tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51878600139711794142024-03-05T21:12:23.910-05:00The Travels of 'Partners'The travels of a Kadey Krogen 42' trawler and its crew of two Richard & Lavinia Maggs.Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-79689182315601220812016-10-24T12:41:00.003-04:002016-10-28T14:29:20.571-04:00Four years in the Eastern Caribbean and still loving it!<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">October 24<sup>th</sup> 2016</span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Position 12° 27.480’ N</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 29.072’ W<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Tyrrel Bay Carriacou<br />
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The trawler in the centre of the map with the dinghy behind, nearest to the beach, is 'Partners'!<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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Our time in Chaguaramas this year would be spent doing jobs only, not including a haul out, our antifouling paint has done well this season, mainly due to a year of longer and more frequent passages we think which keeps the ablative paint clear of slim and active. The job list includes replacing the bilge pump in the engine room, replacing the shower sump drain pump and auto switch, replacing our fuel polishing pump and installing a new scavenging pump to give us the ability to drain any water or 'bad' fuel that may be in any of the fuel tanks. It will be plumbed into the supply manifold so I will be able to select from any of the four tanks.We once did take on some dirty fuel from a fuel truck and it took us a long time and many expensive racor filters to eradicate the problem, the scavenging pump will eliminate much of the filter changing as it will be able to eject the dirty fuel straight into a five gallon bucket prior to getting as far as the filtering system. There will be no more draining of the racor fuel bowls multiple times. We also will be fitting a new reverse osmosis high pressure pump for our water maker together with a new membrane. We have a great source here in Chaguaramas for our water maker service and he is able to rebuild our old RO pump for use as a spare. Some minor varnish work and deck cleaning will also be done. That's about it... The rest of our stay will allow us time to fly to Florida for our annual family, friends and doctor visits and upon our return to Trinidad we will rent a car for a few days to explore, shop and provision.<br />
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My daughters condo right on the </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_mQKHnRPrHrvG27bIxOMIvImOuOmRAV4NxGdPFqMsCLqj_8O3ioGN2LNPDCPTTdlq4aI8XipuR93PAp3aouvIz8n-y3bgGkHuVNv38rXR0g3x96XDpk3YzaA2b2piUW__R5O1lE0e5Jh/s1600/Port-Everglades-Ft-Lauderdale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>We flew to Miami, Florida on the 24th September and stayed that first night in Ft. Lauderdale where we visited my youngest daughter Georgina, she kindly accommodated us in her magnificent apartment overlooking the ocean and the inlet; we could see all the cruise ships about to take their excited passengers to the Caribbean!<br />
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Our trip north to Sarasota was quick and easy, a complete contrast from the driving we had just done in Trinidad with the car we rented there. In the States it is easy to take for granted the magnificent interstate and road system. In the Caribbean one is constantly looking for potholes that will pop a tyre, it has happened to us! The contrast here is being able to travel hundred's of miles using 'cruise control' never thinking of the possibility that a pothole will ruin ones day! In Sarasota we are staying with FOJ and his wife Carol who kindly continue to make us welcome and feel like family. This year, however, we will be moving around a bit; John and Carol are travelling to China for a vacation and we will be 'moving' to other good friends Bill and Kris for our last five days here in Sarasota. After the 10th we travel to Jacksonville to see my eldest son Anthony and his fiancée Tracy whom we have not met. Our last stops will be in New Smyrna to see our great friends and fellow cruisers Bill and Ann onboard Ann-Louise their 58' Krogen, then one final visit to my youngest daughter Georgina and our granddaughters Christina (15) and Victoria (16) visiting their auntie from their native Norway. While here in Sarasota we have managed to see a number of friends and also my son Christopher, his wife and our two grandchildren Isabella (11) and Matthew (9). It is great seeing how they are maturing and it is so nice to have time for conversation face to face rather than via text messages and FaceTime. All together time is short and with annual doctor visits to attend and essential 'can't get in the Caribbean' shopping our disappointment in not being able to stay longer. <br />
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We will be returning to Trinidad on the 18th October and are looking forward to starting our fifth season in the Eastern Caribbean. When we started our cruising adventure back in February 2013 we really didn't know how long we would be doing it for, 5 years, 10 years we had no plan and still don't... We still love the 'Islands' and now feel as though we live here, we no longer view Florida, where we lived for nearly 40 years, as our home. It is strange how our mental approach to things change with time. All of you will relate, I am sure, if you have moved from one part of the country to another; how long is it before your new location becomes 'Home' and you stop referring to your previous location as 'Home'? We realize that we have passed that point... It will be hard for us to give our cruising life style up which I have said a few times before in these ramblings. We do have fun talking about the future and will probably make the transfer back to land by still living onboard but will moor 'Partners' in various marinas back in the US. We fantasize about where we will settle, having lived in Florida for so long and having experienced the mountainous islands of the eastern Caribbean, we think a home/cabin in the mountains may be the next project...we will see.<br />
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Our cruising habit now is predominantly spent enjoying much more time in the islands we really like as opposed to having the compulsion to visit every island just because it is there and is the next island up the chain. We are now totally comfortable with making multi-day passages which makes this cruising style possible. Our favourite islands are, south to north, Trinidad, Carriacou, Mayreau and the Tobago Cays, Bequia, Martinique, Dominica, Les Saintes, Antigua and Culebra. A conspicuous absence from this list, you are probably thinking, are the US and British Virgins. We still visit and do stop at some beautiful anchorages but generally we do not stay for extended periods as there are now so many charter boats which makes the area so crowded and it has become so expensive as the islands do their best to extract every last dollar from the charter customers! Mooring balls abound at US$35 per night and the areas where one can anchor are becoming fewer and fewer. St. Thomas is an exception and we do stop there for a week or two as anchoring in Charlotte Amalie is easy and Christmas Cove, Great St. James Island and Magens Bay (no charter boats) on the North side of St. Thomas are just plain beautiful. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ah!</td></tr>
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As I write today we are in Sarasota, FL oh my, the bustle of life, the traffic, the feeling of confinement as we drive around downtown among the tall buildings, the hassle of finding a parking spot... Sarasota has change dramatically in the last 25 years. We have been lucky to have lived here during that time, Sarasota is a gem but for how much longer? It is bordering on the transition from a small provincial town to a large city, in another five years I predict the conversion will be complete. It has reminded us both how luck we are to live the idyllic lives we do...if any of you have a dream, not necessarily a cruising adventure, whatever your dream is, do it! Don't wait too long, perhaps even to the point where you can't do it due to health issues. For many of us we think we need a little more money, need to work a little longer, just do it now or as soon as you can! Life is a one shot deal, you get one chance at it and time is our most precious commodity, don't let it run out...<br />
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Lets divert and talk for a minute, another great thing about cruising are the people...the people we meet in the islands, the locals, most all are so welcoming, usually helpful and above all seem to be a gentle people. They are not 'driven' but are rather more content and happy that life has placed them in paradise; most know it, time is different to them, they have more of it. Time has a different perception to them, usually there is no rush for anything to be done (started) lest finished which can be frustrating but once us westerners 'catch' island time it becomes easier to accept the Caribbean way of life. Things will get done but it just might take a while! Now, this is a generalization and doesn't apply to everyone everywhere. To the crew of 'Partners' we think it does apply to the people of the southern Leeward Islands and all of the Grenadines. The exceptions, to an extent, are the French Islands which are literally a part of France and their people are definitely more industrious with a pace of life that is somewhat quicker...punctuality exists here! The disease that so many cruisers 'catch' is procrastination. It is strange because most of us were taught to make decisions. I remember being told "make a decision even if it turns out to be the wrong one!". We have all come across 'mañana' well, here in the Caribbean, it is alive and well too! Obviously we cruisers react to things promptly when necessary but a non-essential task has been known to be put off! We have learnt to be flexible and be able to change direction, drop everything quickly, in favour of a fun activity or social gathering. The cruisers themselves are the biggest treasure, the cruising community is small and very soon, after arriving in the Eastern Caribbean, one will be welcomed into the fold. Remember all of us are 'living our dream' so there is instantly a common denominator, we are all, young or old, boaters, which is the other common denominator. Cruising is a great leveler, one no longer is interested in what one may have done for a living, how much money one may have etc., we are all 'just' cruisers and we accept each other for the people we are. There is no station, class, nationality...we are all simply cruisers. It is very common for complete strangers to stop by another boat in an anchorage and introduce oneself, often culminating in joining together that very evening for cocktails, the barriers of familiarity that exist in 'civvy' street don't prevail here. The camaraderie is strong, we all help each other where possible, lending a hand, a spare part, an egg or a cup of flour; kind of like life in the small village I grew up in over half a century ago in the English countryside. Having cruised in the Eastern Caribbean now for four years we have met many other cruisers almost without exception wonderful people, we have made some lasting friendships with super, special and very interesting people. I know that a good number of these friendships will sustain us for the rest of our lives...our cruising experience has been priceless but has been made all the more enjoyable and worthwhile by our island hosts and the cruisers we have met...<br />
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Here are some pictures of 'Partners' taken by our friends onboard 'Wild Cat' as we were both on passage from Bequia to Carriacou. <br />
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Can you imagine being onboard your own boat cruising these beautiful blue waters? I hope you can, maybe cruising is your dream. Just for the record and to be honest, we spent over a year living aboard preparing 'Partners' and ourselves to go cruising. We kept postponing our departure for one reason or another. When we finally cut the dock lines we thought we were 'ready' but we weren't! We may just as well have left earlier! Cruising is one of those things, like life, that you become more proficient at the longer you do it. Obviously one assumes the boat is safe and seaworthy before you go to sea but do you have all the right spare parts, do you have everything etc., etc., you won't ever be that ready! I took classes on diesel engine maintenance but it took a couple of years after we left before I became fully comfortable tackling most maintenance jobs on our Ford Lehman main engine and our Northern Lights generator. One doesn't really get to know ones boat until you are actually cruising her but that is part of the adventure! This blog is partly to record our cruising adventure and partly to, hopefully, inspires and encourage some of our readers to take the leap of faith necessary to sail away to a life of freedom and what will be, an<i> <b>incredible</b></i> adventure!<br />
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Oct. 5th moving day! Today we say goodbye to our dear friends FOJ and Carol who so unselfishly open their home to us every time we return to Florida...thank you once again. "Hello" to other great long time friends Bill and Kris who are going to put up with us for a week before we drive to see and stay with our oldest son Anthony in Jacksonville. Bill and Kris have a new home on the water here in Sarasota which we hadn't seen. Wow, what a beautiful home! We hadn't seen Bill & Kris for over a year so had much to catch up on. We stayed with them for five days and for us anyway it was a great visit with wonderful meals, a fabulous outing to their yacht club for a jazz night and many fun conversations about a multitude of topics, Bill & I love to talk, the problems of the world are now sorted out!</div>
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We drove from Sarasota to Jacksonville on the 11th Oct. on the way we diverted to Flagler Beach where I used to live 26 years ago and where hurricane Matthew did severe damage to the town and to A1A which is adjacent to the ocean. Much of the road was washed away and many houses were destroyed. We drove around and saw our old house, the neighbourhood had changed a little but not much considering the time lapse, fortunately the whole street faired well in the storm. After this short nostalgic visit we continued on to Jacksonville. After an uneventful journey we arrived at my eldest son Anthony's home; that evening we met Tracy his fiancée for the first time, we couldn't be happier, what a super young lady. We spent a very special four days with them laughing, talking and hearing all about how they met, fell in love and about their lives together so far. They will be getting married in April and we will be flying back again from the Caribbean for the big day!<br />
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Oct. 15th. On the road again heading south, our destination New Smyrna Beach, FL where our great friends Bill & Ann Miller are at the moment onboard their boat Ann Louise, a 58' Kadey Krogen. We became good friends while cruising in the Greater Antilles, Bill and Ann gave us undaunting support when we were at our lowest, talking of selling Partners and giving up the cruising life which had barely started, due to a fuel delivery problem that literally stopped our one and only engine every fifteen minutes. (refer to blog entries:- The Windward's and The Windward's II for the final solution to the "air in the fuel" problem) We managed to get the engine going every time it stopped and during our trip from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico Bill and Ann stuck close by all the way as we crossed the Mona Passage. Anyway, we became great friends. Ann sadly met with a very bad accident in Les Saintes and, after emergency surgery in Guadeloupe, was flown to Atlanta, GA where more surgeries ensued and a lengthy recovery commenced. I am pleased to hear now that her treatment is almost complete after 18 months! What a journey! Sadly our visit is to be a short one as we have one more stop to see two of our granddaughters who had flown from Norway where they live, my eldest daughter married a Norwegian, to stay with their aunt my youngest daughter Georgina at her home in Ft. Lauderdale. We had a great visit with Bill and Ann and a short but wonderful reunion with our granddaughters.<br />
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Granddaughters Victoria, Christina and </div>
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daughter Georgina in Ft. Lauderdale.</div>
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All too short unfortunately and our three plus week visit is at an end. We climbed aboard the plane on the 18th for our flight back to Trinidad and our home, the good ship 'Partners'.</div>
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<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-30587577877294796402016-09-29T17:41:00.000-04:002016-10-11T06:38:54.814-04:00The ups and downs of life as a cruiser!Crews Inn Marina, Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">September 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 2016</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
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</span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 10° 40.754’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 37.940’ W</span></span></div>
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After a calm passage from BVI to St. Martin we returned to Nettle Bay with a plan to stay approximately a week to top up our provisions before continuing southeast to Antigua. The plan didn't come to pass! On our first night one of the prisms in our foredeck, the one over the bottom of our bed, started to leak! For the next few nights we had to sleep with a bucket at the end of the bed! After making several enquiries it appeared we were definitely in the right place to get this work done. <br />
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We engaged Palapa Shipwrights to undertake the work. We decided to have the whole foredeck refurbished and the four prisms reseated plus the bench and storage in front of the pilot house completely rebuilt. Three weeks later and nearly US$7,000.00 we were 'dry' and were the owners of a very pretty foredeck...the job was executed to perfection and we shout out a loud "thank you" to Chris and his crew for a job well done.<br />
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Because of our delay we have decided to 'miss' Antigua and passage non-stop to Sainte-Anne, Martinique. This trip is a two nights at sea duration about 240 NM's. We definitely needed our stabilizers for the first stretch but once we had altered course from the island of Nevis directly towards the SW corner of Martinique we received a little lee from Monserrat, then Guadeloupe and more lee as we passed close to Martinique. Before too long we were into our passage making routine and although our arrival was welcome we did arrive well rested. Our first excursion from our great anchorage at Sainte-Anne was to Leader Price to buy the 'French' items we crave, cheeses, wine and wonderful fresh vegetables. On our way back the last item was the requisite baguette!<br />
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Early on our second day I started my routine maintenance in the engine room and as usual announced to Lavinia that the engine room hatch was open! Within two minutes she rose from the salon and walked to the galley and fell into the 'hole'. For some unknown reason she was oblivious to the hatch being open and the announcement I had made. She knew immediately that there was a problem and we put a call out on the VHF for help. I managed to lift her out, inflicting much pain in the process. James and Pam from S/V Love-Zur answered my call...they happened to have a rental car and offered to transport Lavinia to the hospital. That sounded easy but first I had to lower Lavinia into the dinghy all the time trying not to hurt her. It was becoming apparent that her ribs were broken and that possibly there was a shoulder injury. At the other end the dinghy dock in Sainte-Anne is beautiful but tall so here again a difficult task presented itself, how to get her from dinghy to dock. Eventually we were on the dock and walking toward the church square where we were meeting James and Pam, there they were! The time now 07:30. Soon we arrived at the hospital in Le Marin, she was seen immediately and was ushered off. I asked to accompany her but that request was turned down, only the patient was allowed into the hospital and we all had to stay in the waiting room. After a short time Lavinia reappeared holding x-rays and with the news that she had broken 5 ribs on the right side of her back! The doctor wanted her to go to Fort de France to have more x-rays and have a specialist confirm that there was no puncturing of the lung. An ambulance took her on the hour plus drive, again I was not allowed to accompany her. We did not follow but agreed to pick her up as the ambulance would not bring her back? It was nearly 22:00 before Lavinia called and we set off. James and Pam had given up their whole day to help us and we will be eternally grateful to them both. The 'up' side of the whole event was that the total bill amounted to less than 80 Euros, unbelievable! Do we pay too much in the USA?<br />
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The next two weeks were spent in Sainte-Anne allowing Lavinia time to establish her healing process which was forecast to be 6-8 weeks. Once she confirmed that she thought she could bare the movement of travelling at sea we planned our next leg which would take us to Bequia, situated just south of the island of St. Vincent. Fortunately we had a calm journey and Lavinia coped very well. We stayed in Bequia for two more weeks, still boat bound as Lavinia did not want to negotiate the swim platform and get into the dinghy. Not an exciting time but essential as part of the healing process. Bequia to Carriacou would be our next hop and we were able to find a great weather window to allow our cruising companions to sail as we motored. Arrival in Carriacou was very welcome as we stay here during late June, July and August the beginning of Hurricane season. Lavinia became more and more comfortable and began to swim every day. Carriacou is our southern 'Home', we love it although it is becoming more and more popular and much more crowded. Nevertheless we still like the island and it's people. We anchor in Tyrrel Bay although we do venture to other anchorages around the island. Carriacou is also a good place to take excursions to the Grenadines to the north and we usually visit Union Island, Mayreau and the Tobago Cays while there but this year we didn't mainly due to Lavinia's injury. We were both able to enjoy the Regatta which is always a great time in Carriacou. Every year as many of last years gang congregate for the requisite annual photograph. This year we were short one member from last year, sadly Alan Reynolds unexpectedly passed on. A big decision had to be made, should a female be invited to the group...we had a unanimous YES so our good friend Silke was invited to have her picture taken!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken in Carriacou, a Gurnard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw1dMg2s9hcQrvAEcVg59p98idEyDMwgFrbD_GVBvuAyRp4JBNq-T7pwOlSoNsi7J5BE8Wg6XtJMRJJSwRDQEBsccee0iipjF0_MiRjnDxIQLFTDrN6FCa5zR7UY75lsBJmY00y5qAJlO/s1600/2016+regatta+pic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw1dMg2s9hcQrvAEcVg59p98idEyDMwgFrbD_GVBvuAyRp4JBNq-T7pwOlSoNsi7J5BE8Wg6XtJMRJJSwRDQEBsccee0iipjF0_MiRjnDxIQLFTDrN6FCa5zR7UY75lsBJmY00y5qAJlO/s200/2016+regatta+pic.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carriacou Regatta 2016, left to right:<br />
Me, Silke, Les and Gus</td></tr>
