30 October 2008, Half Moon Cay.

The weather gods looked favorable upon us today and we made Half Moon Cay. The frontal system had gone past the island sufficiently to not be a big issue. It was still very windy but from a steady North Easterly direction. That meant that I could drop the anchor and keep the nose into the wind by using the stern thruster. This way the wind had the least influence on the vessel and did not cause it to drift or put too much strain on the anchor so it would start to drag.

We arrived bright and early as I had so much extra time up my sleeve due to the cancellation of Grand Turk Island yesterday. Our official arrival time was 9 am. but I had the hook down by 07.30 giving the Hotel department ample time to set things up. Although the guests visit the island, it is still the ship that takes care of the catering on the islands. That meant we have to get all the supplies off the ship in time to get everything prepared ashore for the guests to enjoy, when they arrive. To facilitate this a big supply boat comes out, the Half Moon Clipper that docks alongside the ship. It then uses its crane to collect a number of cradles with cold drinks, food and anything else that is needed for the catering of the guests. Just before sailing time, the left over’s, containers and empties are returned to the ship in the same way. It is quite a logistical challenge to get this done all in a smooth and quick way.

The Half moon clipper ferries supplies to and from the ship and also brings and takes Island personell for working on the island

At the same time shore tenders arrive at the ship to start ferrying guests ashore. Until recently we had to use our own tenders. For the smaller ships that was not such an issue, but for the Vista Class it created problems, as when after breakfast, all 2000 people decide to go ashore at the same time. A ships tender holds about 80 guests, including beach gear and shopping bags. Thus the company had two specialized shore tenders built, the Henry Hudson and the Anne Bonnie, plus engages a 3rd one, the Rookie for getting the guests ashore quickly and safely. Two runs with each tender and the ship is empty and all guests on the beach.

One of two identical tenders, the Henry hudson can carry 245 guests to and from the island.

For me it is a great system as well, as it saves me so much time on departure. It is a given that a lot of guests want to return to the ship at the last moment and that means that the ship still needs 45 minutes after the last guest has returned to retrieve the tenders and the tender platform. Lost time; that I really cannot afford with Tampa being the home port, as there is the Gulf Stream to battle against while heading home.

Although it was windy, the sun started to peak through the clouds by 9 am. and by 10 am. it was a pleasant beach day. I spent most of the morning on the bridge as I did not feel completely comfortable with so much wind blowing. However the wind remained from a steady direction and there was good holding ground for the anchor in the bay, so the Veendam remained where I had parked her on arrival. For the tenders the biggest problem is the swell but with the North Easterly wind the island provided a nice barrier against the ocean swell and there were only wavelets in West Bay which did not affect the tender operation.

Just before 3pm. our official departure time, the last tender with 200 guests returned to the ship, the Half Moon Clipper brought back the catering materials and I could leave exactly on time.

Accordingly to the forecasters, the wind will remain steady from the North East with 20 knots and that means that we should have a bit of a push in the back when sail westwards towards the Straits of Florida. The Gulf Stream is supposed to be in the middle of the Straits at the moment, so I have set a course close to the shore of Miami and Key West where I should have the least opposing current.

Note: All photos courtesy of chief officer Remko Fehr.