Sailing on Red Sail Sports’ 65-foot Catamaran in the Cayman Islands
Cavorting with Sting Rays and Coral Reefs on Grand Cayman in the Caribbean
He was a smooth operator, this one – his silky body caressing mine in most provocative ways. But I knew we wouldn’t be leaving together as his home was a large sandbar he shared with several of his wingmen – very large wingmen actually – emphasis on wing….. Although we’re visiting their habitat in the wild, let’s be clear here. They know where their next squid meal is coming from.
GETTING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH A STING RAY ON GRAND CAYMAN IS A MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE
But Midnight and I made close eye contact – and I mean close – his eyes were huge. We were so sympatico, as I held his huge slinky body in my outstretched arms, that I kissed him on the nose, which I later learned guaranteed me seven years of good luck.
A totally unexpected bonus.
Such was my introduction to the seductive appeal of sting rays as part of Red Sail Sports Sting Ray City and Snorkeling excursion near Rum Point on Grand Cayman, where my husband and I were spending two weeks. As we sailed to our next adventure, just being out on the open water in a 65-foot catamaran full-speed ahead is its own exhilarating experience.
In vivid contrast to the expansive grayness of the world of sting rays is the added snorkeling outing, also offered by Red Sail Sports. The cacophony of color of the myriads of itinerant fish exploring their coral reef home is a memory you’ll return to over and over again – an experience words cannot adequately convey.
But the warnings before entering the water – Red Sail provides all the snorkeling equipment, including vests to keep you afloat, if necessary – to avoid any contact with the reef made me feel almost homicidal if I were to even come too close. Coral reefs are very fragile and die from human contact.
But the fish are a different story – not that there’s actually any fear of human contact. But they are glorious as they flit all around you – and I was told, if you get really lucky, you may even see a turtle or a huge grouper. I settled for a whole lot of blue and yellow darlings, among their other colorful brethren. To add to the fun, you can check the fish guide on board to help identify the denizens of the deep with whom you’ve just communed. And even more fun – there’s a bar on board to reward you for all your water-based efforts.
CHAISE LOUNGES THAT MORE RESEMBLE BEDS ON GRAND CAYMAN GIVE A WHOLE NEW DIMENSION TO LYING ON A BEACH
Later, lying on a wide cushiony chaise lounge that more resembles a bed than a beach chair at Kaibo Beach, staring up at lofty palm trees swaying in the breeze, my foot pumping to the reggae music gently piped in and sipping on a Pina Colada, my mind occasionally focused on the sub-freezing temperatures back home. Yup – I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else – except maybe sharing another intimate moment with Midnight.
For more information, visit https://redsailcayman.com/.
Really vivid storytelling about the stingray encounter. The detail about Midnight's eyes and getting seven years of good luck from the kiss made it feel almost cinematic. I did a similair catamaran trip in the British Virgins a while back and the contrast between the grayscale stingray world and those technicolor coral reefs is spot on, like switching between two different planets underwater.