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We have a reservation in Crews Inn Marina, Chaguaramas, Trindad for arrival September 1st so it is time to plan the last transit of the season. Golightly, who we caught up with, would be travelling with us to Trinidad for his first visit there. We split the journey into two legs the first to Clarkes Court Bay, Grenada and then the long passage on to Chaguaramas. Due to a great weather window we left early on the 25th August. We cleared out at Le Phare Blue Marina and off we went...after a 19 hour run and a 'smooth' passage we arrived in Trinidad. This year was the first time that we did not take the direct route. We doglegged east to about 6NM east of Poinsettia Rig and aimed for a position just off the coast of Trinidad about 16NM from the Boca's. The recent boldness of the pirates, reportedly Venezuelan, made us consider this change from our normal route. We arrived at dawn, having made our passage in darkness with all our navigation lights off and our AIS transmit off. At 06:00 daylight came...it is always exciting to see the north range and pass through the Boca's, they are so dramatic!<br />
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<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-57380266827771041552016-04-21T08:35:00.000-04:002016-10-10T06:59:19.796-04:00It's been a long time!Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">April 24<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 2016</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 18° 20.094’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>64° 55.508’ W</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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I've been terribly lazy this past year, there is an explanation however, more like an excuse actually... Since buying 'Partners' over five years ago and moving aboard her permanently, to find a viable and accessible internet connection using our Wirie AP signal booster has become more and more difficult. To find free stations to use onboard they must be password free or one must know the password, they also must be strong enough to be viable from a speed standpoint. Most people and businesses, like us all, have become much more security conscious over recent years and protect their systems with a password, so accessibility is not possible for those stations. Internet in the Eastern Caribbean is not like on the mainland of first world countries such as most European nations, the United States and Asia. Some islands are only now just beginning to introduce 4G, only in Puerto Rico have we come across LTE service. We could access reasonable WiFi ashore in many of the cafés that provide it to their patrons. The thing here though, packing up ones laptop in a splash proof dry bag, dinghying ashore and then walking to said café becomes a low priority. Sitting in a café requires one to buy a drink/food to justify ones tenure so after five coca cola's i.e. sixty spoons of sugar, participation in this excursion should be avoided at all cost! So, this ramble is to explain that once it becomes difficult to write and publish a blog, also to post high definition pictures, guess what...it goes to the 'back burner' list and doesn't get addressed, I'm guilty! We are presently in Chaguaramas Trinidad where we are taking shelter from the risks of storms during hurricane season and here we have fairly good free internet onboard provided by Crews Inn Marina where we are berthed, so here I am tapping the keys again...<br />
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It has been over a year since I have written and much has happened; After leaving Chaguaramas in Late November 2015 we set sail north for a non-stop passage to Sainte-Anne, Martinique, the route took us to Point Saline at the SW corner of Granada and then a rhumb line course directly to Sainte-Anne, a total of 258nm, we stood 'three on and three off' watches during the night hours, 19:00 - 07:00, which suites us. During the day it is a free for all with whomever wanting to take watch staying in the pilothouse while the other either sleeps, eats or reads. The passage was uneventful. We stayed in Sainte-Anne for two weeks enjoying the wonderful French food, wine and cheese. Being a full department of France all the goods required to sustain the island are shipped or flown in from France, very little, if anything comes from the United States or other Islands. We feel the quality of all produce and foodstuff is of the highest standard. The influence of Europe is evident where there is a move away from and to ban any foods that are genetically modified. The meat is void of hormones and the cattle are grass fed. All this adds up to, what we feel, is a more healthy lifestyle. Anyway, we love the civilized way of life, lunchtime is sacred with almost all people stopping to enjoy an hour or two's break; the shops close and the restaurant's buzz with activity. Lunch, for many here, is the main meal of the day and those eating a good lunch may have a light leisurely dinner later in the evening. It is not unusual to find many restaurants' still open after 10PM full with patrons enjoying conversation, wine and a little food. Weekends too remain sacred with some shops closing on both Saturday and Sunday and most shops closing on Sunday.</div>
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By early December we began to prepare for our next passage which was to Antigua where once again we had planned to spend the Christmas Holidays. A group of us had planned a Christmas gathering many months previously and having had such a great time in Antigua for Christmas 2015 Gavin, onboard 'Secret Smile,' was the instigator to, once again, try and repeat that event. Many of us were now anchored in Saint-Anne so the plan was to travel north together stopping in Portsmouth, Dominica and Deshaies, Guadeloupe for overnight rests before reaching Antigua. In Deshaies we went ashore to clear out from France and also to visit one of the best pizza restaurants in the Caribbean, oh it was good! All was well overnight and in the early hours of the morning half a dozen boats set off from Deshaies towards Jolly Harbour, Antigua. the conditions were favourable with steady east winds and 4' or less seas, ideal conditions for the sailing boats and perfectly okay for 'Partners', while our stabilizers were working! You guessed it, half way to Antigua, a 40 plus nautical mile passage, our stabilizers stopped working. Upon inspection it was apparent that the system had lost oil pressure indicating a leak somewhere. Without stabilization our round bilge, full displacement hull, was rolling! Life became quite uncomfortable, not dangerous but uncomfortable. We finished the trip and were very happy to arrive at Jolly Harbour. We cleared in to Antigua at the Immigration, Customs and Port Authority offices which are a short dinghy ride from the anchorage. We only stayed in Jolly for a couple of days before we travelled south and east round to Falmouth Harbour which was to be our anchorage for the Holidays. We were able to find a hydraulic technician to work on our stabilizers. We carry many spares and the technician determined that we had a defective hydraulic ram on our starboard unit, fortunately we had a spare! It didn't take long to effect the repair and after a good test ride we approved the job. <br />
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By this time it is mid December and all the participants have arrived. 'Life on the Corner' the restaurant we enjoyed our Christmas Dinner in last year sadly was closed! We all made suggestions for a venue and eventually decided that Pillars, a very nice restaurant in Nelsons Dockyard was to be the Christmas dinner venue. We had many good evenings leading up to Christmas and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Pillars. After Christmas we left Falmouth Harbour and visited many of our favourite bays, Antigua is blessed with so many lovely beaches and bays and claims to have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year! Soon it was time for us to depart...<br />
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Lavinia and I with Les, our good friend onboard 'Golightly', had decided to visit St. Martin. Neither of us in three years of cruising the Eastern Caribbean, had cruised there. We planned to stop at Saint Bart's for a few days too. Our passage was uneventful and we made a safe arrival to Anse Colombier. In the bay there are many mooring balls which we used. Saint Bart's is a beautiful Island but being a playground for the rich and famous, is expensive! We enjoyed two days ashore walking around the capital Gustavia. We also marveled at the congregation of so many of the worlds biggest mega yachts which gravitate here for New Year festivities. St. Bart's is the place to be <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uhTHA5YQEwo9jpMyHTbTz4aTj96QZfmMwqMp2vlHlCSvMFZiP9GfnbbhoIBM1Ws8sigvtblX7RbX1UZG5w3G6JvFc06qH5_GQQnxjci0OyQ4nmAV9cd3BhSNx9kN5SuaR5CZiGvT5iyp/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uhTHA5YQEwo9jpMyHTbTz4aTj96QZfmMwqMp2vlHlCSvMFZiP9GfnbbhoIBM1Ws8sigvtblX7RbX1UZG5w3G6JvFc06qH5_GQQnxjci0OyQ4nmAV9cd3BhSNx9kN5SuaR5CZiGvT5iyp/s1600/DSC_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>for New Years Eve; the island has gained a reputation for great festivities and a good time, the word has definitely spread among the rich and famous...<br />
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Roman Abramovich yacht Eclipse </div>
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(533' Long)</div>
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Arctic P, with Mariah Carey and </div>
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her children onboard</div>
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Leander G, the yacht the </div>
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Queen Elizabeth II of England</div>
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was lent gratis by Sir Donald Gosling </div>
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around the UK in 2012</td></tr>
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Just 14 nm from St. Barts is Simpson Bay, St. Martin which is our next port of call. In over three years of cruising in the eastern Caribbean neither Partners nor Golightly, our sailing companion, had visited St. Martin. St. Martin is an island shared by the Netherlands and France, essentially split equally the French half is the north side of the island and the Dutch side is the southern side. The island does not have a boarder as such and once one is cleared into either country one has free rein to visit the whole island. St. Martin is completely duty free and therefore is an attractive destination from a shopping and provisioning standpoint, the selection of goods is fantastic and there is very little one cannot purchase here. For the items one cannot find the shipping of same is inexpensive, easy and duty free. In the centre of the island is a large lagoon providing a calm sheltered anchorage in all weather. The downside of the lagoon, however, is that it is extremely 'fertile'; barnacles grow overnight here irrespective of the type of antifouling paint one may have and a monthly scape is required to negate this unwelcome marine growth. For those cruisers planning a visit here it is my suggestion that if you are to enter the lagoon you do so through the Dutch bridge as the navigation is easy and depths are less worrisome than on the French side where groundings are common place. Once in the lagoon travel to either the Dutch or the French sides are possible. We decided to enter the lagoon and anchor on the French side in Nettle Bay...the water here is a little less fertile and clear, clear enough in our opinion to swim and make water. The area is also less crowded and generally quieter. Once anchored we all took Partners dinghy ashore to Island Water World chandlery on the French side where we could clear-in using the usual and inexpensive (2 euros), simple computer system common to all the French islands. By the way one must clear-in and out from St. Bart's and similarly the same in St. Martin which is unlike Martinique, Les Saintes and Guadeloupe where one clearance is good for travel to all the islands providing the visits are consecutive. There are bays on both the French and Dutch sides suitable for anchoring, the most popular being Marigot on the French side; the advantage of using Marigot is the clear blue water and less marine growth. It is almost as convenient as the lagoon and only requires a slightly longer dinghy ride to transit to the Dutch side of the island. The bay is well protected except from a northerly swell. St. Martin is an excellent place to have work done, there is every type of marine related business here and most appear to be reasonably priced. Les, unfortunately, had to replace his windlass while here and had unlimited choices of windlasses in the well stocked chandleries plus lots of choices of skilled labour to complete the installation. The provisioning choices here are limitless and we took advantage, mainly in the French supermarket's, to literally 'load up' with great French food before we left, it's sooo good. We all enjoyed St. Martin and will return...<br />
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Partners parted company with her sailing companion Golightly and we headed NW to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. I had a doctors appointment in St. Thomas in April and we wanted to cruise the British, US and Spanish Virgins.<br />
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Our anchorage with pink flamingo </div>
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Friends enjoying the view and lunch at</div>
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Hog Heaven, a must visit!</div>
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We arrive safely in Virgin Gorda and cleared in at Gun Creek where the dinghy dock is literally outside the customs and immigration office, very convenient. We always enjoy time here and visit both the Bitter End Yacht Club, Saba Rock and Hog Heaven, the view is not to be missed. Our anchorage here is just south of Prickly Pear towards the west end, we can dinghy everywhere within the North Sound from here. After a few days of relaxing we cruised west down the Sir Francis Drake channel to Jost Van Dyke in the BVI where we cleared-out. We love to anchor just south of Little Jost Van Dyke island it is usually empty, the water is crystal clear and swimming and snorkeling is a joy. The island is uninhabited although there is one very nice beach bar at the west end. Just across on the main island is Foxy's Taboo which is an annex to the legendary Foxy's located in Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke.</div>
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We spent the next month just island hopping in the Virgins before arriving in Farjardo, Puerto Rico. We stay in Sunbay Marina which has become our 'Northern' marina home. Olga, the owner, takes exceptional care of us and 'Partners' during our visits. We fuel up here, visit Costco's, Walmart, Home Depot and many other stores...Lavinia visits TJ Maxx and all those 'women' shops! By time we have completed our stay we are provisioned well enough to cruise for a couple of months without having to plan food stops, perfect for the British Virgin Islands where food and supplies are expensive. The USVI island of St. Thomas is a duty free island and is also reasonable for shopping although not quite like Puerto Rico. We like the Charlotte Amalie anchorage and the comings and goings of the cruise ships, is entertaining. Our favourite bay is Magens on the north side of the island it has a beautiful beach and is huge, bigger, in fact, than Charlotte Amalie. The beach is beautiful and the odd thing is that the bay is usually empty! A note for other cruisers is: one cannot beach ones dinghy so there are two options, one is to anchor just off the west end of the main beach and wade in, the other is: one can beach ones dinghy on the small beach on the west side of the bay from here it is possible to safely wade in; we often spend time on the little beach relaxing and swimming , it is so private and unspoiled. While in Magens Bay we met Tony and Angela, husband and wife crew of the 118' yacht Andrea Cay. </div>
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They invited us aboard to have a tour and oh, what a beautiful yacht and the room, the boat is huge! The engine room is a whole deck! We enjoyed each others company immensely and had a great few days together, subsequently have stayed in touch with them through Facebook. We sincerely hope that our cruising courses cross again soon. April has arrived and back to Charlotte Amalie we go, after my routine doctors visit we will begin our trek east and south. On our way round to Charlotte Amalie we stopped at several of our favourite anchoraged, Francis and Maho on St. John then to Christmas Cove where, of course, we had to have a pizza from the pizza boat 'Pizza Pi'. <br />
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One other obligatory visit was to the 'Room With a View' in Charlotte Amalie. The happy hour prices are terrific!<br />
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It is now the third week in April and we are looking for a weather window to set off back to St. Martin. Our plan is to 'Yellow' flag it through the BVI...</div>
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Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-37683249121489597202015-10-18T08:58:00.002-04:002016-03-08T07:52:33.426-05:00The lure of the Caribbean<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">March 19<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 2015<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 18° 17.246’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>65° 38.016’ W</span><br />
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I haven't written for a long time so I will try and catch up! <br />
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February 10th - March 10th. We spent a wonderful month in Florida although the cold weather for the first two weeks was a shock. It was unseasonably cold and a few records were broken with the cold temperatures. We survived nevertheless and enjoyed seeing friends and family. We stayed at our good friends John and Carol's home...they were to be away for a while in Honduras, with a group of other volunteers, where they provide help to orphaned children, just a wonderful cause. John is a Rotarian and it is through this organization that the trips are arranged. They make furniture for the school and orphanage, repair things and generally provide some services that the local people either lack the skills for or cannot afford to provide. While they were away we looked after their standard, 6 month old, poodle and another of the party's four year old black Labrador. We have not had a dog before and this was an experience. Quickly the two canines accepted us and the two weeks were fine, in fact we were exercised daily by the dogs who took us for walks (as apposed to us taking them)! In spite of the daily walks I still gained a few pounds due to the kindness of good friends inviting us to dinner! We had a great time and it was so good seeing and catching up with friends here in Sarasota, friends that draw us back and enable us to still call Sarasota 'Home'. Our medical visits were all successful and without event so that was a relief! These good results will enable us to continue living our dream for at least another year. It is a good feeling to have our health checked and to receive a good report. We have never been away from 'Partners' for this length of time before and are missing her. Today is the 1st of March and we are beginning to pack our stuff ready for our return. We are still awaiting the package from Naiad with all the necessary parts to service our stabilizers and to install the automatic pinning device. I know it is on it's way and weighs 23lbs! Lavinia, of course, has been buying some essential items that we have to have, you men out there know what I mean, right? As a result we have bought another suitcase to accommodate the extra things we have bought, I just hope that it is big enough! <br />
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It is the <span style="font-family: "calibri";">6<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></span> March and we said our goodbyes to FOJ and Carol, their unbelievable kindness and hospitality has first, made our long visit possible and second, so enjoyable. They opened their home to us, truly as if it was our own...a huge thank you both!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night time view 34 floors up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Atlantic Ocean from orbit!</td></tr>
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We spent the last few days of our visit in Miami seeing my youngest daughter Georgina. She lives on the beach on the 34th floor of a condo complex...wow! The view is outstanding, just breathtaking! We had fun, experiencing the hustle bustle of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami but had experienced enough after four days and were glad to board the plane!<br />
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Arriving back in Puerto Rico we spent our first four days provisioning for our cruising season. Puerto Rico, like the United States, has Costco's and all the retail facilities that provide everything one could possibly want. Our provisioning really consists of buying things like toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning product and dry foods such as rice, pasta, cereal also canned goods like soups, chicken breast, tuna etc., we try to shop frequently in the islands for the daily fresh vegetables, meat and dairy products. We either bake our own bread or buy it locally. The canned goods enable us to remain in an out of the way location if we choose and not have to worry about food. Our canned and dried provisions can 'stretch' our ability to stay away from civilization if we want or need to. It is also easier to stock up with such items as oil and filters for Mr. White and Stonewall Jackson. We carry an over supply of 2 micron fuel filter for our fuel polishing system and Racor fuel filters and maintain a good stock of impellers and engine belts as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Partners' in Fajardo, PR at Sunbay Marina. <br />
Picture by Brian Smillie, m/v 'Gotta Smile'</td></tr>
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As we cruise Lavinia and I frequently talk about where we would like to cruise next... We talk about the east coast of the United States, up to Maine and as far north as Newfoundland. We have a hankering to see the San Blas Islands and Cartagena, Columbia, from where we can explore a little of the South American interior. There is also Central America, so many choices...as much as we talk about leaving the eastern Caribbean we are still here! <em><strong>The lure of the islands</strong></em> is strong and I am sure that many cruisers have experienced the same feelings and decisions or indecision's as we face. We are still here in the eastern Caribbean and enjoying ourselves and have decided to stay for another year or two. The Eastern Caribbean is unique in so much as it has so many different island nations, close enough to 'island hop' easily between them. It is exciting having different countries and islands to visit and choose from. Around the world there are plenty of countries that have many islands but they are all the same country with the same culture. In the Eastern Caribbean there is so much diversity. <br />
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Our next stop when we leave Sunbay Marina will be Puerto del Rey Marina some 4 nm south where we will be hauled out in order to have our stabilizers serviced. The through-hull seals should be replaced every three years and it is time, we are also going to replace the hydraulic rams, one of which has bad internal seals. The item I am most excited about is the Centre Locking Device. When we are at rest the fins require pinning so that they don't move and bang when the boat rolls. The job is a pain in the neck and requires me to crawl into very hard to get to places to manually put the pins into place. The Centre Locking Device performs this procedure automatically and I can't wait, it will be a real treat to have it.<br />
