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p31011fadac9a36823bb3f910ce27c847/f913d4f3.jpg

Another native, this one not so friendly, is the Christmas bush, so named for its holly-like leaves which turn bright red at various times of the year.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/pb3bb347184fdb8d487c4e09cd7414c41/f913d501.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/p771e59afb83e005422422b7550938579/f913d4fb.jpg

Once at the top we had a stunning view of the north shore. Frigate birds were taking advantage of a breeze above us. The reef below has caused its share of shipwrecks and it is easy to see why. Off to the west St. Croix is visible in the area of Judith's fancy and Salt River is visible--my wife and I were married on that point. Columbus's only landfall in what is now America took place on his second voyage, right around the corner.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid110/pfd2889f9506ea4e4499f069836b45896/f913ce9f.jpg

Back down at the shoreline we stopped for a respite in the picnic shelter. The boat passing by is a St. Croix native--a plywood and epoxy creation by Gold Coast Yachts who are known for their smooth sailing cats. I must say she behaves quite nicely and moves a LOT of tourists quickly and with a minimum of fuss.

That was a Good Friday.

Enjoy your Easter weekend!

[rbgarr]

Billy- Thanks for the photos! I've still got my plans for and hopes of building a Pooduck like yours.

I went snorkelling in the Bucks Island underwater park forty years ago from one of those local multihulls. Saw my first (nurse) shark. On another day I was out late in Charlotte Amalie and got in a street fight (broken bottles!) with some folks in an alley I shouldn't have gone down. Still have the scar on my neck.

[ken mcclure]

Great pics - loved the story. Thanks!

A good Friday? That would have been a good ANY day from where I sit.

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Loved the story but a bit of a tease to not show a pic of your own boat. How 'bout one?

[imported_Steven Bauer]

Yeah, and what happened to the rats?

Steven

[Billy Bones]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid63/p743af0a89ee0b5359674c8562497c364/fc18f734.jpg

That's my pooduck skiff designed by Joel White. She's the larger sister to the shellback dinghy.

The absence of rats is a real success story. The National Park system is trying to remove non-native and/or invasive species from parks where possible, and the rats on Buck Island were a really good candidate for removal. They were putting huge pressure on the ecosystem, and were relics of slaver wrecks and the island's brief habitation. Now Buck Island is a nesting beach for several species of endangered and threatened sea turtles and birds, and the rats were laying waste to their reproductive efforts. Also, native plant species were being devestated by the rats who like to girdle plants in search of food. And they were annoying to park visitors--if you stayed out after sunset you had about a 5050 chance of a rat running up your pants leg. An intern a few years ago had one bite her on the nose while snoozing on the pier.

So they were targeted with a rat specific poison in special traps and voila, no more rats. Semiannual baiting since the project has never caught one rat, so the project seems a success. Once the rat population was thinned out a native mouse species appeared. Their existance was not even known while the rats were around. Genetic testing is being done on them now, but they appear to have no exagerated impact on the ecosystem.

Next is an effort to reintroduce the native and highly endangered St. Croix Ground lizard which is found only on two cays off the shore where mongoose and rats haven't done them in.

Sadly, the success stories in the VI are seldom human-oriented. Too many stories like RBGARR's are made every week, it seems. St. Croix is by far the least troubled island, but we've got our problems too. But we all do our bit to make a change.

[ 04-13-2004, 08:45 AM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[Donn]

Great pictures! I still can't get over the colors of the water. I spent a very nice week on your island many years ago (including a day at Bucks). Got up every morning and waded the small bay off our beach, casting for 'Cuda, which were plentiful. It's very exciting to catch a 4' mouthful of teeth while up to your chest in his element.

[rbgarr]

Speaking of the color of the Caribbean shallows, I've just read a book about the Apollo Moon landings, and the astronauts said that that part of the Carribbean was easy to make out even as far as way as the Moon. :cool: :cool:

[John B]

oh wow. fantastic shots Billy.
We just got back yesterday pm from 6 days away in overcast, blustery, cold and eventually wet (almost whited out) conditions which leave me pleased to be home. I also have the flu.
In other words ,its depressing to be here right now. smile.gif
Those photos are a tonic though. How far did you sail to get there? is there a strong current between the islands to be concerned about?

[Billy Bones]

John - sorry to hear of your flu! I don't have a lot of experience sailing in the rain, especially for anything more than a daysail. Now I can tell you a bit about scubadiving in a thunderstorm, though...

Buck Island is about a mile and a half away.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p7da22fec34eb4050e0039307c431abe8/f90088f8.jpg

Wind and current usually agree more-or-less. The chop caused by the constriction of the channel can be steep sometimes, and white-caps are common--there is usually a 'small craft advisory' out for the region, but lately the seas have been pretty flat. Even when rough the seas are fairly limited in the channel (seldom higher than 4') and particularly behind the reef, so our inclination to stay dry is usually the limiting factor, not the conditions.

Here is Buck Island and her reef system from the same series of arial photos...

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid112/p39fb06905f5d919d075a027312837d29/f90088fb.jpg

Get well soon!

[John B]

Thanks again Billy. I'm beating the lurgy.

That water clarity and colour is just amazing. We don't get anything like that here.
wind and wave together eh. Thats a good thing. The worst pieces of water around here are when you get a tide against wind in any sort of channel or strait. It can be character forming.