Here is a photo of Delphinus as we leave Juan Griego (Margarita) fully laden with rum and beer. See how low the waterline is!!! It's not quite this low (we were just coming down off a wave) but you get the idea. As Phillip says, with the rum stored on the starboard side of the boat, even if we're on a strong port tack our boat will still be upright. And in any anchorage, it will be easy to find our boat - ours is the one listing to one side!
It took a good day sail (50 or so miles) we arrived in La Blanquilla - what a lovely island. Along the way, P caught a 4 foot long Mahi-Mahi (they also call it dolphin, but not to be confused with the Flipper type dolphin). I feel awful whenever we catch a fish and make Phillip say something nice about him after he's done "the deed". By the way, Phillip just squirts some alcohol into the fish's gills and the fish goes to sleep very peacefully - there's no gaff or banging or violence and it really is the kindest way to do it. I can't even make eye contact with the fish while he's still alive or else I'd feel like I'd have to save him, so I just point the camera in its general direction and snap the shutter. Poor fish :-(
The guide books recommend checking in with the coastguard at La Blanquilla so Paul and Phillip dinghied over to the coastguard station and checked in.
We were in the most fabulous little bay, crystal clear water, great reefs, and we did some amazing snorkeling there. 
Look how clear the water is - you just jump over the side of the boat and you're in snorkeling paradise.
There were literally thousands of fish everywhere - it was like skiing through a heavy blizzard, almost disorientating because they were coming at you from all directions and you could easily swim through them without them parting for you - as far as the eye could see, there were fish. Amazing. My camera isn't really an underwater camera, it doesn't have much of a zoom and the casing is really just a plastic bag, so my underwater photos aren't great and don't do it justice.
Another view of the bay. These photos really don't show how truly incredible the water is - shades of turquoise you just can't imagine.
The following day we moved around the corner to the west side of the island but it was much bigger and very very windy so the snorkeling wasn't nearly as good as the first bay. In fact the first night there it was so rough in the anchorage I felt like we were at sea sailing, with pretty big waves constantly bashing the hull. The following day we moved to a different part of the same anchorage where it was quieter.
Paul and Joyce did a dive - Paul caught a lobster but it got a way (yay for the lobster!) but Phillip and I just snorkeled. Here below you can see Paul with the lobster in his net. I was snorkeling above them.
This time the Lady H was anchored just in front of us.
Originally Phillip and I were going to part ways with LadyH there and head to St. Thomas (a 2 night, 3 day sail) while LadyH would head off to Los Roquas and then the ABC islands. Our new genoa sail was being shipped to St. Thomas, so that was the main reason we needed to get there. Anyway, at dinner on our boat one night and after long discussions and looking at the maps and charts, we decided what the heck, let's go with LadyH to the ABC's! We could get the sail shipped to Bonaire from St. Thomas and we heard wonderful things about Los Roquas, so it was decided - no more St. Thomas, but Los Roquas and the ABC islands.
The guide books recommend checking in with the coastguard at La Blanquilla so Paul and Phillip dinghied over to the coastguard station and checked in.
We were in the most fabulous little bay, crystal clear water, great reefs, and we did some amazing snorkeling there. I just LOVED snorkeling in this bay - it was wonderful!
Look how clear the water is - you just jump over the side of the boat and you're in snorkeling paradise.There were literally thousands of fish everywhere - it was like skiing through a heavy blizzard, almost disorientating because they were coming at you from all directions and you could easily swim through them without them parting for you - as far as the eye could see, there were fish. Amazing. My camera isn't really an underwater camera, it doesn't have much of a zoom and the casing is really just a plastic bag, so my underwater photos aren't great and don't do it justice. The Lady H sits peacefully at anchor next to us.
Another view of the bay. These photos really don't show how truly incredible the water is - shades of turquoise you just can't imagine.
The following day we moved around the corner to the west side of the island but it was much bigger and very very windy so the snorkeling wasn't nearly as good as the first bay. In fact the first night there it was so rough in the anchorage I felt like we were at sea sailing, with pretty big waves constantly bashing the hull. The following day we moved to a different part of the same anchorage where it was quieter.
Paul and Joyce did a dive - Paul caught a lobster but it got a way (yay for the lobster!) but Phillip and I just snorkeled. Here below you can see Paul with the lobster in his net. I was snorkeling above them.
Here is a photo of some trunkfish that Joyce took. There were 5 of these little fellas hanging around together, so adorable - Joyce managed to get these three on film but look at the expression on his face on the top right - with the big lips forming the "oh". Great shot Joyce!
Another superb photo that Joyce took, of the two palm trees in the bay.
This time the Lady H was anchored just in front of us.Originally Phillip and I were going to part ways with LadyH there and head to St. Thomas (a 2 night, 3 day sail) while LadyH would head off to Los Roquas and then the ABC islands. Our new genoa sail was being shipped to St. Thomas, so that was the main reason we needed to get there. Anyway, at dinner on our boat one night and after long discussions and looking at the maps and charts, we decided what the heck, let's go with LadyH to the ABC's! We could get the sail shipped to Bonaire from St. Thomas and we heard wonderful things about Los Roquas, so it was decided - no more St. Thomas, but Los Roquas and the ABC islands.