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Arriving back in San Juan we met up with Sue and Rich Klumb, Sue and Rich spend most of their cruising lives in and around Culebra and the Spanish Virgins. They just happened to be traveling to and returning from Florida on the same days as us so we shared a rental car from San Juan airport to Fajardo where we had left 'Partners'. They keep their sailing boat 'Orion' in Culebra and caught a ferry which took them the 16 miles or so across to Culebra. We were so happy to find 'Partners' all in one piece with all systems working just fine. We kept the rental car for another four days in order to do the necessary provisioning shopping and to drive back into San Juan to shop for two chairs for our aft deck to replace the two that we stolen in St. Lucia. We found some! Two beautiful teak reclining chairs. With all the provisioning completed we returned the rental car and prepared 'Partners' for the short journey south to Puerto del Rey. On March 16th we said our goodbye's to Olga and her crew at Sunbay and set off. <br />
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Puerto del Rey is a 1,000 slip marina and is huge! Our assigned slip was on the periphery of the marina, golf carts are used to transport the boat owners around and one calls on the VHF radio to request a ride and in no time the cart arrives. In the slip next to ours was 'Bodacious' a 39' Kadey Krogen; we knew of the boat but had not met them. There are only a few Krogen trawlers in the Caribbean so when we see one another it is a big deal! Our meeting was brief as on the morning of the 17th we proceeded round to the travel lift bay and were lifted out and transported to our place right outside the workshop where the company who would be servicing and working on our stabilizers was located. Bob, the owner, welcomed us and started work immediately. Unfortunately we had to remove our washer and dryer to allow access to the starboard stabilizer so right from the start the boat was a mess. We kept telling ourselves that in three days we would be all back together and steaming East to St. Thomas. Everything went according to plan and Bob and his crew performed our work flawlessly. Fuel at the fuel dock was $2.70 for a US gallon so we filled up and took on 355 gallons which filled us up. On the 20th we left and arrived in St. Thomas just before dark.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEi1KgZmJHLz8r0W35LE7ziKuw_3p8qz_jro63D2L5mmupaCSXBMGW0Xc7HbpTOKucL2XxlfNGv0JFsKGNe_pjO4SNy3nV6HIYNdt-2oekdgb2EH_frzH1b9p4fAXQ2jYYvUtlRV34lK9/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEi1KgZmJHLz8r0W35LE7ziKuw_3p8qz_jro63D2L5mmupaCSXBMGW0Xc7HbpTOKucL2XxlfNGv0JFsKGNe_pjO4SNy3nV6HIYNdt-2oekdgb2EH_frzH1b9p4fAXQ2jYYvUtlRV34lK9/s200/IMG_0613.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelsons Dockyard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKG8fCAfGjSt1Ky0lTyw9f8QBXNQmNlc6WjRZkaFgSeMAF9QNB-KqU_f3WVVup5pNgntWRXhVdEUDW8cwk2V7-7jgRYTEggfYPw0neqix1GTS98Os6VNPaKH3xxSi_8_r_kg2bmo8yd5O/s200/IMG_0905.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying tea at Nelsons Dockyard<br />
with Bill & Ann</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qXKIKgxNY18bSbUxHoWhF6YN5LY3m5_KlpyD1wWMGrw_u8P4ZbcyWqRaT_WT4ZXdl9lf7ngyDyyDomcztmG3krbEasDoBgOd1zCdWmJBvicq_MMwpz-9IH66u5RshQfXFEv1PmBNPQ9Q/s1600/IMG_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qXKIKgxNY18bSbUxHoWhF6YN5LY3m5_KlpyD1wWMGrw_u8P4ZbcyWqRaT_WT4ZXdl9lf7ngyDyyDomcztmG3krbEasDoBgOd1zCdWmJBvicq_MMwpz-9IH66u5RshQfXFEv1PmBNPQ9Q/s200/IMG_0595.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nelsons Dockyard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHmJUV2SUZ-w9ask0g9tvxRRH0cdxJ6rF6fsclOLrHfIXzRYtfQpKGduV2Sfg4obCbTu6sabfreJk3UDswGyzyFcwTS9l-ory-VC8wtd5th9UdhfplH69QvcFpD96_FL-Th6ugigFiOnR/s1600/IMG_0632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHmJUV2SUZ-w9ask0g9tvxRRH0cdxJ6rF6fsclOLrHfIXzRYtfQpKGduV2Sfg4obCbTu6sabfreJk3UDswGyzyFcwTS9l-ory-VC8wtd5th9UdhfplH69QvcFpD96_FL-Th6ugigFiOnR/s320/IMG_0632.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautifully preserved cannon on the ramparts <br />
of Fort Berkley</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxKG8fCAfGjSt1Ky0lTyw9f8QBXNQmNlc6WjRZkaFgSeMAF9QNB-KqU_f3WVVup5pNgntWRXhVdEUDW8cwk2V7-7jgRYTEggfYPw0neqix1GTS98Os6VNPaKH3xxSi_8_r_kg2bmo8yd5O/s1600/IMG_0905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>St. Thomas, USVI is a duty free port so we usually stock up with alcohol here as it is far less expensive than anywhere else that we know. After waiting a few days for a suitable weather window we set off for a nonstop passage to Antigua where we would be meeting up with our great friends Bill and Ann Miller on 'Ann Louise', their Kadey Krogen 58', who were already there. They made the journey from Culebra while we were in Florida. Many other friends were there too for 'Classic' and 'Sailing Week', two of the biggest events on the Caribbeans annual cruising calendar. What a fabulous month we had there, participating in as many of the events as we could and joining in with the parties and social mayhem that ensues during these two busy weeks. Both before and after Classic and Sailing Week we <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcejbTtxhggJ_QV__gxn1RDm2UlCeJo6flWwx15QlB5yYcWKN0qGVw7xxXr2XYAWii-_g2CUXCR_UivuhF-nRHo6tUXy_JvmEkkRRbtUgy8glINyjT1IVEQHGL2wL73SUc0iGBtkk_GcwH/s1600/IMG_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcejbTtxhggJ_QV__gxn1RDm2UlCeJo6flWwx15QlB5yYcWKN0qGVw7xxXr2XYAWii-_g2CUXCR_UivuhF-nRHo6tUXy_JvmEkkRRbtUgy8glINyjT1IVEQHGL2wL73SUc0iGBtkk_GcwH/s320/IMG_0636.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fort Berkeley </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq78OzeBrlZdP1DdiSE3JHcNMBFUd463AyzJzH95QVvkWrPJ3SYh-ObySQ7AAsU9ntmfh8_nPsEP2JfjeEAIjwEec9bZ_fS4aLgkYsiPOgQZietNN0a7wlf8ysj-IhUQ9mRolgyQ1Eamz/s1600/IMG_0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkq78OzeBrlZdP1DdiSE3JHcNMBFUd463AyzJzH95QVvkWrPJ3SYh-ObySQ7AAsU9ntmfh8_nPsEP2JfjeEAIjwEec9bZ_fS4aLgkYsiPOgQZietNN0a7wlf8ysj-IhUQ9mRolgyQ1Eamz/s200/IMG_0619.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn_uyT2FJW2aBocz_vCGn9fhWTHOogfftUqcHgrgqliJm_EdADtStERrLsmcS2hlK75tHc6CmVtmSD-GYIcwFlA1RK7_EUhqltr3QvwGkhl0mR5Ii15ZgHa-TXt-b_XZ2i3ZD62qDrPME/s1600/IMG_0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkn_uyT2FJW2aBocz_vCGn9fhWTHOogfftUqcHgrgqliJm_EdADtStERrLsmcS2hlK75tHc6CmVtmSD-GYIcwFlA1RK7_EUhqltr3QvwGkhl0mR5Ii15ZgHa-TXt-b_XZ2i3ZD62qDrPME/s200/IMG_0903.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dinghy concert from the top of<br />
'Alegro's' mast, picture courtesy of <br />
Lee Demarist </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-smCBCOigSVXT3UWgFGjrrdw3hA0ZIw2DeKyEebq3YuKY6i1F0b3jCJoTF_ExpUxyu8VTQyyLY_yeg8EA6DaC5v8fmHgIXNITCykZT9g5ThsPfAs2CbDtaCPi9s9x5YruchjlmSpBKyM/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-smCBCOigSVXT3UWgFGjrrdw3hA0ZIw2DeKyEebq3YuKY6i1F0b3jCJoTF_ExpUxyu8VTQyyLY_yeg8EA6DaC5v8fmHgIXNITCykZT9g5ThsPfAs2CbDtaCPi9s9x5YruchjlmSpBKyM/s200/IMG_0902.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Partners' hosted a dinghy concert while in<br />
Antigua featuring 'White Chocolate' aka<br />
our friends Dave and Trudie</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
cruised the island and did a circumnavigation. Antigua is an island that has many beautiful bays and beaches to explore most with great holding for anchoring. We could have stayed for a long time but broke ourselves away to cruise south to Les Saintes for a short stop before another passage south to Martinique where we would linger to get as large a dose of 'France' as we could.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuFwOrvZ5EkyuJymP7ZIiwFXY12UIwip37k_fH7wHw5ljBuC_dg-XiZRSUmU-XqTzIVoxbZ5UFxVN5nrj97IHNGH82MxYn88T9IU9bwhxqm8naGsXI5R6DYOMRWvOKWLBK2Df1nQ6adhx/s1600/IMG_0522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuFwOrvZ5EkyuJymP7ZIiwFXY12UIwip37k_fH7wHw5ljBuC_dg-XiZRSUmU-XqTzIVoxbZ5UFxVN5nrj97IHNGH82MxYn88T9IU9bwhxqm8naGsXI5R6DYOMRWvOKWLBK2Df1nQ6adhx/s200/IMG_0522.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sainte Anne</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7P4muDlUS9f-R8kI2_27Ql8l6lXI1VHKy8zV1iifm7ED9sVITcIF1ut8owceKcxsuK2ly2qCWGFmRW9bSa61hgd_7EqV-lBet-SGBPJuulQAijqPfHCUZjGvJmkoc-R6V8AqBsPXqjQF/s1600/IMG_0523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7P4muDlUS9f-R8kI2_27Ql8l6lXI1VHKy8zV1iifm7ED9sVITcIF1ut8owceKcxsuK2ly2qCWGFmRW9bSa61hgd_7EqV-lBet-SGBPJuulQAijqPfHCUZjGvJmkoc-R6V8AqBsPXqjQF/s200/IMG_0523.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sainte Anne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOeIwvRiQMZUepphSd5-0K7bGhqFyPTGD8rXJ3MiKIY7LUTYN-J9fK5onPOg5qzEjizmSfAdno-TnRyMoUsNnFR5UnK-DbtyJMOi0TKbXMooTt7QXCPGw1UawqpCFGdG9D1onBDRbrvlj/s1600/IMG_0545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOeIwvRiQMZUepphSd5-0K7bGhqFyPTGD8rXJ3MiKIY7LUTYN-J9fK5onPOg5qzEjizmSfAdno-TnRyMoUsNnFR5UnK-DbtyJMOi0TKbXMooTt7QXCPGw1UawqpCFGdG9D1onBDRbrvlj/s200/IMG_0545.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuFwOrvZ5EkyuJymP7ZIiwFXY12UIwip37k_fH7wHw5ljBuC_dg-XiZRSUmU-XqTzIVoxbZ5UFxVN5nrj97IHNGH82MxYn88T9IU9bwhxqm8naGsXI5R6DYOMRWvOKWLBK2Df1nQ6adhx/s1600/IMG_0522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>A sad event took place in Les Saintes just before we arrived; Friends Bill and Ann had cruised 'Ann Louise' ahead of us there and whilst mooring to one of the balls in the harbour Ann inadvertently allowed a mooring line to wrap itself around her left leg, the boat pulled away from the mooring ball and the fouled line ripped into the calf muscle on Ann's left leg. Very fortunately a Doctor just happened to be on the adjacent boat and quickly came to assist. The loss of blood was extreme and immediately a helicopter was called for and Ann was lifted to Pointe a Pitre, the capital of Guadeloupe where emergency surgery was performed to save her leg. Very fortunately the medical team were successful. Once stable Ann and Bill were medevaced to Atlanta, GA where she would be further treated at both Emery and Grady hospitals. Sadly her recovery is likely to take a year. 'Ann Louise' has been taken back to Stuart, FL by a professional crew where she will stay until, we hope, Bill and Ann are fit to cruise again and return to the eastern Caribbean.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJa0oMkYcsPDu8fe2PtAoHoxdGlGAQtlslSAmNCqt9JnN6awSc2-UijoMOpgMkxmwXn-Xa7ZRC5alBVXzoaV1b5eEUiq5hGXqyXDpvnig1radfD5gVCNTVpAofcOc0X69x1dLwQqDQkOr/s1600/IMG_0537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJa0oMkYcsPDu8fe2PtAoHoxdGlGAQtlslSAmNCqt9JnN6awSc2-UijoMOpgMkxmwXn-Xa7ZRC5alBVXzoaV1b5eEUiq5hGXqyXDpvnig1radfD5gVCNTVpAofcOc0X69x1dLwQqDQkOr/s200/IMG_0537.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Partners'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On the island of Martinique we like to go to the south eastern corner and stay in Sainte Anne and Le Marin. The marine services in Le Marin are great and the shopping is good too. In Sainte Anne there is the beach and it provides peace and quiet...the town is small, really a village, there are a few restaurant's and bars, there is a market, church and pharmacy, so the essentials. The water in the well protected bay is clear, the bottom is sand which makes for good, easy and safe anchoring. Le Marin on the other hand is a larger town with most things a cruiser needs, many boat services, great grocery shopping and good restaurant's abound. We love being here and always stop for our 'fix', the boulangeries are superb and the cheeses are to die for...vive le France!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE12C0uzHY2mZjGkc18xS_AL8_0XmrXeAO8Yjc70-KEMfV9wOVwQ-bfJa6BFg4ZwQJPPoe3qkoXwRFmpuPujy-DCjORXfOklobBaijYyyAuxisfv3oVvt8R1twhzMw4J3XSOQ3OAXTZ-2B/s1600/IMG_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE12C0uzHY2mZjGkc18xS_AL8_0XmrXeAO8Yjc70-KEMfV9wOVwQ-bfJa6BFg4ZwQJPPoe3qkoXwRFmpuPujy-DCjORXfOklobBaijYyyAuxisfv3oVvt8R1twhzMw4J3XSOQ3OAXTZ-2B/s200/IMG_1008.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bequia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzb9rkqXlqkEny0pRfFJb1X-9tzVMYV1aYKTfr2yag5gk6QIjk6ZflUjnfzP55Ldtro3jHl-1ZLGVUXGMHzxKMln5t9UpBgBzcBTIuyVSyEIgBcFhDzLh_cOuGwPtXFAWyQcYJ1UhoJrx/s1600/IMG_1009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbzb9rkqXlqkEny0pRfFJb1X-9tzVMYV1aYKTfr2yag5gk6QIjk6ZflUjnfzP55Ldtro3jHl-1ZLGVUXGMHzxKMln5t9UpBgBzcBTIuyVSyEIgBcFhDzLh_cOuGwPtXFAWyQcYJ1UhoJrx/s200/IMG_1009.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bequia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Suitably sated our next passage would be a direct one to Bequia missing St. Lucia, Dominica and St. Vincent this time. Bequia is an island belonging to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and is the first island south of St. Vincent. We arrived here in the middle of June along with many of our cruising friends who, like us, have cruised south for the hurricane season. Bequia a one of those island which appeal to almost all cruisers and few pass it by. For a small island it caters well to cruisers with chandlery's a good canvas/sail maker shop, diesel mechanics, refrigeration technicians not to mention restaurants and a friendly local population. We spent a week here this year and managed to squeeze in two beach BBQ's a pizza night at Mac's plus some socializing both on 'Partners' and us being invited on board other friends boats in the anchorage.<br />
<br />
Soon it was time to head farther south...hurricane season was on its way and we need to seek the lower latitudes. This year we had made the decision to continue to cruise rather than sit at anchor in the southern bays of Grenada or a slip at Crews Inn Marina in Trinidad, at least for part of the hurricane season. Our plan was to cruise the Grenadines; the Grenadines are the islands that make up the country of Saint Vincent and stretch to the northern shore of Grenada. Petite Martinique and Carriacou plus a few very small islands are the exceptions and at the southern end of the chain and belong to Grenada, all however are known as the Grenadines. We made passage directly to Carriacou from Bequia which is a day cruise. Carriacou is a good base to cruise the Grenadines from and is again a day cruise to the southern bays of Grenada which our insurance company considers a safe hurricane season location. With improvements in the accuracy of weather forecasting we receive pretty good 4-5 days warnings of foul weather, tropical storm development plus the normal wind and sea condition advisories. So, in the event of a serious weather event being forecast we can 'run' south and be in a safe location and be fully covered by our insurance policy in the event of a claim.<br />
<br />
What we did throughout the summer, July through the end of September, was to make sorties north from Carriacou exploring Union Island, Mayreau and the Tobago Cays. Our first destination was Petite St. Vincent a small private island just to the NE of Carriacou. There we spent two days and explored using our dinghy. Very close by is a small island, really a sand spit named Mopion. Originally it, apparently, was named Morpion but due to the locals inability to pronounce Morpion it became Mopion. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKGwJQT41Dd0cReDSwDHoBSU6LMCIR_Ak27dCJXxyD1dHVh16AKCDjVXbHVQZwR0MPHnCKv0bAZ_k3ATpi9Xxa7bhpR0_D_fJapbfJw17vsHdzXSNzJaLYlx_5zKuxpsOSp96db-C4_dO/s1600/Mopion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKGwJQT41Dd0cReDSwDHoBSU6LMCIR_Ak27dCJXxyD1dHVh16AKCDjVXbHVQZwR0MPHnCKv0bAZ_k3ATpi9Xxa7bhpR0_D_fJapbfJw17vsHdzXSNzJaLYlx_5zKuxpsOSp96db-C4_dO/s200/Mopion.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mopion Island</td></tr>
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Anyway, Mopion has an palm frond umbrella on it and is considered a favourite place to propose to ones love! We carefully found our way across the reef which protects it and pulled the dinghy up on to the beautiful sand. On the north side of the island the reef forms a lagoon creating a natural swimming pool. We languished there for a few hours enjoying this quintessential deserted tropical island paradise, a wonderful day. From there we visited Union Island where we cleared in to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Union Island has improved since we first visited two years ago and the town of Clifton is neat and tidy with welcoming friendly people. We completed the customs and immigration process quickly and left immediately for a short passage round to Chatham bay. Chatham Bay is on the West facing coast of Union Island and is dramatic, tall hills surround the whole bay, there is no Internet or phone service here it is isolated. There are a few beach shacks and a bar but that is all. We swam in the clear water and stayed one peaceful night before heading east towards the Tobago Cays. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCgkitth7cy8IupSR_9mDM6kT-EHSNXx_RgSJtzQN-vO8OL-BqrsxIpv6QNMpzzqDnPMaWbxbg41-8x3pBQzoUIqoBYb9-etPXi_yl9mH_x2484xpUQKuOPNT8TP1E-dv6cCsoG36PXEi/s1600/The+Tobago+Cays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCgkitth7cy8IupSR_9mDM6kT-EHSNXx_RgSJtzQN-vO8OL-BqrsxIpv6QNMpzzqDnPMaWbxbg41-8x3pBQzoUIqoBYb9-etPXi_yl9mH_x2484xpUQKuOPNT8TP1E-dv6cCsoG36PXEi/s320/The+Tobago+Cays.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tobago Cays</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNwzrIWbL9iz4xgZlgtI78B9ItFpc2G72TVIgtCZpGCAPBeSacI2NmGnPTTJ9OqqxGVlOXDHoJHOybBkJfFGQhmTTstR6kgIEj4PVoDK8v6q8kY5vYPJCavhFIMYufcKQe-N_nlS7YcFh/s1600/The+Cays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqNwzrIWbL9iz4xgZlgtI78B9ItFpc2G72TVIgtCZpGCAPBeSacI2NmGnPTTJ9OqqxGVlOXDHoJHOybBkJfFGQhmTTstR6kgIEj4PVoDK8v6q8kY5vYPJCavhFIMYufcKQe-N_nlS7YcFh/s200/The+Cays.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tobago Cays</td></tr>
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The Tobago Cays are a national park and charge a EC$10 per person daily admission. The Cays have much marine life including turtles and hundreds of colourful fish. The water is beautiful with visibility close to 100' We traveled from Carriacou with our good friends Les and Veronika on their sailing vessel 'Golightly', the two of us were the only boats there. During the cruising season at least 50 boats are usually in the park so this solitude was amazing, we spent four days just enjoying our surroundings, exploring the five islands that make up the Cays in our dinghy's. We walked the beaches and snorkeled the reefs; we were living the Robinson Crusoe life. The whole park is protected bay an enormous horseshoe reef to it's east which ensures safe anchorage in all sea conditions (not hurricanes!). We were achieving our goal of cruising at a time when most boats were further south, the Grenadines were deserted! From the Cays we sailed to Mayreau and explored the islands bays and the town, a very steep walk as it is on top of the hill which is the island! The islanders are welcoming, they are interested in cruisers and we struck up many conversations, the walk is worth it! The view of the Cays and reefs from the church yard is outstanding. Saline Bay and Saltwhistle are the two anchorages, Saline the less commercialized and with a beautiful deserted beach. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayreau</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-zk9-y6DC5SE_Bhi72NF6WgG8UhY1IXGAKgfStzSHwP6PH2DRC2d5MnyqPV2HoapA4AQAKdgA0zpMMfTC5q7tESYKIyhGMbU9Qfi9p-tdQi1H2nswA8_X0YLAFLfhZxQ244JBiBJsIeH/s1600/Saline+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-zk9-y6DC5SE_Bhi72NF6WgG8UhY1IXGAKgfStzSHwP6PH2DRC2d5MnyqPV2HoapA4AQAKdgA0zpMMfTC5q7tESYKIyhGMbU9Qfi9p-tdQi1H2nswA8_X0YLAFLfhZxQ244JBiBJsIeH/s200/Saline+Bay.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saline Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9R7U-ZD5unbZd1-yermPM53zsQO-0w108C1Bw6s0HKXRS76GmJR7CnWSva9XKa9ygWS31mukEVCilzhQ1eq962WOl4dG-4ED-nkQLMfZdoa1Z0aceyZNnLJ5Qr7C1Ox-rUGr72ZEvfsD/s1600/Saltwhistle+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9R7U-ZD5unbZd1-yermPM53zsQO-0w108C1Bw6s0HKXRS76GmJR7CnWSva9XKa9ygWS31mukEVCilzhQ1eq962WOl4dG-4ED-nkQLMfZdoa1Z0aceyZNnLJ5Qr7C1Ox-rUGr72ZEvfsD/s320/Saltwhistle+Bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saltwhistle Bay</td></tr>
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Saltwhistle is another quintessential Caribbean scene. We spent three weeks on our mini 'vacation' then returned to Carriacou. Many boats spend hurricane season in Carricaou and it has become our 'favourite' southern hang-out during the summer. Late in September we repeated our excursion to the Grenadines and enjoyed the Cays again and also visited another out-of-the-way bay called Anse Le Roche. Anse La Roche is a small bay on the NW coast of Carriacou which is a fair weather anchorage as it can suffer from swells which make life uncomfortable. Again this is a deserted spot and when we visited only one other boat was anchored there. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN2axhOzeBqR1Bmu9Vlepb08uaoKWTHIof-9K8U3NSTLmbTgzQApiahOKwv1WttabIgbBEOJX0fQ16PLVY1G1lIQpkfveaWKkhyphenhyphenlFfJKj9CAxuVPKN-KFMjXWotBjeat7Ms0Kh4JweQLf/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN2axhOzeBqR1Bmu9Vlepb08uaoKWTHIof-9K8U3NSTLmbTgzQApiahOKwv1WttabIgbBEOJX0fQ16PLVY1G1lIQpkfveaWKkhyphenhyphenlFfJKj9CAxuVPKN-KFMjXWotBjeat7Ms0Kh4JweQLf/s200/IMG_1178.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anse La Roche</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgollElbFIuxC09sv7lhGKti5bwv0-ZitVeCq_G3GP2dkQhzfHNf_-jRocfBlz_hTTmFgrLglkQ3ldSWtejMZ_5H7aESw7DTa-eDqb2TfVejFWkyeEZuWpTmzdqjNq6K4gZ51A6ffVF4Ad6/s1600/IMG_1177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgollElbFIuxC09sv7lhGKti5bwv0-ZitVeCq_G3GP2dkQhzfHNf_-jRocfBlz_hTTmFgrLglkQ3ldSWtejMZ_5H7aESw7DTa-eDqb2TfVejFWkyeEZuWpTmzdqjNq6K4gZ51A6ffVF4Ad6/s200/IMG_1177.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anse La Roche</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtjXRsMzQjOKWgpTVB2ihcIxf-GZmFe1qlXzBUE-q9Ho7WA44O_nqRq3oGBPQJeWA45wdd1q-fWB0WiO_rqZRa2mFQk5IkwwhssxVVhrPZ6rnp-XzwpZOi1oFONH6hFfyoqOc_nqLAo95/s1600/IMG_1243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtjXRsMzQjOKWgpTVB2ihcIxf-GZmFe1qlXzBUE-q9Ho7WA44O_nqRq3oGBPQJeWA45wdd1q-fWB0WiO_rqZRa2mFQk5IkwwhssxVVhrPZ6rnp-XzwpZOi1oFONH6hFfyoqOc_nqLAo95/s200/IMG_1243.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Turtles</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQG2CQ6Y8vr9HAa0LhzdF1zInrKdd_k_6jMwaoeMMCKjriLnG_cBwqYLoynCaCYBx1Dg08cfxcVw1ckSEn6AfGZFsI00_j_WU0yrY3IUQdNdHFz3ZYIeIgV5ijKib7tuuAS1_oARS_Zxx/s1600/IMG_1245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeQG2CQ6Y8vr9HAa0LhzdF1zInrKdd_k_6jMwaoeMMCKjriLnG_cBwqYLoynCaCYBx1Dg08cfxcVw1ckSEn6AfGZFsI00_j_WU0yrY3IUQdNdHFz3ZYIeIgV5ijKib7tuuAS1_oARS_Zxx/s200/IMG_1245.JPG" width="200" /></a>The holding is good in sand and there are rocks and reef to explore. It really is a getaway spot to recharge ones batteries after, what can been, a hectic social scene in Carriacou. During our summer travels we saw many 'firsts'...we had not seen many sharks while we<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e-53ByAQ63i2U7L6flgjSOzlyarkJ8iypzl6vivZAAqV2qzm7cIqHxzrlRJQXfFtbeQSKQsECmIX-oxBHdLMitaAPODG7YT4TaQdWZBQbDrjRFePDF-jA5ZrfHnutOv_EHfrwRasM-rD/s1600/IMG_1239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-e-53ByAQ63i2U7L6flgjSOzlyarkJ8iypzl6vivZAAqV2qzm7cIqHxzrlRJQXfFtbeQSKQsECmIX-oxBHdLMitaAPODG7YT4TaQdWZBQbDrjRFePDF-jA5ZrfHnutOv_EHfrwRasM-rD/s200/IMG_1239.JPG" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Baby Tiger Shark</span></td></tr>
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have been in the eastern Caribbean, in the Tobago Cays we did see a baby Tiger shark and also whilst sitting on a deserted beach on one of the Islands in the Tobago Cays<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZdl_8UcSj7tVMfsqsdVP40tc_7rm4Y1LYpQ5KWflkthmajtQONsR9eQCSh67Tvs96wsy1Za6t1CX25w6fiks4fHotz4eHqs-4ECT3ZlRCnWYGHX-M7UbASt-dGzUHPR3748OvnRH7kSJ/s1600/IMG_1244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZdl_8UcSj7tVMfsqsdVP40tc_7rm4Y1LYpQ5KWflkthmajtQONsR9eQCSh67Tvs96wsy1Za6t1CX25w6fiks4fHotz4eHqs-4ECT3ZlRCnWYGHX-M7UbASt-dGzUHPR3748OvnRH7kSJ/s200/IMG_1244.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing!</td></tr>
