| Cuan Law Captain's Log
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May 31- June 6
Will the diving wonders of the BVI never cease to enthral even the most experienced local divers? If Sasha says the southern sting rays were the biggest she had ever seen then you can be sure they were big! We got a tiny weather window to go out to the Chikuzen and boy, was it worth it. Also Captain Wooley's mistress seems to have found her way back to the Rhone again. Talking of the Rhone, was Jonny's version of her loss the highlight of the week? I had never realised that finger puppets and a monkey had played such a pivotal role in the tragic tale until he told it so dramatically. Brendan continued throwing any and all guests (who were daft enough) off the main deck via the trisail sheets and we ended up with a new two man kayak record of eleven people, yes all full sized adults no midgets or Oompa-Loompas included, at the BBQ. Oh, has anybody seen Bob and Annie?
THE RHONE STORY - PAST GUESTS WILL KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!
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May 17-May 23
Well what do you do for a dive group that has been on Cuanlaw twice before, presents you with a very long list of the dives they have done and the weather shuts out most of the North side and the South side diving? Well that is the beauty of the BVI, we went to 15 new (to the group) dives and visited some of the favourites from before. Captain Wooley's mistress made a reappearance after a 7 year absence, could it be that Dave, Barbara, Tom, Stephanie, Mike, Mary and all stole her away last time? Anyway, chasing down the Hobbie with Cuan and delivering a full guest and crew broadside, with biodegradable water balloons, was fun and I am sure we followed all the collision regulations at all times in the chase! I think that was the start of the playfulness that resulted in one of the biggest water fights amongst crew and guests ever and the decapitator became the toy/weapon of choice at the BBQ at the Baths.
Sorry, no photos again.
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May 10- May 16
So this week was quite a week, we dived just about everywhere and we used every method we knew of getting guests into the water, including Brendan's patented, and very basic, rope throwing. Uncle Chris pushed us to new levels of inventiveness, don't tell Duncan that was how the hammock got broken, but out of the madness kayak towing was born, long live kayak towing. The Baths became our playground for another day, rock jumping is now the BVI's official Olympic sport. And Steve and Matt both managed to give us heart attacks, at the same time! As always the week ended far too soon, why can't we have 8 or 9 day weeks on vacation? There is just too much to see and do!
Sorry no photos yet.
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April 27- May 5
Amongst this headboat group was a young man who had been with us as a very young man way back in the days of Misty Law with his parents!! He was on this trip with his wife and colleagues some of whom had been with us before. We also welcomed other returning guests the Greens and a few new faces. Again we went to Saba and had some great diving . Some of the more energetic members climbed the mountain from Windwardside - quite a feat I can tell you. From there we sailed to Anguilla and found new dive sites, a new wreck and two amazingly deserted beaches. Great for everyone as some people were not divers. We set sail for Sombrero early afternoon and had the amazing fortune to be close to a humpback mother and calf - something many had never seen. It was magical!
BRIAN BEVANS AND WIFE CYNTHIA WITH RUINS ON SOMBRERO
They swam together under the starboard float when we were sailing at ten knots! We held our breath in case we touched them but Mother was too wise. We anchored off the old lighthouse cliff and spent 24 hours snorkelling, diving and exploring the now deserted 'rocky island'. The lighthouse is battery operated and no longer needs the services of the Trinity House Lighthousekeepers who used to live there. Brian Bevans, like us, remembers the old light which had to be 'wound up', trimmed and lit by hand each evening.
Great for nesting and migrating birds who no longer fear human beings. A few sharks were sighted! Then overnight back to the BVI where the algae bloom sadly still persisted. Great bbq at the Crawl and then to Salt Island for a day of diving on the Rhone. I have to mention an amazing lady on this trip who was seasick 80% of the time but never complained or gave her husband a hard time- it was a pleasure to meet you and spend time with you, but I am not going to name you! Again Dunc and I were allowed to be on the trip as passengers/crew!
Written by Annie Muirhead
SOME OF THE GROUP ENJOYING THE SUNDECK
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April13-April25,2009
SOME MEMBERS OF THE TEN TON CLUB
It seemed that many things conspired against us all that trip - the wind blew hard and a very rare algae bloom had come as far north as the BVI from the Orinocco runoff making visibility as little as 30 feet, that is until you got below a 100 feet in Saba. In spite of all this, the trip was full of excitement - rough night sail from St Barts to Barbuda which provided us with a magical day ashore. Caves, carvings and a 'Friggery'. Even better than ones seen in Galapagos. Fast exciting sail to Monsterrat with a 'voyaging type' dinner which caused a great deal of laughter and then arriving in the dark at the northern end of what is left of the beautifully green tropical Island. We motored down the coast and sat off the Caribbean's modern day Pompeii - Plymouth now lies under many feet of ash with the still active volcano looming above it. I think the picture tells it all.
 "Neredondavis" was a new and exciting dive site in the middle of nowhere en route to Nevis and St Kitts. Name came as a result of competition won by Mark Scholle, our lawyer and Honorary Standby Engineer and only member of the Twenty Ton Club! Mark is seen here wearing his "uniform". (I can't seem to get him right way up!) We had several members of the Ten Ton Club on board all of whom have made at least ten trips with us, but Mark is the only one to have survived more than twenty! From there we went on to Saba and spent several great days in blasting winds diving and visiting ashore. Always a delight to visit such a different Caribbean island. Sadly then back to St Maarten and the end of a great trip - enjoyed particularly by us (Annie and Duncan) who we allowed to join it!
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