Night Swimming, Vieques

Vieques is a relatively small island off of Puerto Rico that was used by the military for bombing practice. After several locals were killed by a misguided bomb and protests ensured, the US relinquished and stopped bombing. We explored the town, called our friends on St. Thomas and were ready to move on.

Our guide book suggested anchoring in a beautiful bay away from town with a solid 8’ of water and an easy approach. Nonchalantly, we motored up this narrow harbor entrance and drove our boat into mud, stuck. We backed off and Angie asked a local fisherman which way to go. He gestured and spoke volumes of Spanish in an effort to help us. I think he was telling us about his family’s upcoming reunion and how well the local cricket team was doing this season. Based on our interpretation, we hugged the port shore and really parked Side By Side deep into the mud. I abandoned ship on a falling tide to sound the bottom on foot. Fortunately, I was able to find water passed my navel and we were able to ease our way out with both engines churning. We were lucky to get out of there.

At the next bay over, we found lots of water and a beautiful bay. Breaking the "no swimming during big fish feeding time" rule, we quietly immersed ourselves in the phosphorescent bay after dark. Like magic, swaths of water flashed to light as we moved our arms and legs about in suspended freedom of night swimming. Of course the peace was broken when the kids surmised a “cannon ball” splash off the boat would be awesome!! They looked like streaking balls of light exploding in the water.

The next morning, I was thumbing though the Spanish Virgin Islands mariners guide. To my surprise it said that starting a year ago, the bay we had been trying to access prohibits the use of motorized vessels and imposes a $1000.00 for entering this marine sanctuary. So that’s what the fishermen were saying. Also, the bay we did anchor in was off limits for bomb clearing. The canon ball could have been Side by Side had our anchor hit an old bomb. We are definitely getting new guide books!