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witnessed the hatching of a Leatherback turtle nest. One of the most moving events we have ever seen. We had the best Summer!<br />
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At the end of September we made passage to Grenada and anchored in Woburn Bay where we waited for a weather window to leave for Trinidad where we had a reservation for the month of October. While in Grenada we were able to invite friends Kaaren and Mike from 'Nauti Dog' along with Dave from Seas the Moment (Becky, Dave's wife was visiting UK and sadly we missed her) for a dinner party...good times! Luckily the weather cooperated and we had an uneventful trip to Chaguaramas, Trinidad. We had flights booked on the 5th October to fly to Miami. Both of us wanted to re-position some of our required doctors visits so they did not continue to fall in the middle of the cruising season. All went well including an unplanned dental appointment for a toothache that to fix ended up requiring a crown, $$$ ouch! While we were away in Florida Dynamite marine overhauled our toilet and holding tank system, installing a new discharge pump leaving us with a fully operational old one as a spare. They cleaned all the calcium and other build ups that occur in the holding tank and hoses, a job that we consider preventative maintenance and recommend doing every five years whether it is needed or not! In Florida we were able to meet up with all but one of our six children and six of our eight grandchildren...wow!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlF0rPHTbFwAmLiCXTmr2o_YsJUP-Icf7302uh4j7UaIyqHrjkIK9bz1PyvvM_qBjPB7p2XBsu6iUaPuxGppbmCly496MRYnf_uQr17lmaDeYWNQ0zKlF70xEsyLoragu8Fk6H8m7XKRN/s1600/Miami+10-7-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlF0rPHTbFwAmLiCXTmr2o_YsJUP-Icf7302uh4j7UaIyqHrjkIK9bz1PyvvM_qBjPB7p2XBsu6iUaPuxGppbmCly496MRYnf_uQr17lmaDeYWNQ0zKlF70xEsyLoragu8Fk6H8m7XKRN/s200/Miami+10-7-15.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner with the daughter and granddaughters</td></tr>
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It took some luck and serious driving. When we landed in Miami we where able to meet up with my two daughters, the eldest had flown in from Norway where she lives with her two eldest children, two of my granddaughters. We had dinner together and also breakfast before we drove to Sarasota. The following weekend we drove to Jacksonville where my eldest son Anthony, who has just bought a new house, entertained us, his two sisters and younger brother plus his wife and two children made the trip, again wow! As all cruising parents and grandparents know it is tough getting a family gathering together. So, we had four children and four grandchildren under one roof...we had a fabulous time. A huge thanks to Anthony for pulling it all off. We ended our visit by attending my young grandson Matthew's football game.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJFxNXVpfC2dOzIUntw8mFRsSCmJqmB-n2BfzgkpbpEfx2GdBcJIPTqZS1-0mR4LVNE_UthljFrBfjyzMlLF4HOoD7jc7fbmXHJZ5bW_HoFEUdag6zNXOmUztB8fAyfQpm68McVvCaPEB/s1600/Matt+10-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJFxNXVpfC2dOzIUntw8mFRsSCmJqmB-n2BfzgkpbpEfx2GdBcJIPTqZS1-0mR4LVNE_UthljFrBfjyzMlLF4HOoD7jc7fbmXHJZ5bW_HoFEUdag6zNXOmUztB8fAyfQpm68McVvCaPEB/s200/Matt+10-15.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son Chris's youngest Matthew.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZMbdAB2JeEZb4T5-wuoINqzR2QBw_NooA928E14dsn7_YfcU_99G6GQnzOEDpjo1L7a_8WfkgsJjZFQMAiMbNztJG9RBABYdL8HjawFmuYtJ4oxDik2Im50434Uk7KSrjtznvYMV9_nT/s1600/Kids+2+Oct+10-15-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZMbdAB2JeEZb4T5-wuoINqzR2QBw_NooA928E14dsn7_YfcU_99G6GQnzOEDpjo1L7a_8WfkgsJjZFQMAiMbNztJG9RBABYdL8HjawFmuYtJ4oxDik2Im50434Uk7KSrjtznvYMV9_nT/s200/Kids+2+Oct+10-15-15.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jax beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pEq0RxSdZG_gni3S3X4L5qab0qFJltEoxC06eEwGmE_3qhfAH2cwdNz_ZCEsgcIdu4FP2WadpzL7kF57pCvaVxH-FeyhXEqJzBU7stlImk4uErGfAqoFn0HJImKDD2-xa72QbDbZu1Jn/s1600/Miami+10-7-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pEq0RxSdZG_gni3S3X4L5qab0qFJltEoxC06eEwGmE_3qhfAH2cwdNz_ZCEsgcIdu4FP2WadpzL7kF57pCvaVxH-FeyhXEqJzBU7stlImk4uErGfAqoFn0HJImKDD2-xa72QbDbZu1Jn/s200/Miami+10-7-15.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daughters and Granddaughters</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I am writing this as we prepare to fly back to Trinidad on the 19th October. We have our annual haul-out scheduled for November 2nd when we will apply new anti-fouling bottom paint ready for our 2016 season. We will provision and refuel at the good Trinidadian prices before heading north to our first stop in Martinique...<br />
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Again this year a group of us will be making tracks to Antigua for another, we hope, great Christmas Holiday.<br />
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Present Location:- Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago 10° 40.741’ N<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 37.961’ W<br />
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<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-22504018264585590302015-02-18T15:23:00.000-05:002015-02-20T06:39:18.948-05:00Heading North for Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">February 18<sup>th</sup> 2015 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 17° 01.078’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 46.370’ W<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d17207.527224377332!2d-61.771198548812066!3d17.01484409448965!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8c12eb71c60a3a45%3A0x57f4829ee3890000!2sFalmouth+Harbour%2C+Antigua+and+Barbuda!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1424173923358" style="border: 0px currentColor;" width="600"></iframe><br />
This map shows where we spent the Christmas Holidays.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq7VvKw5_Il77-mOCFqHJcp2qb_4OMEjuWJcz5CLbMKnzehpptHhG2aC19pwsHsA2RzTNbLg0cXpIGfCssQUo21QLSK1ssFdKLrnaeW26SjCZCkEHlOAmYSO9pAUBra-KVos4uFSiY57z/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyq7VvKw5_Il77-mOCFqHJcp2qb_4OMEjuWJcz5CLbMKnzehpptHhG2aC19pwsHsA2RzTNbLg0cXpIGfCssQUo21QLSK1ssFdKLrnaeW26SjCZCkEHlOAmYSO9pAUBra-KVos4uFSiY57z/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" height="209" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partners at Peake's</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">After
our haul-out we were able to go back to Crews Inn for a few days. Our friends
Steve and Ann on s/v ‘Receta’ had retained a slip there but were on the hard
for a few days having their engine transmission repaired so kindly let us use
their slip. These two days enabled us to check over all the systems, get a few
last minute provisions before embarking on a non-stop 238nm passage to Le
Marin, Martinique. Our plan was to stop only briefly in Martinique to buy some
of those ‘hard to do</span> <span style="color: white;">without’ French food items and, of course, some French
wine! We wanted to arrive in Antigua, where we had planned to spend the
Christmas Holidays, in plenty of time to get into the festive spirit ready for
the holidays. The plan worked! Another good weather window presented itself and
off we went, it was Thanksgiving Day Nov 27<sup>th</sup>. All our friends had
planned to have a pot luck Thanksgiving dinner but unfortunately the weather
window took priority, it is difficult, in the winter months, to find a three
day window to make a long passage. The only recurring ‘event’ we experienced during
the passage had us stopping several times to remove the Sargasso weed which had
collected in clumps on our stabilizer fins. The weed this year was particularly
bad and ‘fields’ of it were everywhere. We had to stop the boat and reverse so
the weed would float off the fins. We arrived in Antigua in plenty of time to
anchor at Jolly Harbour, say hi to our friends Gail and Eric on m/v ‘Vikings
Dream’ and Rick and Susan on m/v 'Just Cause<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWwfXGwIGfY92BKSXetbfXqdj3PasJSjJK6dTHbDqWMWTeNhhuXBlM6XxgPVcShQCDllCLmmnYx2ssSjqEUon0epkoz3k6JJkFukofr0iMCyCNY-ycvNIzGbJvnx_3LMD3iYOiM64n5Sd/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnWwfXGwIGfY92BKSXetbfXqdj3PasJSjJK6dTHbDqWMWTeNhhuXBlM6XxgPVcShQCDllCLmmnYx2ssSjqEUon0epkoz3k6JJkFukofr0iMCyCNY-ycvNIzGbJvnx_3LMD3iYOiM64n5Sd/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our breakfast companion. <br />
Looking for scraps!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
’ who were already there and then proceed
on to clear in at Customs and Immigration. We finished in good time for us to
return to the anchorage and enjoy sundowners with Eric and Gail before turning
in for an uninterrupted night’s sleep. The next day s/v ‘Aeeshah’ showed up
with our good friends John and Jen Howarth on</span> <span style="color: white;">board…guess what? Another good
night was had by all.</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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a few days we all headed round to Falmouth Harbour where we anchored and became
quickly dazzled by the glitz of the many Super Yachts that were there. Without
exaggeration 30 must have occupied the marinas! Several of them were in the
300’ range and two were more, Le Grande Bleu at 371’ was the largest. The
amazing thing here was that she had a 70’ sailing boat cradled on her port side
aft deck! More </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: white;">friends arrived, Les on s/v ‘Golightly’, Ron and Jackie on s/v ‘Desperado’,
Rob and Rhian on s/v ‘Beyzano’ and Gavin and Mandy on s/v ‘Secret Smile’ all in
all we totalled 18. We reserved a large table at ‘Life on the Corner’, a nice
restaurant where we would all gather for Christmas Dinner. Leading up to
Christmas there were cocktail get-togethers on every boat, the standout to me
was John and Jen’s rum punch…a knock out, not a pun, it was! We had the best
Christmas, carol singing on m/v ‘Vikings Dream’ with Eric on guitar and Gavin
on sax and clarinet, fabulous evenings onboard each of our boats enjoying
snacks and libations. Rob and Rhian invited us to a champagne/mimosa reception
on-board Beyzano Christmas morning which was a </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiD_Z7wf8Z3MH1eO-B4a3OI9DkF5pTh8SyFr3FS8sY7exPa7fOiUa3TXgl_efW9CXr-YmBIUiPWHRzEUgTp4Uw6N_tEzGn8jitIR77PyituIQy7BN3sRZx-QWbEH5pCig0QdtY5acyfmO/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiD_Z7wf8Z3MH1eO-B4a3OI9DkF5pTh8SyFr3FS8sY7exPa7fOiUa3TXgl_efW9CXr-YmBIUiPWHRzEUgTp4Uw6N_tEzGn8jitIR77PyituIQy7BN3sRZx-QWbEH5pCig0QdtY5acyfmO/s1600/DSC_0047.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the beautiful super yachts we saw in Antigua.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
great start to the day. At lunch
time our gang visited Nelsons Dockyard for the traditional and famed champagne
reception. It is a charity event hosted by the Dockyard every year and everyone
was there. What a festive gathering and a perfect event to get everyone in the
mood for our wonderful traditional English style Christmas Dinner at ‘Life on
the Corner’ that evening, a superb dinner it was and topped off, what for us,
was a memorable Christmas Holiday! We managed to cram in some <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafCAKulCn3lNt5cX8RfZsU9kfaQ1BCCba0UfHd_B5dtplcTLsF4DFWqzSJzqV15IdJlmmywdhBItLcvwgKJeHqi9wSx6rTNr6-Po8Z7_hw6OYTVlGDFEP5G-MvXrNcgNRmwQyaSvlAicg/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiafCAKulCn3lNt5cX8RfZsU9kfaQ1BCCba0UfHd_B5dtplcTLsF4DFWqzSJzqV15IdJlmmywdhBItLcvwgKJeHqi9wSx6rTNr6-Po8Z7_hw6OYTVlGDFEP5G-MvXrNcgNRmwQyaSvlAicg/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">s/v Aeeshah</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
sightseeing too
visiting Nelsons Dockyard several times and an evening at Shirley Heights.
We loved Antigua and will return for an extended stay in April for the ‘Antigua
Classic Yacht Regatta’.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">On
Boxing Day we left Antigua and all our friends to make passage for St. Thomas,
USVI. We had a good trip without event, 33 hours later we arrived safely
without ado. We were quickly reminded of the fact that St, Thomas is the place
to stock up with booze, boy is it cheap! We anchored in the bay at Charlotte
Amalie, the capital. We found out later that we had anchored right where the
barge which was going to be used for the New Year’s Eve firework display was to
be placed so were asked to move. We relocated to a different part of the bay
close to friends Rick and Susan on m/v ‘Just Cause’. We spent several days
socializing with them and had a good time. After cruising to Francis Bay on St.
John, visiting Waterlemon Cay and seeing Janice and Steve on-board s/v
‘Sailacious’ we cruised back to St. Thomas and visited Christmas Cove at Great
St. James island for a couple of nights. Christmas Cove has a Pizza boat owned
and operated by a young couple from the States. Of</span> <span style="color: white;">course we sampled the pizza,
it was good! We also met friends Rene and Stacey from s/v ‘Pipe Muh Bligh’ back
in Charlotte Amalie and shared some time together watching the US Football
playoffs in Hooters! Stacey is from Seattle so she was supporting the Seahawks
who won! We had a great time and some ‘hot’ wings!</span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Having
spent a couple of weeks cruising the USVI’s we departed for Culebra where we
would await the arrival of our good friends Bill and Ann on m/v ‘Ann Louise’
their 58’ Kadey Krogen. They arrived on the 25<sup>th</sup> January after a
non-stop 1,000 nm trip from Stuart, FL. We had not seen them for near enough a
year and a happy reunion ensued. Linda and Jim, Bills Uncle and Aunt were on
board for the trip and what a super couple they were, the six of us had fun
catching up and celebrating their successful trip. Rhian and Rob arrived soon
after and joined the throng. Lavinia, who is known to like a game of dominos,
was pleased to hear a suggestion from Rhian that we get together for a game. We
had a great time with them and after dominos ended up enjoying a chili diner on
Partners. Culebra is another favourite small island, it is perfect for cruisers
with a couple of handy dinghy docks and all the shops one needs…a few bars, two
small but well stocked grocery stores and a ba<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDn-BpJ_56RnRvndfNmsrR-weA8ynJ49gC5vn40yLV-iAtfJRPBVKY2AbScLRP23aaY67oGSof0bMijTBsKEZI71T041NrZnoPCC9pLn3g-Tid_toYUYYH4zusCGwiAhu36SpvjZDFEbrL/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDn-BpJ_56RnRvndfNmsrR-weA8ynJ49gC5vn40yLV-iAtfJRPBVKY2AbScLRP23aaY67oGSof0bMijTBsKEZI71T041NrZnoPCC9pLn3g-Tid_toYUYYH4zusCGwiAhu36SpvjZDFEbrL/s1600/DSC_0071.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a>kery, what more does one need. We
spent two weeks anchored behind the reef at Dakity. It is our favourite spot,
clear swimming water a great view directly out to sea looking over the reef, an
unobstructed cooling breeze and flat calm water. </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">We had
reserved a berth in SunBay Marina, Fajardo, PR for the 6<sup>th</sup> February
ready for our flight to Florida on the 10<sup>th</sup>. It is time for a
‘Medical Servicing’ visit, purely routine and we hope all will go well so we
can be ‘cleared’ to cruise for another year or two…</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQwN2ymNIDlO9ZnjTCk6V8WAwR27AA_feGngdrO_r0_C8lGQyl-0lB6SYdtn3ygHzb6586HzWq7FYb1N6bxz2TXIRHwXLsAN0UpGpsHGjUdRp63jP4rZ7v0615UUDrbfSnQdyoGqRCdy1/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQwN2ymNIDlO9ZnjTCk6V8WAwR27AA_feGngdrO_r0_C8lGQyl-0lB6SYdtn3ygHzb6586HzWq7FYb1N6bxz2TXIRHwXLsAN0UpGpsHGjUdRp63jP4rZ7v0615UUDrbfSnQdyoGqRCdy1/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello Bill & Ann! m/v Ann Louise entering Ensenada Honda,<br />
Culebra, PR<br />
<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">More
when we return from Florida and begin our cruising back to Antigua for ‘Classic’ in April. <br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;"></span></span><br /><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">Here are few more pictures ....</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLM0HnOT3CuA_HA_jVt_pt0wfgLNBnwa67kPp9TyGIeS_bpiQzps-a-uXUJZpDmfK-yzlGNX96X_h3PScj5dk6VAA5MRG4q1sZSIUP1REYxYNXL9yLMYbt13XlF9UH005TQl_NZ-Y1bE1p/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLM0HnOT3CuA_HA_jVt_pt0wfgLNBnwa67kPp9TyGIeS_bpiQzps-a-uXUJZpDmfK-yzlGNX96X_h3PScj5dk6VAA5MRG4q1sZSIUP1REYxYNXL9yLMYbt13XlF9UH005TQl_NZ-Y1bE1p/s1600/IMG_0700.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pizza Boat in Christmas Cove,<br />
St. Thomas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElOFaxOkNCSgVF20AQQbMXyBANCVgqoi2abevoLhjxHtIP8lx2kqyAxdZ35w4Yf4nWjQrCK6YqfaWyHGUHo3fQvCQNDBQ-8QJIZHh35cZ-L6m8mUXcB3ccTp7p7oeTcEcI_gQYX41vLXm/s1600/IMG_0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElOFaxOkNCSgVF20AQQbMXyBANCVgqoi2abevoLhjxHtIP8lx2kqyAxdZ35w4Yf4nWjQrCK6YqfaWyHGUHo3fQvCQNDBQ-8QJIZHh35cZ-L6m8mUXcB3ccTp7p7oeTcEcI_gQYX41vLXm/s1600/IMG_0704.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No shortage of Bloody Mary's to celebrate m/v 'Ann Louise' <br />
with Bill & Ann on board.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKF6noGeQOE76m6_FDkQ715vxXgGw7WFg1LiUcIk8Y4MLL2npjZm3jCaMEC9PB5xxq40Z5t9dHHWAe4TwWc4uKJMo97XeDAyJxzzIuJIM4TaMrJWJz9C7GPtgpRmiNQmjml6rsmQaJ53c/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKF6noGeQOE76m6_FDkQ715vxXgGw7WFg1LiUcIk8Y4MLL2npjZm3jCaMEC9PB5xxq40Z5t9dHHWAe4TwWc4uKJMo97XeDAyJxzzIuJIM4TaMrJWJz9C7GPtgpRmiNQmjml6rsmQaJ53c/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what fish & chips looks like in the Caribbean!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7pJM8Agcg5LDo-4jLpg_B-UAVh3SF6a983GNn73oyPfW4D4fdqvAnw5H-hemO4m09Fj4wV8Ln9Prv6wcFJ0O4PbGt4vU-NLpfmknixRg6d18eP30XtkqAgSBsM80uqQlzsj-0Pxr5n5G/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7pJM8Agcg5LDo-4jLpg_B-UAVh3SF6a983GNn73oyPfW4D4fdqvAnw5H-hemO4m09Fj4wV8Ln9Prv6wcFJ0O4PbGt4vU-NLpfmknixRg6d18eP30XtkqAgSBsM80uqQlzsj-0Pxr5n5G/s1600/IMG_0727.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HT gets really happy from time to time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-50801154930505645852014-11-27T14:21:00.000-05:002015-02-18T14:21:56.224-05:00Our Passage South 2014<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>June 20<sup>th</sup> 2014 </strong></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 14° 26.357’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>60° 52.899’ W<o:p></o:p></span><br />
</span>
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=14.439865,-60.88195&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=14.439803,-60.881907&spn=0.045717,0.075788&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=14.439865,-60.88195&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=14.439803,-60.881907&spn=0.045717,0.075788&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
<small></small><br />
<small></small>Every time we get ready to make
passage it is a bitter sweet affair, we are leaving the safety of a port which
we have become familiar with and are heading out into the unknown again so
there is the excitement too which is always experienced and associated with
going to sea! Les Saintes are a special part of the Caribbean, small islands,
civilized and sophisticated. Part of Guadeloupe, the small collection of islands
are situated just to the south. They are west of Marie Galante, the other
bigger island belonging to Guadeloupe, and north of the next island to the
south which is Dominica. Our stays here are always pleasant and provide a break
from the more underdeveloped islands and the more blatant and desperate behaviours
demonstrated in their people’s quest to both survive and develop. I refer, for
example, to the boat boys of Union Island and St. Lucia’s Pitons Bay at
Soufriere who are aggressive in their quest for your business, they almost
fight among themselves in order to gain the right to assist one to pick up a
mooring. <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIcQXl4z0A-1b2d7Wp3w9wgXAHhy8q3yhFymWU-9UsFFQcxHIxkZ9D8YA8OihTBtvqrYLOk2_Fi9V8JqwHWxXA3fRIvLumCWl8ZwHLixzZWJHuUyYVgpjp35IPQ-dW7VTJXzL-vqNahe6/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIcQXl4z0A-1b2d7Wp3w9wgXAHhy8q3yhFymWU-9UsFFQcxHIxkZ9D8YA8OihTBtvqrYLOk2_Fi9V8JqwHWxXA3fRIvLumCWl8ZwHLixzZWJHuUyYVgpjp35IPQ-dW7VTJXzL-vqNahe6/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This young cruiser woke up to his dinghy sinking so he<br />
quickly swam ashore towing it to the beach! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A change also from the commerce of the British Virgin Islands where a
mooring ball will cost you US$35 per night, this is not to mention the
compulsory necessity to buy another parks permit to allow the use of the
daytime moorings at the must-see venues, expensive! The French islands are
inexpensive to visit although many commodities are a little more expensive…but,
oh the food! We look forward to visiting every island and enjoy all their
unique experiences; don’t misunderstand me we are not deterred from visiting
any of the islands because of the poverty we encounter or because of boat boy
behaviour, once the tussle between them is over and we have our assigned ‘boy’
everything calms down and we are fine. On Union Island we were harassed ashore
by an individual who insisted on disposing of our garbage and then had to
introduce us to his Aunt who ran a local fruit and vegetable stall and then a
friend who ran the local rum shop and on it went, we couldn’t deter him from
following us everywhere and found it very unpleasant.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenGlhtboxXLqMpwXD0-tPjThlqj4wtAJDMBem0sfUdOIV_wZoRi4S_I3JFjIhMyb1Lk3qkdo-yU-njglLUGyRrjWAYhNn2-jO7BQHqQ1YWfYj1fL8OZTsQWweEEt-8QwE2rvmTVbPzmsc/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenGlhtboxXLqMpwXD0-tPjThlqj4wtAJDMBem0sfUdOIV_wZoRi4S_I3JFjIhMyb1Lk3qkdo-yU-njglLUGyRrjWAYhNn2-jO7BQHqQ1YWfYj1fL8OZTsQWweEEt-8QwE2rvmTVbPzmsc/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From our mooring - Les Saintes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZV0FCktPqJuyUMhSmiN5-tlumY7KWE8F7jlFa9n6fSStHAXjb0o8llG8_WHVdgIHhId_frxW1S8ewG1vHz2k3sld39P9jgoY-oLjl5ncz1Mk2rpBklZk2dhQzR2UZGu6coNWPMS6b_osG/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZV0FCktPqJuyUMhSmiN5-tlumY7KWE8F7jlFa9n6fSStHAXjb0o8llG8_WHVdgIHhId_frxW1S8ewG1vHz2k3sld39P9jgoY-oLjl5ncz1Mk2rpBklZk2dhQzR2UZGu6coNWPMS6b_osG/s1600/DSC_0008.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann & Steve from s/v Receta<br />
in Les Saintes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the bay where the mooring
field is situated the water is deep, 40’ or more but a beautiful deep blue. We
swam daily from the stern of the boat. Of course one does have to witness the
daily nude displays from the French sailors while they either just take their
daily swim or perform their evening bath routine! The island of Terre-de-Haut,
the main island of the group, is hilly but not to challenging to be walked. We
did explore and visited some of the recommended spots. Les Saintes are a
tranquil destination and we find it easy to relax here and enjoy the ‘flavours’
of France. The people seem to have time for you and are friendly towards
cruisers and tourists. Martinique and Guadeloupe on the other hand are bustling
large islands with much more of a feeling akin to mainland France. Don’t
misunderstand me we love the bigger islands too, I am just explaining the
differences. As cruisers we need all the islands, each one offers a different
set of services ranging from good provisioning and sophisticated marine services
on the larger islands to locally grown non GMO vegetables from a small roadside
grocery store and eggs from the free range chickens which we find on the
smaller less populated islands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
locally grown food reminds us of a time when the quality of food was better.
The bright yellow yoked eggs instead of the milky white tasteless ones that
dominate the shelves in most large supermarkets nowadays are like the ones our
mothers used to get when we were children. The smaller islands give us a
‘getaway’, a relaxing aura where we can walk deserted beaches, snorkel in coves
and on reefs where we are the only people. At happy hour we can visit the local
watering hole, where we invariably see familiar faces from what is really a
small cruising community. The proprietors in most of the establishments make
time to talk and remember our names from the last time we were there, six
months before…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Slipping the mooring lines we
left Les Saintes and headed south toward the western lee side of Dominica.
Again we are not stopping in Dominica. We are told that Dominica is the poorest
but most spectacular island in the West Indies, it is nature’s wonderland. We
are told too that the people are special and the most ‘generous’, not
materially but in their attitude and demeanour, just wonderful people. We will
visit, maybe next year…</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPwR3SMw-aQs9vVA6dfALdh2TQ7x5sBDJcxMoobC5x9QrfZ8SF9jpEkBnDb8bHaJEicFEBkHZPcu8Mmb7esubJ1ouXIM_WFJe4eDXlXWnwJJ4FwIzsl6Lmzpr_mJrzxp7MzF-xouehZxJ/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPwR3SMw-aQs9vVA6dfALdh2TQ7x5sBDJcxMoobC5x9QrfZ8SF9jpEkBnDb8bHaJEicFEBkHZPcu8Mmb7esubJ1ouXIM_WFJe4eDXlXWnwJJ4FwIzsl6Lmzpr_mJrzxp7MzF-xouehZxJ/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A green flash in a about minute!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our next stop is Le Marin,
Martinique where we will stock up with great French provisions at Leader Price
our favourite grocery store in the Caribbean! Not only is the food good but the
selection is wonderful too; the wine shelves offer a good and inexpensive
choice. Leader Price has a dinghy dock which makes the whole experience easy,
no buses or long walks with arms being pulled out of their sockets, just cart
to dinghy and dinghy to boat, perfect! Our course south will take us along the
west coast of Dominica which is a mountainous island and thus offers
considerable lee. We will enjoy this for about 4 to 4½ hours when we usually
use the time to cook and eat a meal, filter fuel and refill our day tank, not
because we have to but it is just easier in the calm lee waters. At night,
especially if a moon is shining brightly, one can see the silhouette of the
tall mountains towering skyward, it seems we are much closer to the land than
we are, all a little eerie but nonetheless spectacular. In the channel between
Dominica and Martinique the equatorial current is fierce and is running in a
northerly direction so we can take up to 5 hours to cover the 21 miles between
the two islands. Once behind Martinique again we are in calmer waters until we
round the ‘corner’ at the southern end of the island and head windward for the
last 9nm to the channel leading into the protected enclosed harbour of Le
Marin. Le Marin is at the SE corner of Martinique and is protected well by a
large spit of land extending southward for about 3 miles. The area of protected
water in the bay is huge and there are many places to anchor. We usually start
off close to Leader Price and then once our shopping is done move to a more
remote location within the harbour or we cruise a few miles to Sainte-Anne
where the water is so clear and there is a beautiful sandy beach. Le Marin is
still accessible from Sainte-Anne in JP our fast dinghy and takes about 20
minutes. Le Marin also has every tradesman one might need and all seem very
qualified. Having had a repair done here on a previous visit highlighted to me that
sometimes it is better to pay a higher price and have the job done right first
time and in half the time rather than have the job attempted by a lesser
qualified person who is unpunctual and may or may not do the job correctly;
often the case on many islands. The difference in cost at the end of the day is
minimal. One doesn’t have to chase the workman either, he is usually there when
and at what time he says! Surprise! After two years here in the Caribbean we
are leaning and have a good handle on which islands are good for what. We even
long for individual locations on certain islands where we can buy great locally
baked bread! </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sainte-Anne is a small quiet
town, more a village actually, it is touristy and has all the little shops that
sell trinkets and souvenirs. It is a popular cruisers haunt and is blessed with
a great dinghy dock, a beautiful beach and a selection of small restaurants. We
always make water here as the water is so clean and clear. Once we have
negotiated the reefs that are between the main Le Marin channel and Sainte-Anne
one can anchor in 8’ – 18’ of ‘swimming’ water! We usually choose to anchor
near the beach which offers a lot of wind protection. Most of the sailing boats
especially those that have wind generators anchor further out where there is
more wind but the water is a little choppier. One can clear in now in
Sainte-Anne, one of the local bar restaurants is now authorized and has the
familiar computer in place. The cost here is 2EU’s compared to the 5 charged by
the marina in Le Marin. The French islands cater well to cruisers and welcome
us everywhere.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsSZsIrxNpCkcEVyHy1S4hjIHkMrqyEegXf6XfZfMIIsi_5XcR7tOZcdr88pyhRRcU9FSzGdzIBY57NfcCPYpA14MMBXGRlUKSTuJmNtwoOyhN3aHNIGbH9c80AABk-FcyyLFOnsHpO9p/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsSZsIrxNpCkcEVyHy1S4hjIHkMrqyEegXf6XfZfMIIsi_5XcR7tOZcdr88pyhRRcU9FSzGdzIBY57NfcCPYpA14MMBXGRlUKSTuJmNtwoOyhN3aHNIGbH9c80AABk-FcyyLFOnsHpO9p/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIzK8-UndSGmwLjF0z_OvgOP94arlTsBPACZbdf0jRw7ugML7zr1KSYXe2_cO2OFF6QvpKTmVPJ9nBAJ_ZqlwSb6J-Hr4IbpfJZJhMbPITjaXcKzqglAmwjuz5ddlACYLS7hiJCxbQhO4/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIzK8-UndSGmwLjF0z_OvgOP94arlTsBPACZbdf0jRw7ugML7zr1KSYXe2_cO2OFF6QvpKTmVPJ9nBAJ_ZqlwSb6J-Hr4IbpfJZJhMbPITjaXcKzqglAmwjuz5ddlACYLS7hiJCxbQhO4/s1600/DSC_0052.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;">During our visit to Le Marin we</span> <span style="color: white;">made a
reservation in the very nice marina to meet with the Victron Energy
distributor, who we know;</span><span style="color: white;"> Frédéric</span></span><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moser</span></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> came on-board to look over the new wiring we
had done in BVI’s and also to re-programme our Victron inverter/charger so it
could work to its full capability, remember we had thus far only been able to
charge at a reduced rate of 80 amps rather than the full 120 amps which it is
capable of. We also had <span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Frédéric</span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;"> install
a Victron monitoring gauge so we can see exactly what is happening with our
electrical system. Finally six months after the installation of our new
inverter we have everything working properly! I cannot describe the wonderful
feeling that having reliability in the electrical department provides…we are
relaxed not worried about our generator breaking down, not always being
required to check the temperature of the wiring, worrying about fire! We have a
freedom now that you would’ve had to experience our previous problems in order
to appreciate.</span> </span></span></span><span style="color: white;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: white;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPJ8AKmgsCSPDVyIRxaCke2SnEaMveJDIvzDJUCiqQwDejJXLsQok7OTC8BAkMsIle0Yud22U4idVXXWRf1wO_BMXkI6pTgZAs2ML9z9utt2CDjzEMhN5Bz9cZ8xsRlFGBz4beNCZAjMk/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPJ8AKmgsCSPDVyIRxaCke2SnEaMveJDIvzDJUCiqQwDejJXLsQok7OTC8BAkMsIle0Yud22U4idVXXWRf1wO_BMXkI6pTgZAs2ML9z9utt2CDjzEMhN5Bz9cZ8xsRlFGBz4beNCZAjMk/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Cruising past the Pitons</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">St. Lucia, the next island south, is our next stop. Our plan is to
spend a short time in Rodney Bay and wait for a good weather window to make
passage to Bequia, one of the Grenadines, where friends, who we haven’t seen in
a while, are anchored. In Rodney Bay we met up with Bruce on ‘Wild Matilda’ and
Dave and Trudie on ‘Persephone’. We only spent a few days here but
unfortunately during those few days we were robbed one night! Two nice folding
teak chairs were taken from our aft deck. Another boat in the anchorage fared worse
than us and were boarded and lost money, credit cards and passports. </span><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: white;">
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</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrY8XuqdZruTdAeXL0paE3V9mrtpW2yTyJjN9F0bYRKpjnwNifOY68r32i_kxi3s6rStCn5rmrMeoG0RvL_FwGqAxygZORJm4Lf4fODom6vB_vdQ-nni5cH0L_h7RGOugUzuvu_2GjCOI/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrY8XuqdZruTdAeXL0paE3V9mrtpW2yTyJjN9F0bYRKpjnwNifOY68r32i_kxi3s6rStCn5rmrMeoG0RvL_FwGqAxygZORJm4Lf4fODom6vB_vdQ-nni5cH0L_h7RGOugUzuvu_2GjCOI/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Passing a beautiful yacht on a beautiful day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: white;">
St. Lucia,
sadly, is now the leading island for this type of crime. The island authorities
are stepping up security in the hope of curbing the crime. We, along with other
cruisers, are hoping that there will be an improvement as currently we are
reluctant to visit. From St. Lucia we passaged overnight to Bequia, another
small island that we like. We first visited Bequia 20 years ago when we were
married on Young Island, St. Vincent. The island has changed little and the
same laundry boat and other waterborne vendors were present. The island is
quaint, there is a stone and concrete walking path along the waterfront which
connects shops, watering holes and restaurants. A choice of beaches abound. Les
on ‘Golightly’ was there and Dave, Trudie and Bruce followed us down from St.
Lucia. We also met two French cruisers Sylvie & Rene. We all had a
get-together one evening at the Whaleboner for cocktails with pizza afterwards
at Macs which was a fun time.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="color: white; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;">
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</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhSHrR6h5avRHLCbkm6JlyO2jZ5SE2XyFCd2yYeEWBANu1V8Cp7Hhf1RRPhlsOEdVGD9ZO2jkDES-fteHTD01Uzr2Ll_944R7XVCIqEaXMGPyjhTseKz9J5FjIXT3RR8gsheUAsTI7RN_/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfhSHrR6h5avRHLCbkm6JlyO2jZ5SE2XyFCd2yYeEWBANu1V8Cp7Hhf1RRPhlsOEdVGD9ZO2jkDES-fteHTD01Uzr2Ll_944R7XVCIqEaXMGPyjhTseKz9J5FjIXT3RR8gsheUAsTI7RN_/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Bequia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: white;">
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</span><span style="color: white;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC3tafrPpaxmu0VnfiGU4Jhv07qEKy9IupAVxWvT3D9yQQ_C9iVsx9M3Dh5cMnjb1S5xv0lfYuCDRkl03ayFnbN_nugY-_tZPhevqU0BOrHkpGHFpMqfdlR1UWxnT0-Rd3GDRoIHLcCu_/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeC3tafrPpaxmu0VnfiGU4Jhv07qEKy9IupAVxWvT3D9yQQ_C9iVsx9M3Dh5cMnjb1S5xv0lfYuCDRkl03ayFnbN_nugY-_tZPhevqU0BOrHkpGHFpMqfdlR1UWxnT0-Rd3GDRoIHLcCu_/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Friend John's boat 'Stingo'</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">By now it is July and hurricane season is upon us, it is time to
head further south once more…our next stop is Mayreau a small island that is
the gathering place for exploring the Tobago Keys, one of the most beautiful
areas in the eastern Caribbean. We only stayed in Mayreau for one night but did
go ashore with Les from ‘Golightly’ and met some great people, South Africans
from Cape Town. They, along with their two grown-up children, had taken a
sabbatical from their lives in SA in order to cruise the eastern Caribbean for
a year. We became friends and have stayed in touch ever since. We have just
learned that they are planning on returning in three years to resume their
eastern Caribbean cruising! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: white;">
</span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDhwt0Ccomc7pMOrShJBdfr-owokn03Cp7VTHgFYRDAJ7zSrX2fvUuWGuw6kz_d76OJGpF-MzZjq0GdRZ9rodEMVTPQjrR7_gYf1_s6OEoL-g3reucBmq3CtVY8kvJWmzPMRq13n9TsKz/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDhwt0Ccomc7pMOrShJBdfr-owokn03Cp7VTHgFYRDAJ7zSrX2fvUuWGuw6kz_d76OJGpF-MzZjq0GdRZ9rodEMVTPQjrR7_gYf1_s6OEoL-g3reucBmq3CtVY8kvJWmzPMRq13n9TsKz/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">One of the beaches we visited every </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">day to swim in Bequia.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: white;">
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">From Mayreau we continued on to Carriacou an island
just north of Grenada and part of the Grenadian archipelago. Carriacou, as I
have probably mentioned before, is definitely one of our favourite islands.
Tyrell Bay, where we choose to stay, is a superb anchorage, it is calm with
nice clear water for water making and swimming. Around the bay are bars,
restaurants three small grocery stores. One can buy free range eggs, chickens
and locally grown vegetables. We feel healthy here and have grown to love this
place. We know some locals, some ‘Belongers’ as they are referred to, and feel
safe here. There is no crime that we have heard of and we can leave ‘Partners’
unlocked most of the time. Many of our closer friends spend time here and the
local bars are always patronized by familiar faces…Ms Lucky’s on a Saturday
night is the place to be, a small restaurant where Ms. Lucky barbeques chicken,
pork and potato wedges for a mere EC$12 or US$4.50 and the beer is cheap and
ice cold.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"> <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: white;">
</span><span style="color: white;">
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYJXlcECuWQ4_AgF6Zsm4exDs4_mqIlWsRKinp_tEtTbIdY5hReKTqN5obBGpvVXm4WuYHD5SIViiWGCG3vlZOkYzlhYLckzDNzLcGV5oSvEZSF4Mgt_yuBZucqekQrYLRfAzMPqGdKkZ/s1600/Partners-Bequia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYJXlcECuWQ4_AgF6Zsm4exDs4_mqIlWsRKinp_tEtTbIdY5hReKTqN5obBGpvVXm4WuYHD5SIViiWGCG3vlZOkYzlhYLckzDNzLcGV5oSvEZSF4Mgt_yuBZucqekQrYLRfAzMPqGdKkZ/s1600/Partners-Bequia.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">'Partners' our trusty steed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Our trip from St. Lucia to Mayreau and on to Carriacou was
uneventful. The weather at this time of the year provides longer periods of
calm seas which make it easier for us to go to sea.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;">Always hard to leave, Carriacou yet again has provided our fix for
relaxed quiet island living. Grenada was 6 hours south, we headed out
accompanied by our friend Les, to where we would spend three months until our
final trek south to Trinidad where we would be hauled out for bottom paint and
some other minor jobs. We have had an expensive year this year what with a new
generator, radar and new battery and inverter/charger wiring, so to anchor in
Grenada as opposed to berthing in a marina will give us an inexpensive summer
to replenish the cruising coffers.</span> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;">
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<span style="color: white;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4GCoHSQIOjtLgAJJT1es9N3ym3vFiUB_141ncQb1XBfIl8f6_ErSGRcIJD9jLpSXD1oZxVFqyZRnM9olXZCjxPPtAXPznGcN8Qh6dWT4bblBd2McM_8FASANIHiE-W9AcWWwwjf-kcCN/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4GCoHSQIOjtLgAJJT1es9N3ym3vFiUB_141ncQb1XBfIl8f6_ErSGRcIJD9jLpSXD1oZxVFqyZRnM9olXZCjxPPtAXPznGcN8Qh6dWT4bblBd2McM_8FASANIHiE-W9AcWWwwjf-kcCN/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Carriacou 'Fun Runner'.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX0H61A0D4Lgjl0kyxdTEOQfDt61bbbwlzvqAo6XCMDoJwbBVKlx5SFyQbB4HVhDxDVjQkDSt_kMn9SauT45EkLJAAS_50ame4y1XDBoaUlD55fdhyO3hGS4McIPb1Ll2Q9aZkqZYx7Xs/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX0H61A0D4Lgjl0kyxdTEOQfDt61bbbwlzvqAo6XCMDoJwbBVKlx5SFyQbB4HVhDxDVjQkDSt_kMn9SauT45EkLJAAS_50ame4y1XDBoaUlD55fdhyO3hGS4McIPb1Ll2Q9aZkqZYx7Xs/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Our Bengy Bay anchor buddy, </span><br />
<span style="color: white;">friend Terry on Libertad</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9yz9ee6zpKZp5DI1QAVmltNxgTtLLeGoIoqic-iikgF-PQ9YNO2Wp3fNWBgHmr5aq6MGmhyjEtNDNfZL7pWbyVZBE8StLqOhQ1wN1zWJRTj5I1l19s99i0_s1hEfNTgK5kvHDZb27MST/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9yz9ee6zpKZp5DI1QAVmltNxgTtLLeGoIoqic-iikgF-PQ9YNO2Wp3fNWBgHmr5aq6MGmhyjEtNDNfZL7pWbyVZBE8StLqOhQ1wN1zWJRTj5I1l19s99i0_s1hEfNTgK5kvHDZb27MST/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" height="130" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">A female Frigate bird.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotwRUPLycca8JmAfdoeglWhzSgflUOK9dwg_EOx0GCrKq8xhzZAnHpIITzR6y4jB_jyAcHWfNxvYeI7SpQlsuUsIHdEOievlZnxCOuzJ-r3Hw-eJCxlipK-n_H4z6UUIikqdEDHE5nSX7/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotwRUPLycca8JmAfdoeglWhzSgflUOK9dwg_EOx0GCrKq8xhzZAnHpIITzR6y4jB_jyAcHWfNxvYeI7SpQlsuUsIHdEOievlZnxCOuzJ-r3Hw-eJCxlipK-n_H4z6UUIikqdEDHE5nSX7/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">A typical Carriacou scene.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Arriving in Grenada we entered Prickly Bay where we cleared in and
were granted a three month stay. After a day of rolling badly we moved east round
to Clarkes Court Bay and Bengy Bay where we like to anchor. Our good friend
Terry on board s/v Libertad anchored next to us and we spent the next three
months swimming, fishing and having fun in the bay. Of course we explored parts
of Grenada that we hadn’t seen before. We had a good time, dinghy concerts,
BBQ’s on the beach at Rogers on Hog Island and weekly music jams at Whisper
Cove Marina. Grenada is a fun island with plenty going on!</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: small;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt9QPmFDFvwnTvcDPpGErCLpRKBXS6SlM4bOhMZjvyFdaLVBmA_PXdzZlwTEo6bXnknLxM2InA5gNEO9yC1Wfl8OruIHLcxqdraY0xmbtfYFVOUOeW0e8cZItXgP5kjIK5px3xNZ9LUVC/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt9QPmFDFvwnTvcDPpGErCLpRKBXS6SlM4bOhMZjvyFdaLVBmA_PXdzZlwTEo6bXnknLxM2InA5gNEO9yC1Wfl8OruIHLcxqdraY0xmbtfYFVOUOeW0e8cZItXgP5kjIK5px3xNZ9LUVC/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Crews Inn Marina, Chaguaramas,</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">Trinidad and Tobago</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpeS5um6SsxsXf23jWeSAwXk9iIcyu-Qg7NblcTjUIPbApSZa-7lIRzSP0AsB2SGolRLZNe0ukjwEK9gRELVofuVI-YEn2VFzq7SOtCnNZcP76Q1fYHfrPdk_2dWmMY5Biym-fm1-6zHx/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpeS5um6SsxsXf23jWeSAwXk9iIcyu-Qg7NblcTjUIPbApSZa-7lIRzSP0AsB2SGolRLZNe0ukjwEK9gRELVofuVI-YEn2VFzq7SOtCnNZcP76Q1fYHfrPdk_2dWmMY5Biym-fm1-6zHx/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">Your truly!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the beginning of October we sailed south to Trinidad. We had
made a reservation in Crews Inn for just three weeks before our haul-out at
Peake Yachting Services on the 5</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> November so we were looking
forward to some shopping in town and some soaking in the marina pool. We
quickly discovered who was here and reunited with many other cruising friends.
We spent time with Chuck and Barb on ‘Tusen Takk II’, another Kadey Krogen,
enjoying several get-togethers and meals together. Chuck and Barb have been
cruising the Eastern Caribbean for 8 years and are a wealth of knowledge. They
introduced us to their friends Michael and Roberta on s/v Celilo’ and we
enjoyed several outings including two ‘dinner and a movie’ excursions. Trinidad
has it all, malls, restaurants galore, everything, it is like a mini America. Our
haul-out went well and we left Peake’s on the 25</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> November after
three weeks on the hard... </span></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
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<small></small><br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-38902213121333350762014-11-20T12:17:00.000-05:002014-11-22T05:14:37.225-05:00New Generator Install<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">June 7<sup>th</sup> 2014 </span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 18° 23.531’ N</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>64° 38.088’
W<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps?q=18.398098,-64.635766&num=1&t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=18.397783,-64.635932&spn=0.00618,0.010396&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=18.398098,-64.635766&num=1&t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=18.397783,-64.635932&spn=0.00618,0.010396&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I know there
has been a long break since my last post, two culprits, unprecedented bad
internet connections and the Chikungunya virus! It was my intention to post
this account in June! We left Tortola BVI with our route and
destinations in mind but not considering that we chose, on this occasion,
more remote locations which were void of internet connections. Apologies!</span></span></span></span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe9HVUWBxP03M9SnkVzBTIt-kebHa9EpO0uleiy82rDKCsV4VJroXuHATiGhE3b1_975_EqQAfAZuupvsJ1YYPcwiKRj8xhZke0OiiCL_ekWcGcXjdZWECMHbptKP6FcSxc3lchO6X2t3/s1600/New+Genny++(3)%2B5-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe9HVUWBxP03M9SnkVzBTIt-kebHa9EpO0uleiy82rDKCsV4VJroXuHATiGhE3b1_975_EqQAfAZuupvsJ1YYPcwiKRj8xhZke0OiiCL_ekWcGcXjdZWECMHbptKP6FcSxc3lchO6X2t3/s1600/New+Genny++(3)+5-2014.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faraday about to come out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLRqLdvck3Q9PH34EDo5N395HNF-Ri7EhSVRvKQqW7XkGIzcnrGQ-5LIFR2jchL3ZRjAI7zbDhWM5bHcatS-F-Af1rLrs3vcnAcsGiFGEIvofQZjeeENkZ9G-5ZOlf6F6JdoaAPA5Eu5y/s1600/New+Genny++(4)%2B5-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLRqLdvck3Q9PH34EDo5N395HNF-Ri7EhSVRvKQqW7XkGIzcnrGQ-5LIFR2jchL3ZRjAI7zbDhWM5bHcatS-F-Af1rLrs3vcnAcsGiFGEIvofQZjeeENkZ9G-5ZOlf6F6JdoaAPA5Eu5y/s1600/New+Genny++(4)+5-2014.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nearly out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">June 2<sup>nd</sup>.
Tim arrived right on time along with the ‘Team’ Hugh and Dave…Tim proceeded to
assess the job sight and confirmed that all appeared well. He saw no problems
in completing the </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">installation in the time allotted. Dave and Hugh would return
on Tuesday morning to begin by removing ‘Faraday’ our old Westerbeke generator.
Within five hours all electrical cables, water and fuel lines had been
disconnected and the unit was ready to be removed from the boat. What we then had to
do was take ‘Partners’ from her slip to the haul out area at the far northeast
end on the marina where a forklift with a Hercules bar attached to the forks
would extend out from the dock under the aft deck roof into the salon; with the
assistance of a chain hoist the unit was lifted clear and withdrawn from the
boat. So far so good! Diverting for a moment, I should mention that whenever we
take ‘Partners’ into a marina we invariably enter the slip bow first as we like
our back deck/porch to be facing out which allows us maximum privacy and
usually the best view. With a single engine boat reversing out of the slip, in
my opinion, is easier than reversing in! The whole operation of removing the
old and installing the new generator required me to reverse ‘Partners’ into
slips five times! I was just a little nervous to say the least as one always
wants to ‘look good’ doing this operation not to mention the fact that one doesn’t want to hit
anything! I surprised myself and managed five flawless docking manoeuvres.
Sooo, for all of you reading this that may need to reverse into a slip sometime
down the road the advice is practice a few times first then do everything
slowly. This was the very first time I had done it since buying ‘Partners’
nearly three years ago! The generator was mounted on a piece of ¾” plywood
which in turn was covered in resin and lag bolted to the stringers. The original board was on its last legs
and was sagging and delaminating. In situ none of this was immediately visible;
just a warning to others…take a look at your installation! When the generator
was clear we were able to see the stern gland well and it was evident that the
hose clamps were of the perforated thread type as opposed to the solid variety.
We decided, while access was easy, to replace them. Back to our slip B17 we
went. With ‘Faraday’ the old generator removed Hue would do all the preparatory
work such as installing new wiring, water and exhaust hoses while there was
plenty of room to work. The other main job was to install the new subfloor upon
which the new Northern Lights 9kw would be supported. The ¾” plywood would be
coated in West Systems epoxy and then bonded and screwed to the stringers. Hugh
had prepared all this previously so it didn’t take very long to get everything
in and ready. By the end of Tuesday the old genny was out and most of the prep
work for the installation of the new unit was done. On Wednesday morning Hue
finished off the last few items and then it was just a matter of waiting for
the forklift and haul out slip availability so the new power plant could be
lowered into the awaiting prepared ‘hole’. At 14:00 we received the call and
once again we took ‘Partners’ on the short journey where we would, once again,
‘practice’ reversing her into a slip! All went as planned and within 45 minutes the new generator was in! By the end of the day </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9pExPpb7MLe9ysOGtsJ6LX30CGe6NEDW8OiTFL4O8cTkSyjbxda1wAQdi_jylI3ZkFD4H4f6DxLgqaEqbsc4r2rzV30blqTaAES9RJb5gMrtj4WJACTrt5ZkrYwY1vE7Eu_SJNGG4I5l/s1600/New+Genny++(2)%2B5-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9pExPpb7MLe9ysOGtsJ6LX30CGe6NEDW8OiTFL4O8cTkSyjbxda1wAQdi_jylI3ZkFD4H4f6DxLgqaEqbsc4r2rzV30blqTaAES9RJb5gMrtj4WJACTrt5ZkrYwY1vE7Eu_SJNGG4I5l/s1600/New+Genny++(2)+5-2014.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whitey in place!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Hue had the unit bolted down
with all the fuel lines fitted leaving only the exhaust, sea water hose and new
electrical wires to connect on Thursday morning. Thursday morning saw the
installation completed. The last thing Hue completed was the fitting of the
sound shield. The Northern Lights unit was a bright white and was a stark
contrast to the dark red colour of the Westerbeke, so white in fact that we
have decided to nickname our new generator ‘Whitey’. Hugh gave the word to
“start her up”, the moment of truth. Whitey fired into action without any fuss or
hesitation…we have a brand new generator, hurrah!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Tim stopped
by to go over one or two points, some do’s and don’ts and also re-iterated the
need to change the special break-in oil after fifty hours and again at one
hundred. After that every two hundred hours. Nice, as ‘Faraday’ was every one
hundred which seemed to come round oh so often. Tim reminded me that the valves
would need adjusting at fifty hours so I called Palm Tree Marine in Grenada,
where we would be for hurricane season, and lined up Mike to perform the valve adjustment
while we were at anchor which would avoid a marina stay. So many technicians will only work
on board if the boat is in a marina. </span></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Tim also
completely re-did the wiring to our new battery and inverter installation as
per the instructions we received from the Victron distributor in Le Marin,
Martinique. By the end of Friday and several cups of tea later, Tim is British,
all the work was finished. All together the job was very well done, Tim’s team
did a great job, quickly, efficiently and 'right' the first time. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As a
footnote in order to explain some of the circumstances leading up to the
replacement of our generator I am going to write a little about how ours and
many other boats exists away from being plugged in to shore power at a dock. If
you are contemplating a cruising adventure either as a sabbatical from your
career or, as we are doing, a retirement dream, you will be pawing through
all the boating magazines and scrolling many pages on Yachtworld.com looking
for your dream boat. No matter whether it is new or previously owned the same
things are needed for self-sufficiency at anchor. First, if like most trawler
style boats, you have lights, refrigerators, ice maker, freezers, various
appliances, a water maker, computers to run etc., etc., you need battery power,
inverter power and the means to replenish all those amperes’ you will be
burning! The problem arises when you realize, after the purchase of your ‘dream
boat’, that in order to stay out and away from marinas you need more amperes!
We found that because of an insufficient battery bank we were running our
generator up to 10 hours a day and became tied to the boat, we were turning
down invitations from our cruising friends, especially those with sailing boat
which tend to be considerably more economical in term of electrical demand than
motor boats. As soon as we awoke in the morning the overnight use of amps
required replacing in order for us to get through the day and be able to leave
the boat. We had 300 usable amps being 50% of the total house bank amperes. We
also had an inverter/charger capable of 2 kW AC output and could charge at the
rate of 80 amps per hour on bulk charge less towards the end of the charging
cycle during the absorption stage. All in all putting everything together, in
the real world it could take between 4 and 6 hours of generator time every
morning. At night the process started again in order to zero out the amps ready to get us
through the night. Remember refrigerators and freezers don’t discriminate
between night and day they are running 24/7. Sooo, in the PM we found ourselves
boat bound again while the generator powered the charger to replenish those
pesky amps again! The purpose of this explanation to help get you from where we
started to now without the heartaches we went through. We first increased our
house bank battery amps from 600 to 1,020 (up to 510 usable) and replaced the
old golf cart batteries with AGM Lifeline brand new batteries. We also, at the
same time, replaced the Xantrex Freedom 20 inverter/charger with a new Victron
3 kW inverter/charger that could charge at 120 amp per hour. We relegated the
Xantrex to a redundant backup unit. When, however, we came to set up the new
Victron Inverter we found that the old 8kW Westerbeke generator we had did not
have a stable enough sine wave to enable the charge rate of the Victron to be
set at its full 120 amp capability, it had to be restricted to 90 amps per hour
in order to protect the charger circuitry from self-destructing due to the
unstable electrical supply from the generator...wow! All very frustrating! What did we do?
Actually two things, we had previously installed 430 watts of solar panels on
top of our pilot house roof with the intention and expectation of, on sunny days, the panels
running the boat during the day thus postponing the necessity of running the
generator in the mornings further more reducing the generator to one session a day in the
evening. Our Westerbeke had 6,000 hours and it was constantly needing
maintenance. Over the 2 years we have owned ‘Partner’ we had replaced many
parts and spent a total of $8,000 on ‘Faraday’. Second the new 9kW Northern
Lights ‘Whitey’ was installed and cost us $13,000 brand new, that did not
include installation though. It was time to stop the ‘bleeding’ and get our
electrical system running the way we wanted. With ‘Whitey’ installed we now
charge at a 120 amp rate and with new wiring for the inverter and some of the
appliances our current lose/drain has been mitigated. The bottom line is now we
run the new Northern Lights 9kW 2-3 hours per day usually between 7 – 10 PM
which allows us to run the air-conditioning as well to cool the boat down for
us to sleep comfortably. The solar panels do a great job during the day
maintaining the electrical demand and on very sunny days replenishing up to 40
amps of the overnight deficit. We also have replaced most of the lights on
board with LED bulbs. If we need to make water or there is no sun we do run the
generator additional hours on those rare days. The motto here is ask many
questions at the time of purchase and try and determine if the boats electrical
system will be simpatico to your life style expectations. Being tied to the
boat monitoring the generator, as explained above, was the single most frustrating part of our cruising.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5mnVP23XkvAMudVnXaS_jkHKHCPXe793OSzgVWFKKvNnyO7o-N4bjSVGrt5JFvMlRUYt2z_jr6zP34iywOPQtM-xnPZgoEnLRhN5GLMGW9hwPsLa9CVEuSqrxNzkBEwlRCjZB4IJIDZx/s1600/New+Genny++(5)%2B5-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT5mnVP23XkvAMudVnXaS_jkHKHCPXe793OSzgVWFKKvNnyO7o-N4bjSVGrt5JFvMlRUYt2z_jr6zP34iywOPQtM-xnPZgoEnLRhN5GLMGW9hwPsLa9CVEuSqrxNzkBEwlRCjZB4IJIDZx/s1600/New+Genny++(5)+5-2014.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny Cay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4yGpfaWb51G_9OcQ731np8pEiwmdLfcJAe3wyaJsogQ-mLsOOz8waRychrllWW0CCOk7Lcl9eexl41aq9wBllDjQRdUy1Q0hRCT8r8jhPN4Bfb13D_N3Z5kD5SVVXrIKYHBJ6ySpGR2V/s1600/New+Genny++(6)%2B5-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt4yGpfaWb51G_9OcQ731np8pEiwmdLfcJAe3wyaJsogQ-mLsOOz8waRychrllWW0CCOk7Lcl9eexl41aq9wBllDjQRdUy1Q0hRCT8r8jhPN4Bfb13D_N3Z5kD5SVVXrIKYHBJ6ySpGR2V/s1600/New+Genny++(6)+5-2014.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nanny Cay Resort beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">On Saturday
morning the 7<sup>th </sup>June 'Partners’ left the dock at Nanny Cay and we sailed
directly across the Anegada Passage passing St. Kitts and Nevis with our first
stop at Les Saintes, Guadeloupe. Ah! The French islands, baguettes, great
cheese and wine, wonderful! We secured ourselves to a mooring ball, 60 euros
for the week, and dinghied ashore to check in at the local internet café and
bar! Yes, the Customs and Immigration clearance is done in the internet café
which happens to have a bar! Only in France…it is wonderfully simple and easy.
One Euro later we were in. Our 238 nm trip took 47½ hours, not too bad
considering we had the equatorial current against us all the way. Les Saintes
are small islands but not to mountainous so we like to walk
here, there is no poverty, everyone appears comfortable; the local people
are friendly and helpful. In the mooring field off Terre de Haut, the
water is deep 40' or more and is deep blue and clean. We swam every day in the beautiful blue water
straight from our swim platform on 'Partners'. We also enjoyed the cool breezes and
gourmet dinners on the aft deck, our 'back porch'. We just love this place. While we were
checking in at Customs and Immigration two other cruisers were there, we
started to talk, in the end we all sat down and enjoyed a beer together. David and Trudie on-board
their sailing boat ‘Persephone’. It turned out that they knew many of the other cruisers we did, it really is a small community. We became good friends and enjoyed several
get-togethers with them during our stay as well as several more encounters all
the way down islands to Grenada. One finds that a lot of French cruisers
gravitate to the French Islands, obviously their comfort zone, therefore one
does have the usual nakedness on display, both for sunbathing as well as the
daily scrub down on the stern of their boats! Daily ferry boats from
Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe arrive with a little wake but other than that the
waters are well protected from swell. </span> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Alas time to
move on...we have enjoyed a lazy week here now it is time to make passage to
our next destination, Le Marin, Martinique...</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span> </span> </div>
Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-18690811352672912142014-06-06T06:43:00.002-04:002014-06-07T06:08:37.693-04:00Destination – Nanny Cay, Tortola<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">June 2<sup>th</sup> 2014 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 18° 27.099’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>64° 42.560’
W</span><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.452764,-64.715556&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=18.453089,-64.716071&spn=0.057481,0.095873&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.452764,-64.715556&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=18.453089,-64.716071&spn=0.057481,0.095873&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
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<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our journey to get our new generator installed took us to
both familiar and unfamiliar anchorages through our route from Fajardo, PR to
Nanny Cay, BVI. The first was Culebra, a familiar anchorage. We love Culebra,
the anchorage at Dakity, the general environment, people and the town of Dewey
with its facilities. After a two night stay, a visit from our cruising friend
John and a few beers we were off the next morning to Megan's Bay, St. Thomas
USVI. We arrived after a mixed sea condition passage, some rough confused
conditions in the Virgin Passage which left both of us feeling a little
nauseous and neither of us suffers from sea sickness! As we approached the lee
of St. Thomas the conditions gave way to calmer seas, sunshine and the cruising
we like. By 11:30 we were anchored in Megans Bay a large bay with one of the
'best' beaches in the world. The bay is spectacular with pristine water and
plenty of room to choose an anchoring spot. We are now into May and the
cruising season on the northern Caribbean is winding down to its close. There
was only one other anchored sailing boat in the bay and we had to use our
binoculars to see him, the bay is huge!</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJOJTfsjvhjuPf4HlgCNomDvUUcwcwyLdTGXdJlXh_MATd6Bp4J0gb3u4tGDRrpIGSIFJm-DUtTmd9MNedZaF6Isn_yl656P5Ml8AnVY4exW69VOR5ED6ACpliWiRIKXei4I0Wp_RnFNg/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJOJTfsjvhjuPf4HlgCNomDvUUcwcwyLdTGXdJlXh_MATd6Bp4J0gb3u4tGDRrpIGSIFJm-DUtTmd9MNedZaF6Isn_yl656P5Ml8AnVY4exW69VOR5ED6ACpliWiRIKXei4I0Wp_RnFNg/s1600/DSC_0023.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The daily dinghy procession at the Moorings charter company <br />
marina in Road Town, Tortola.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTwZMrrdBu7Fnt87fFUw-9mZS25HEJa6f_1lBo3iGvbWCl8U3ziZNb9ViZd9W80Q7FEonD-dKJyLos3cwowweYM5MHT_BUS0qvJDMWhG3MJtxPkzSp4hJQOyIu-jZ-CkxYmZqGSSWrBuw/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTwZMrrdBu7Fnt87fFUw-9mZS25HEJa6f_1lBo3iGvbWCl8U3ziZNb9ViZd9W80Q7FEonD-dKJyLos3cwowweYM5MHT_BUS0qvJDMWhG3MJtxPkzSp4hJQOyIu-jZ-CkxYmZqGSSWrBuw/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were anchored amoungst good company at <br />
White Bay, Guana Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FpcqXEYTHnZq0zpmeOdiXYqdilNE9lQ0VHced9GhnRplezJjO8MjOT5xsi3gfvezqQEJYOnGBLRFCtcV1drXk0BeUQ0s4trMaffKQVcsoQ6HJNteNzMCR9BtIv0zBErcBWImAK89RYCY/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FpcqXEYTHnZq0zpmeOdiXYqdilNE9lQ0VHced9GhnRplezJjO8MjOT5xsi3gfvezqQEJYOnGBLRFCtcV1drXk0BeUQ0s4trMaffKQVcsoQ6HJNteNzMCR9BtIv0zBErcBWImAK89RYCY/s1600/DSC_0042.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunsets never lose their fascination.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vU3NlRsY2n3gOgurPwC5qDvK16ymYwKEkg3Ii7XOUK57SN8puuBLD2GtnN0senRbtXEG_mo9nC9P_zbnHD8eFExgd8bUjNXkrt4p_p85jZBJfalDwruplwH7LQwzjWiZhWObJND0o6Z9/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vU3NlRsY2n3gOgurPwC5qDvK16ymYwKEkg3Ii7XOUK57SN8puuBLD2GtnN0senRbtXEG_mo9nC9P_zbnHD8eFExgd8bUjNXkrt4p_p85jZBJfalDwruplwH7LQwzjWiZhWObJND0o6Z9/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let there be light!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXsdGqcXplxQ1QHkZ1hK1eq7eOLyNg8FWNa3ptjejGhFg76SfnPsKJXRndtstlvKY_FsA2w1GADXHO453mwPnkOc0y7C0STVJdRVemc40TTYyvG-ZbM6t0RIftGOx2tTiMHP6cf1HujmC/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXsdGqcXplxQ1QHkZ1hK1eq7eOLyNg8FWNa3ptjejGhFg76SfnPsKJXRndtstlvKY_FsA2w1GADXHO453mwPnkOc0y7C0STVJdRVemc40TTYyvG-ZbM6t0RIftGOx2tTiMHP6cf1HujmC/s1600/DSC_0030.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty hillside home</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uS51-1bcE4aQOGGW8RSdQe5N2VfzT-cmp13ZbfArIqFEGeJwWBZjZ_SCWXneR4gWmqRzN6Lv5LS9Vc9HDVvF4k-hQxTOd7Dsz7mJU7zDxQjb1Eesw4_E4jjZN6BXmluD5MzOeBHHU3cy/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uS51-1bcE4aQOGGW8RSdQe5N2VfzT-cmp13ZbfArIqFEGeJwWBZjZ_SCWXneR4gWmqRzN6Lv5LS9Vc9HDVvF4k-hQxTOd7Dsz7mJU7zDxQjb1Eesw4_E4jjZN6BXmluD5MzOeBHHU3cy/s1600/DSC_0088.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tusen Takk II with Chuck and Barb Shipley<br />
onboard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSsnEysppvTtoFkzKt8zSc6iL8N06LoJ3oSJBxC-7mccpRsJoTN3jPOwVIklby0hyXP9QUqfM78tO2rAvlvy14f41US3d4ZKPe2ZMok7qgYrV-8hXP5P_F6HFVoiAYzSm2fQs1Tl3OdoY/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSsnEysppvTtoFkzKt8zSc6iL8N06LoJ3oSJBxC-7mccpRsJoTN3jPOwVIklby0hyXP9QUqfM78tO2rAvlvy14f41US3d4ZKPe2ZMok7qgYrV-8hXP5P_F6HFVoiAYzSm2fQs1Tl3OdoY/s1600/DSC_0085.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barb with a wave for the camera.</td></tr>
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkEUQGg94CPHPERjUcNprDUTE3Vp8NIVTASfUXX-BGySum8_Nqte2r3B-LKS9mHdnV7-ZCmp1gRaKt9FBvDemlbr4aCTEwVWnvrYm6Y4Tcc_m2naIW4_X7oHoRRVPu9S9ZEJcVRyfTjRo/s1600/DSC_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkEUQGg94CPHPERjUcNprDUTE3Vp8NIVTASfUXX-BGySum8_Nqte2r3B-LKS9mHdnV7-ZCmp1gRaKt9FBvDemlbr4aCTEwVWnvrYm6Y4Tcc_m2naIW4_X7oHoRRVPu9S9ZEJcVRyfTjRo/s1600/DSC_0092.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourty feet of water and the anchor chain visible to the bottom!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow we will explore, there are a few boat chores to
do in the early morning, a teak deck plug to replace and the stainless steel to
polish. After this we will launch the dinghy (Junior Partner, JP for short) and
take a trip into the beach. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ47UmzkVAXbRJN4YJZ_IkznS73UvlO_MlfQ_o2hFYDLDKi70Zcw_eA-BeT2eHKU17UfXrlEkwgyD99sXcwfcxdE2DIrEkwnN9-TDpy0ODJVvPuewbMMwHm_tCq5B7muXlNYCoKuvy4PbV/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ47UmzkVAXbRJN4YJZ_IkznS73UvlO_MlfQ_o2hFYDLDKi70Zcw_eA-BeT2eHKU17UfXrlEkwgyD99sXcwfcxdE2DIrEkwnN9-TDpy0ODJVvPuewbMMwHm_tCq5B7muXlNYCoKuvy4PbV/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The huge expanse of Magens Bay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MSBNu7Yc9wa1t6A3TNQhiuSYjOFfOg-aBJkFWI3nEiJWgrCTib_rPzD1uZos9Mas1CZ2_n-GsfenlAgD6EFN99lMvdFc6GjOLU56qblHwMA-TMY5DSafzqHfGtQg22Xuo5cVw-2Ur07x/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MSBNu7Yc9wa1t6A3TNQhiuSYjOFfOg-aBJkFWI3nEiJWgrCTib_rPzD1uZos9Mas1CZ2_n-GsfenlAgD6EFN99lMvdFc6GjOLU56qblHwMA-TMY5DSafzqHfGtQg22Xuo5cVw-2Ur07x/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magens Bay Beach, three quarters of a mile long.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After a hearty 'English' breakfast we launched JP and off
we went towards what we thought would be the dinghy beaching area...we were
wrong! We pulled the dinghy up on the beach alongside several other local
boats, no other inflatable RIB's though. We began walking along the beach and
had intended walking to the end and back, we'll over a mile. After a few
hundred yards we were met by one of the lifeguards who politely explained that
no dinghy's were allowed on the beach and that we would either have to anchor
it off or drive it to a small patch of sand along the east side if the bay and
wade back in to the main beach. We chose this option. I did ask, with my arm
around his shoulder in a friendly manner, what all the other half dozen boats
were doing on the beach...he smiled and said "they have special
permission"; I retorted "how do we get special permission"? He
smiled and we parted company cordially. The beach is run by the Magens Bay
Authority and an admission fee of a few dollars is charged to all except
boaters. </span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once we had the dinghy up on what became our own private
beach we waded back to the main beach and walk its whole length, on our return
we deserved refreshment so stopped at the really nice bar. We met Jeremy who
took very good care of us during this and our several subsequent visits. The
following day we hiked the marked trail which was fun, although we could have
done without the mosquitoes!</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our stay in Magens Bay was wonderful, we enjoyed the
beach, the water and the spectacular vistas of this massive little used bay (by
boaters) as we relaxed on our back porch (deck) at cocktail hour...</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzZU80EDLyesRHWqSmWgjnyjDJb71IfhwZuhrC-gaEjewNNbrqsdly2GkhYxv_ROggE2lABTdRVHA61lSSnsW6AX3CMgLjVfiIyppvzbumEBSi9qgPnfsec_tcEPnZrN1H0F9mErzfJBt/s1600/The+Waterside+Bistro,+Cruz+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzZU80EDLyesRHWqSmWgjnyjDJb71IfhwZuhrC-gaEjewNNbrqsdly2GkhYxv_ROggE2lABTdRVHA61lSSnsW6AX3CMgLjVfiIyppvzbumEBSi9qgPnfsec_tcEPnZrN1H0F9mErzfJBt/s1600/The+Waterside+Bistro,+Cruz+Bay.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out from The Waterside Bistro <br />
into Cruz Bay...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From Magens we cruised to Caneel Bay on St. John and
dinghies in to Cruz Bay where we visited the National Parks building and then
proceeded to one of our favourite venues, The Waterside Bistro, for lunch.
Sitting at the bar one has a view of the whole bay, we love this spot.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p> </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Later in the day we cruised from Caneel to Francis Bay
where we spent several days swimming, dinghy exploring and beach walking. From
Francis after spending one day in Leinster Bay where we snorkeled around the
reef at Waterlemon Cay, we motored across to Jost van Dyke where we cleared in
to the British Virgin Islands. The date is now Friday 23rd May and after
spending our first night anchored in Great Harbour and sampling again, of
course, the Friday night inclusive all you can eat BBQ buffet at Foxy's, we
moved around to Manchaneel Bay on Little Jost van Dyke. Here the water is gin
clear; we anchored on 12 feet of water 50 yards from a small white sand beach.
Before we left to go cruising we dreamt of places like this, the quintessential
deserted tropical island. The only habitation on the island is, yes, believe it
or not, a beach bar! Jim the owner of B-Line Beach Bar has just, in January,
taken over and has made considerable improvements. The have a well stocked bar
and serve great food. The Mahi sandwich was one of the best I've ever had. We
whiled away our last afternoon (Sunday 30th) on Little Jost van Dyke before
cruising to Nanny Cay for the generator install.</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday June 2<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup>. Finally the day we make our
way to Nanny Cay Tortola for the installation of our new generator. We upped
the anchor at 9:55 and were underway on schedule at 10:00. Tim Dabbs from
Marina Maintenance had arranged our slip reservation and all we had to do was
arrive by 12 noon call on the VHF announcing our arrival and Tim would take
care of everything else. We arrived safely and backed into our slip B17 without
ado. I called Tim as requested and he advised he would be onboard within two
hours with his team to assess the job… </span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-82911619420338410432014-04-18T14:10:00.000-04:002016-10-10T06:53:27.313-04:00The Virgin Islands Re-visited<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">April 18<sup>th</sup> 2014 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 18° 21.445’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>64° 34.830’
W</span><br />
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QjpQj_JeBvb41lqJdPgg3TKDopWOTmtbWxMuIJQ8zkflgVUc7D2Q8oP77YAOGo3bp9f3wxc61vHOn1PPMYmv0oZZRAfclMytq4xJwUuYlwKlgzWuP_m_ZcTMH5XkJ7hpqwi7YQWQzoNp/s1600/DSC_0090+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QjpQj_JeBvb41lqJdPgg3TKDopWOTmtbWxMuIJQ8zkflgVUc7D2Q8oP77YAOGo3bp9f3wxc61vHOn1PPMYmv0oZZRAfclMytq4xJwUuYlwKlgzWuP_m_ZcTMH5XkJ7hpqwi7YQWQzoNp/s1600/DSC_0090+2.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful evening with a new moon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our passage from Îles des Saintes
was according to plan; the weather cooperated for the most part although seas
to begin with where rougher than expected. Moderation did occur during the trip
and we experienced good lee protection from the islands of Guadeloupe and St.
Kitt’s. </span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0uRb3w2GjeGJsofuPsBBunNmeU_VD7iIOV2vviEyD7ZWk2PTG8zn-l7Po723VdGBbPT7JXTzrHii6Oz1dEF1XmnRWigpVESlM-mrL3KXrMNxjP52ern6axkH4AnverAkgemd7DeOcIOT/s1600/DSC_0064+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0uRb3w2GjeGJsofuPsBBunNmeU_VD7iIOV2vviEyD7ZWk2PTG8zn-l7Po723VdGBbPT7JXTzrHii6Oz1dEF1XmnRWigpVESlM-mrL3KXrMNxjP52ern6axkH4AnverAkgemd7DeOcIOT/s1600/DSC_0064+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Necker Island </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO74LMJYFZBeMzWUgPXM1bHdYJRnANy5xcMzwK-wpKt8Kcsh13ln0c5wVHvlOO7Tjq8PrPPBhbpNrKAKJqrrkNv-r5ApIN3ba0z3mboE16v-UGyixD3uBN0wKJijcFfxWepXdI4vUDrrM_/s1600/DSC_0066+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO74LMJYFZBeMzWUgPXM1bHdYJRnANy5xcMzwK-wpKt8Kcsh13ln0c5wVHvlOO7Tjq8PrPPBhbpNrKAKJqrrkNv-r5ApIN3ba0z3mboE16v-UGyixD3uBN0wKJijcFfxWepXdI4vUDrrM_/s1600/DSC_0066+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding the NE point of Virgin Gorda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4ziHwlf3U7scM95MvX_VWETwYisQPbLgYJvUui5c7kgEck0l7FXOJzyeJwCFBnPUGXh8wLU2VqmmyzUgy6ydlIKSVTOlwJhQ-xf-C2b2vxEzAhP_pKTv8aVgLE6Y2D0DwLbzbxpz7p1v/s1600/DSC_0060+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4ziHwlf3U7scM95MvX_VWETwYisQPbLgYJvUui5c7kgEck0l7FXOJzyeJwCFBnPUGXh8wLU2VqmmyzUgy6ydlIKSVTOlwJhQ-xf-C2b2vxEzAhP_pKTv8aVgLE6Y2D0DwLbzbxpz7p1v/s1600/DSC_0060+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sights we see</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2SchIPQMSm52CSaXdcrw7kZ1Io8uilNudqoOHWKAYMG7Rdek5IFCpjs9OIb-eXGOvI4YZB0deKnC4UTSyZ9Yjm4V9SFSNKsQmhLixUV2QU5654LL6rrAgFzfcqRrHIs8JqV-SVtxXzGE/s1600/DSC_0070+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz2SchIPQMSm52CSaXdcrw7kZ1Io8uilNudqoOHWKAYMG7Rdek5IFCpjs9OIb-eXGOvI4YZB0deKnC4UTSyZ9Yjm4V9SFSNKsQmhLixUV2QU5654LL6rrAgFzfcqRrHIs8JqV-SVtxXzGE/s1600/DSC_0070+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bitter End Yacht Club</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</span></span></small><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
<br />
</span></span></small><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">While we were transiting the lee of St. Kitt’s it was time to try our
luck with the fishing rod. Lavinia chose the lure, a yellow and green one, she spat
on it for good luck and away it went. I let it out to approximately 100 yards
behind the boat clear of the turbulent wake water. The drag was set and we both
retreated back to navigating the boat from the pilot house. Some time passed, nothing;
bemoaning our luck and making mutterings about our friend Bill Miller on ‘Ann
Louise’ who had just posted pictures of his catch of a massive wahoo he had
caught off the coast of St. Lucia a day or two before. “What were we doing
wrong”, “nothing”, I told Lavinia, and be patient. Some more time passed and HT
called out that she could hear the reel paying out line…I ran down from the
pilot house, there were no other boats around. I took the rod from the holder,
struck and began to crank the little blighter in. It was not a big fish, I
could feel that…I saw a flash of yellow as I was winding in the line. My first
thought was that it was a little chicken dolphin, a Mahi Mahi, they are green
and yellow. As the catch became visible at the stern disappointment set in,
guess what? We had caught a banana peel. HT immediately owned up that she had,
minutes before, eaten a banana and thrown the peel overboard! What are the odds
of catching one’s own banana peel 100 yards behind the boat? We laughed and
decided that fishing was over on this occasion as the seas were building; we
were leaving the lee of St. Kitts now on our way to Sint Eustatius and Saba
islands and I don’t relish dealing with a fish in rough conditions. Once past
Saba Island we altered course very slightly for Virgin Gorda, we were in the
Anegada Passage; had she lain down as forecast or would we have a monotonous
bouncy ride? The passage was not too bad and we were able to sleep comfortably
during our off watch periods. On my 4 – 7 watch, as dawn arrived, so did a
distant view of land; it is easy to imagine being Christopher Columbus at times
like this wondering what his thoughts were and the words he may have uttered. We
were nearly there. In the morning light of February 26<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-size: small;"> I saw the outline of Virgin Gorda, the fat virgin, as Columbus called the island, a welcome sight after an 80 mile, 14 hour journey from Saba. We rounded the north-eastern tip of the island and immediately began to experience the calmer reef protected water, the trip was almost over and a welcome rest waits in North Sound. We entered the marked channel to North Sound and were moored up to one of the Bitter End Yacht Club mooring balls by 08:45.</span></span></span></small> </div>
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></small>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">After clearing in at Gun Creek we
spent two days enjoying the facilities of Bitter End and, of course, a great
hamburger at Saba Rock, the best in the Caribbean in my opinion and all this
while being surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Virgin Islands. We left
Bitter End and North Sound earlier in 2013 on our way south to Trinidad so
arriving back here was the completion of our Eastern Caribbean
circumnavigation…we did it and we are still in one piece!</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our next stop would be Spanish
Town or as it is known ‘The Valley’, the principal town of Virgin Gorda. We
spent only one night and a morning here just enough time to be rocked and
rolled all night by the ferry wakes and the swell coming in from the Anegada
Passage, miserable! We went into town to the bank ATM, to eat some breakfast
plus go to Buck’s grocery store for a few provisions. </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small></div>
<small>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjwGV18d92oYJwYcVdV1rx_uupLzVwTLZyGPk_Xw7NcLvyobkY1uCY80EnRkq4P8W2Us-4MZpOtDVTVrDRJZFvC2qZDqHnvtsnnz-AFeiaBoneahq8gnAMRAwGl7HVT-C3ZLnICfnbCnA/s1600/DSC_0079+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjwGV18d92oYJwYcVdV1rx_uupLzVwTLZyGPk_Xw7NcLvyobkY1uCY80EnRkq4P8W2Us-4MZpOtDVTVrDRJZFvC2qZDqHnvtsnnz-AFeiaBoneahq8gnAMRAwGl7HVT-C3ZLnICfnbCnA/s1600/DSC_0079+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Baths</td></tr>
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A short trip west would take us to The Baths where we picked up one of the national park moorings. With snorkel
gear donned we set off for the Baths, a short dinghy ride from the mooring
field. We snorkelled in the most wonderful water for two hours enjoying the
colourful fish and coral marvelling all the time at how clear the water was. A
visit here is a must. We pressed on to our final destination of the day Great
Harbour, Peter Island. This big bay is an easy in and easy out. There are no
reefs to be wary of. Anchoring is permitted and we ventured far into the SW
corner where we found flat water, we dropped the hook in 45 feet. There were four
other boats in the area but there would have been room for twenty so it was
very private. We felt like we were in the wilderness and HT remarked that this
was the closest she had come to camping, she has never camped! It is now March
2</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> the weather is perfect and I mean perfect the skies have been
blue, the humidity down and the temperatures in the very low 80’s, the Virgins
appeal. There are so many anchorages and islands here and it is not hard to see
why the area is known as the sailing capital of the world. Even though there
are many boats they are absorbed well and it doesn’t seem crowded or at least
it doesn’t yet! We Stayed in Great Harbour two days and three nights, we really like this place. We took a dinghy ride to explore east to Deadman's Bay. This is another anchorage although not as protected as Great Harbour, the trade-off is the beach a wonderful stretch of white sand and clear shallow water to swim in. We pulled our dinghy up onto the beach and cleaned the bottom then enjoyed a relaxing swim before our ride back to ‘Partners’. One more candle lit dinner before we depart for Norman Island and our next anchorage in the Bight.</span><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKcg3H1rCUT9Y7jX5ucO9qhejMmeLiY8u3KTUx6xCO5t85V-arZtFpv4AXFKWD9QTyWrGOQ42DTAxxUvZ1c8tlYRSs_TNh5wx9Fp6H-3eN0NpaBcf9wgOhaPzWUbodJ9RGb04vCVdquxM/s1600/DSC_0081+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKcg3H1rCUT9Y7jX5ucO9qhejMmeLiY8u3KTUx6xCO5t85V-arZtFpv4AXFKWD9QTyWrGOQ42DTAxxUvZ1c8tlYRSs_TNh5wx9Fp6H-3eN0NpaBcf9wgOhaPzWUbodJ9RGb04vCVdquxM/s1600/DSC_0081+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Harbour, Peter Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYrpBgPZOkum7rcMzOBWgzLeLdzozuHm1p4mOjojD2Zt1Xty1P41m07vcdGZ4caXkG4139DzWPGZ-nou3f52_5pPBTjoxpQh5naaM815M26VwyeEl5TdP2WEw7fumtK4SB4Tat0jda1vq/s1600/DSC_0042+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYrpBgPZOkum7rcMzOBWgzLeLdzozuHm1p4mOjojD2Zt1Xty1P41m07vcdGZ4caXkG4139DzWPGZ-nou3f52_5pPBTjoxpQh5naaM815M26VwyeEl5TdP2WEw7fumtK4SB4Tat0jda1vq/s1600/DSC_0042+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterlemon Bay & Cay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFniIqn1Xkjpf6L7PADwH3fZ2hw6mj5e_q2rd1J-1bvcJbQm_b6OuEbRsNBcB2wP9SmTyX12jJk3G_ZMHqlhx0IYbk6lcOXbdG-8U79JkDNfdF8qSq1bWm1eOAszZuZtNNZXNcwsM40jn/s1600/DSC_0063+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFniIqn1Xkjpf6L7PADwH3fZ2hw6mj5e_q2rd1J-1bvcJbQm_b6OuEbRsNBcB2wP9SmTyX12jJk3G_ZMHqlhx0IYbk6lcOXbdG-8U79JkDNfdF8qSq1bWm1eOAszZuZtNNZXNcwsM40jn/s1600/DSC_0063+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar Mill Ruins</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZVcamTbIKFZekeQkii1_EHzsFdTYWbobm15EXMOZtJvRU0ououqmkWAx6Ix9LjFNfCQa3MYJikH09i6zk2Br_1QG8bxKIM0J6gOfXB13-5ehmFJqb3fuh78cO6wrRD8ofy6daZ305As/s1600/DSC_0056+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoZVcamTbIKFZekeQkii1_EHzsFdTYWbobm15EXMOZtJvRU0ououqmkWAx6Ix9LjFNfCQa3MYJikH09i6zk2Br_1QG8bxKIM0J6gOfXB13-5ehmFJqb3fuh78cO6wrRD8ofy6daZ305As/s1600/DSC_0056+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar Mill on St. John</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lurR1_ahZRHCnnt6oN7TftXE98bbJQs7sV5l5EWcv7IVBK8-yADm6i18sHTj1EawUZJvecJLL73hZ_cIGe6_MhD81ZDYKqO6gFLodmHjKAIBK0rHCbNxnUQWuQiuk3i-VM5_b_mUl-Gw/s1600/DSC_0054+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lurR1_ahZRHCnnt6oN7TftXE98bbJQs7sV5l5EWcv7IVBK8-yADm6i18sHTj1EawUZJvecJLL73hZ_cIGe6_MhD81ZDYKqO6gFLodmHjKAIBK0rHCbNxnUQWuQiuk3i-VM5_b_mUl-Gw/s1600/DSC_0054+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sugar Mill at Leinster Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGERbMbO9s38Ge-ZImcOBGtqblj5ZZ5bFyiGjtDXIHSIXspG1icKfmPNa5wI36Q6Ozfen1uAEYxsH3na6onVPYWS434vessugKxe3KTY3HeXHRF9-GpLpHwqOaxsgzLe3-tUPHgZQY3fhC/s1600/DSC_0017+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGERbMbO9s38Ge-ZImcOBGtqblj5ZZ5bFyiGjtDXIHSIXspG1icKfmPNa5wI36Q6Ozfen1uAEYxsH3na6onVPYWS434vessugKxe3KTY3HeXHRF9-GpLpHwqOaxsgzLe3-tUPHgZQY3fhC/s1600/DSC_0017+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Hawksbill Turtle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm_Qwa10nKKimAoGK_NLdGZ7QxnsZbeuswEzI_owCaNHlIn7bPl7n7FwSgEa8QEGOOb8MMy8hu9YO3Emw8zCU7IhL5yQt-X64tNf0YKWR_e6RwlGjr_svUsASMaKDPsqKxPnPuFkVKN5W/s1600/DSC_0072+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMm_Qwa10nKKimAoGK_NLdGZ7QxnsZbeuswEzI_owCaNHlIn7bPl7n7FwSgEa8QEGOOb8MMy8hu9YO3Emw8zCU7IhL5yQt-X64tNf0YKWR_e6RwlGjr_svUsASMaKDPsqKxPnPuFkVKN5W/s1600/DSC_0072+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool shady walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi-O_S71ar17ltBUuJp3lpaKTRTcBPfv4FLdIP3xfFQd_H4JQwDt6q4Z9yQM5u3C0aA2pUzAQBorA5KbFyusRmWiJHD4uAyGyDBLmvc-0LtinCjGUoXUncbrARPS4tcoea8c6enBVqI4i/s1600/DSC_0106+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpi-O_S71ar17ltBUuJp3lpaKTRTcBPfv4FLdIP3xfFQd_H4JQwDt6q4Z9yQM5u3C0aA2pUzAQBorA5KbFyusRmWiJHD4uAyGyDBLmvc-0LtinCjGUoXUncbrARPS4tcoea8c6enBVqI4i/s1600/DSC_0106+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Rising Sun' (453' long)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTzilIMATEPV36TC9PYsIMXLOSHsUwlf72o-hmGGEThFPopwcoxg_GLL_bUUfwBB0pVXwYYyZBVN6qFJlDcu6Bp1dvVha5nVzLUxXy-AlmT6Rd-JBvQIXwfQaJAOyHba-xUsUM7uhb8N9/s1600/DSC_0096+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTzilIMATEPV36TC9PYsIMXLOSHsUwlf72o-hmGGEThFPopwcoxg_GLL_bUUfwBB0pVXwYYyZBVN6qFJlDcu6Bp1dvVha5nVzLUxXy-AlmT6Rd-JBvQIXwfQaJAOyHba-xUsUM7uhb8N9/s1600/DSC_0096+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Geffen's yacht 'Rising Sun'</td></tr>
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<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are times for all of us who
are in a special relationship or a marriage, which are brought on by an event,
a particular place or a moment of imagination that make all of us want to renew
our commitments to each other or our marriage vows. A thought, a warm feeling,
something that triggers those thoughts of love and dependency which one has
with one’s partner. The same feelings can be applied to nature and, in my case,
the reason why I love cruising and the life it allows me. My latest moment was
this morning, while ‘Partners’ is still anchored in Great Harbour, Peter Island
in the British Virgin Islands. This beautiful protected bay on the north side
of the island is a ‘back to nature’ location, no internet, TV, FM radio stations
and it is uncrowded with few other boats. The bay is surrounded by high ground
covered in vegetation, sound is rare and the lack of it borders on eerie. This
setting promotes thought and this morning I woke at 05:15, it was pitch black dark,
it was still with not even a ripple on the water or a breath of breeze; these
conditions are a rarity in the Caribbean where the trade winds normally blow
constantly. Occasionally there is a weather phenomenon which ‘kills’ the wind
and allows a morning like today. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, HT was
still asleep so I didn’t want to put a light on, I proceeded to the aft doors
to the aft deck of ‘Partners’ and upon opening them saw that we were facing in
a different direction. Those of you who are familiar with the trade winds know
that when one goes to bed facing in a general easterly direction one expects to
wake up with the boat facing in a general easterly direction! Today ‘Partners’
was facing 180° from her ‘bedtime’ direction, even the dinghy was alongside
instead of streaming off the stern as normal! Zero wind, the morning was so
still…nature was ‘chocking’ me, I couldn’t have found a more natural unspoilt
spot. As the minutes passed and the black moonless sky started to turn to the
dawn hues I could hear the sound of wild goats on the hillside only 200 feet
away and a coo of a pigeon waiting for the light. The water is deep here and
although we are anchored in 45 feet of water we are only 150 feet from the
shore. The aura of this place spawned so many good feelings, freedom as a child
playing in the countryside of England, where I grew up, being one with nature
and being without a care in the world, it reminded me of and really endorsed
the freedom we have as cruisers; so many back to nature thoughts, I was in
overload! Some of you reading this may have forgotten the feeling I have just
written about here, I feel privileged to be able to remind you all that there
are places which allow one’s mind to wonder, that stimulate imagination and
provide jaw dropping views of nature’s beauty. As the light came and the early still
began to stir, the breeze started to ‘kiss’ the earth gently, slowly bringing
everything back to normal. ‘Partners’ began to swing on her anchor back to the
‘correct’ position with her bow pointing in an easterly direction. The dinghy
assumed its ‘correct’ stance of streaming off the stern mildly straining at its
painter. This morning was my moment to remind myself that I love HT, I thank
her for sharing my life, for being my partner and experiencing this life with
me…this morning was also the time where I reminded myself of the wonders of
nature and the beauty this earth provides…</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></small></div>
<small>
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</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">While on shore during our working
lives, especially in Florida where we lived, we always talked of wanting a home
on the water where there would be cooling breezes and fresh air to provide
relief from the summer heat and also where there would be tranquil views of the
water. Finally we have our waterfront home but with a bonus, a huge bonus in
fact, we have a ‘movable’ home on the water which we can relocate at will to a
new and exciting spot where we can experience the variety that nature provides.
This life is addicting and a little concern creeps in at times like this of
whether making the transition back to a land based existence is possible.
Obviously, one day, it will have to happen but it won’t be easy or a happy day!
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">From Norman Island we cruised
across Sir Francis Drake Channel to Tortola and our destination was Marina Cay
where we anchored a little west of the mooring field with three other large
sailing boats. That evening a short dinghy ride in ‘Junior Partner’ or JP for short,
our nickname for ‘Partners’ dinghy, took us to the Cay and their bar which is
situated at the top of the island, great views. A live band was playing and they
were great…many cruisers were there having a merry time. We drank a few beers
tipped the band and took the dinghy ride back to ‘Partners’. </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: small;">In
the morning we weighed anchor and cruised west and north to a small isolated
anchorage on Great Camanoe Island. The anchorage at Lee Bay has a rocky bottom
and after two attempts at getting our anchor to hold we gave up and motored
over to Guana Island and the beautiful bay there known as White Bay. White Bay
is a long protected bay with a white sand beach and sandy bottom. The bay is
full of mooring balls now and although anchoring is allowed the privately owned
island does not encourage it. We found a spot on the north end where we were
able to anchor but it was a ‘squeeze’. The owners of the island have made an
exclusive luxury resort here and have service boats that ferry passengers and
supplies back and forth to Tortola continuously during daylight hours; at night
the boats are moored on private moorings one of which was close to us, too
close unfortunately and although other buoys were available we got the
impression that the powers that be wanted to make us feel uncomfortable and
chose to put one of the boats as close to us as they could. They succeeded and
we had to move. The only available option was to pick up one of their mooring
balls! It was getting dark and we didn’t want to be motoring far to find
another anchorage so we bit the bullet and coughed up the $30 for the mooring
fee. We had not been on the ball for more than five minutes before a young lad
approached us to collect our money. He explained that the owners tried to
prevent anyone from going ashore on the island but law required that access be
granted to anyone up to the high water line. So although discouraged one can
walk the beautiful beach and we did! Two mega yachts were anchored out in deep
water in the bay and we watched as their crews transported portable cabanas,
chairs, large mats and water toys to the beach to be set up to await the
pleasure of the owner or guests should they wish to spend some time on the
beach. We spent two days in White Bay and both days the ritual was performed.
We felt sorry for the crew performing their thankless task as on the second day
after spending an hour or more setting up the ‘beach club’ no one came...the
owner or guests just decided to do something else! We watched as the crew of
three took the dinghy to shore packed everything up and retreated back to the
mother ship!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did not feel welcome on
Guana so the next morning we moved on to Cane Garden Bay where we found more
mooring balls, they are everywhere now! We were able to anchor with plenty of
swinging room here and were comfortable for the first day and night, the second
day, however, when the NE swell became more of a N swell and the rolling began
was a different story. In the morning we were still okay with only moderate
discomfort and were entertained with watching the half dozen or so surfers.
Cane Garden is well known as a surfing beach and when the swell is up has a
reputation of producing some ‘perfect’ waves. Gradually through the day the
swell grew to a point where we wanted to put an end to the rolling so off we
went crossing the calm waters, enjoying the gentle ups and downs on the large
swell, to Jost van Dyke the third largest island of the BVI group. We decided
to anchor in the gin clear water of Manchioneel Bay on the south side of Little
Jost van Dyke Island; the spot is isolated with no visible signs of habitation
although there is a beach bar on the SW end of the Island. We spent four days
here and explored, went ashore to deserted beaches and did our Robinson Crusoe thing;
it was a lot of fun! We were joined by Steve and Janice from Sealacious a 37’
Tayana, John and Jo from Out of Africa in their Moody and Chuck and Barb from
Tusen Takk II all friends and fellow cruisers that we knew. Chuck and Barb are
Krogen owners like us and have a 48’. The first night we were together we all
met on Out of Africa for a BBQ which was a blast. The next night we joined up
with Chuck and Barb again to dinghy ashore to Foxy's Taboo for dinner where we
could sample their famous cocktails and ribs. We had a reservation and arrived
just in time to miss a torrential downpour; we were seated and spent little
time looking at the menu, we knew what we wanted, we were having ribs, right!
We ordered four exotic colourful cocktails and awaited the return of the
waitress to take our orders. When she came Chuck spoke up and said “I’m here
for those wonderful ribs”, the waitress, her voice laden with apology, replied
“I’m sorry but we are out!” I, with disappointment, said “but we had a
reservation” and the waitress pointed out very politely “not for ribs though!”
We quickly overcame our disappointment and ordered alternatives which without
exception we all thoroughly enjoyed. After a really pleasant evening we went
back to the dinghy and successfully negotiated the trip back, about a mile, in
pitch darkness. Lavinia is always a little concerned taking dinghy rides when
she cannot see anything in front of her! We arrived back safely to our calm
anchorage said our good nights and retired.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next morning all of our
friends left the bay and sailed off to their next destinations. This is how it
is in the cruising community we are all independent, we go our own ways but
when we do meet we have a great time with each other then bid farewell until
the next time...</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our next stop was in Great
Harbour where we anchored just two nights before clearing out from the BVI’s
for the USVI’s. We found Ralphs, a great grocery store, and did some
re-provisioning. We have learnt that as cruisers when one sees something that
we need one should buy it! It is not always easy to find the things one wants
so when the opportunity presents itself it is always sensible to take
advantage. Oh, and we paid one more visit to the World Famous Foxy’s and yes,
we finally did have our ribs! Sadly Chuck and Barb were not with us this
time...next stop Caneel Bay on St. John where we picked up a mooring ball, as
members of the National Parks the senior price is only $7.50 per night and
these moorings are nicely maintained so provide a peace of mind experience. We
took the dinghy around to Cruz Bay and the Customs house where we took care of
the clearance formalities...we were back in the US of A. Our next anchorage was
Maho Bay where we had spent only one night a year ago. We enjoyed several
nights here this time in flat smooth water which is an indescribable blue, just
gorgeous! We swam and snorkelled and walked the white sand beach...an idyllic
spot. Our last stop on St. John was Leinster Bay and our particular favourite
Waterlemon Bay. We picked up a mooring adjacent to Waterlemon
Cay where the water is deep and clear but close enough to quickly reach the reef
that surrounds Waterlemon Cay. We snorkelled and enjoyed three days here.
Seventy five percent of St. John is national park controlled and is pristine.
We walked to an old sugar mill where we spoke to two of the volunteers’. One
was cooking bread the old fashioned way in an open pan on a fire, the bread was
good as was the almond tea she also brewed. We sat with the other lady and
asked her many questions. She had lived on St. John for 26 years and obviously
loved her ‘home’. She mentioned, during one conversation, that she was
disappointed when the busses show up carrying the passengers from the cruise
ships that visit St. Thomas, they ferry across from Redhook, that a number of
the people seem uninterested in ‘her’ island and she focused on one person who actually
asked her which island they were on, they didn’t even know. I think she
enjoyed our questions and interest in St. John which, in my opinion, has to go
down as one of the must visit islands in the Virgins, in fact in the whole of
the Caribbean. In another life while working in Florida I had an assistant
Caron who for some time lived on St. John and raised a son here, she always
sighed longingly when she remembered her time on St. John, a beautiful place. I
know Caron I’ll send more pictures!</span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBcXGoktetVX3mfCikPM-biaccvRmKKfAGURzlj6MNvWYizocvN6ICdw2-MBy_s9V2sYXTQ6d4vOo3vT0YS-murV2L5MC1n69aYpEnXgKO8oiyQir24kSVG3pasvb8fgLEvZFYHpBxVk6/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBcXGoktetVX3mfCikPM-biaccvRmKKfAGURzlj6MNvWYizocvN6ICdw2-MBy_s9V2sYXTQ6d4vOo3vT0YS-murV2L5MC1n69aYpEnXgKO8oiyQir24kSVG3pasvb8fgLEvZFYHpBxVk6/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maho Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">We left Leinster and cruised east
around the island travelling then west along the south coast to Redhook Bay on
St. Thomas. We spent one night anchored in Muller Bay where we were rocked
continuously by the many ferries that use Redhook as their base...not for us;
we moved round to Charlotte Amalie and the big open harbour there. We anchored
in the eastern part near the main cruise ship dock and the Yacht Haven Grand
Marina. The anchoring here is good with a sandy clay bottom that really doesn’t
want to give up the anchor as we found out when we left. Charlotte Amalie is a
big town by island standard and has every facility. The very nice dinghy dock
at Yacht Haven Grand is convenient for Pueblo’s grocery store, K-Mart and all
the other stores one could wish for. The marina is also a mall complex with
many high end stores and several restaurant choices. The main town is a pleasant
easy 1¼ mile walk west along the waterfront where duty free shopping abounds. Altogether
this is an easy stop for us cruisers. We took a dinghy excursion to Frenchtown to
visit Ace hardware and stumbled across the ‘Rum Shack’ which overlooks Water
Island. We decided to have a beer and lunch, I ate a great hamburger and for HT
a Sushi platter, we had a wonderful lunch. </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqFUVwTDnuRIDeQuN05tQ8w-85dFPyU8c8Yz3jXdLcqdZk5z51eieJ2ejn3IIcY9nX5k1f-hrk97mBE9SoxY4yAP7KnVJZMfqNH9hZ6OKizKBN3-gqbGMg9eDAVN33NK7KIE5412YmMYD/s1600/DSC_0010+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqFUVwTDnuRIDeQuN05tQ8w-85dFPyU8c8Yz3jXdLcqdZk5z51eieJ2ejn3IIcY9nX5k1f-hrk97mBE9SoxY4yAP7KnVJZMfqNH9hZ6OKizKBN3-gqbGMg9eDAVN33NK7KIE5412YmMYD/s1600/DSC_0010+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HT Having fun on St. Patrick's Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYDI-6u0RfWmxf980CoOdbCT4DBm1T24KSyBQUWCxbHKrB5oo-u9yo2naOLLDLO1y6wjPI0OsG4DTsmDLPolAldA8ZYRXTL1KqDIrvPr7er817xt3EE7Lt3UXydNR857gpwhuTEfNLb_g/s1600/DSC_0012+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYDI-6u0RfWmxf980CoOdbCT4DBm1T24KSyBQUWCxbHKrB5oo-u9yo2naOLLDLO1y6wjPI0OsG4DTsmDLPolAldA8ZYRXTL1KqDIrvPr7er817xt3EE7Lt3UXydNR857gpwhuTEfNLb_g/s1600/DSC_0012+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Thomas Regatta</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While in Charlotte Amalie we had the
pleasure of meeting Brian and Jackie Smillie onboard their 48’ Krogen ‘Gotta
Smile’. They were kind enough to invite us for cocktails one evening. They were
entering the Caribbean for the first time and intended spending hurricane
season in Trinidad like us. We had much to talk about and the evening just wasn’t
long enough! We were able to share some information about the Leeward’s and the
Windward’s; hopefully it would enhance their cruise south. We told them of our
plan to cruise to Culebra and then on to Puerto Rico where we would be flying
back to Florida for a family get-together for Easter. Upon mentioning this they
volunteered the name of a marina they had stayed at in Fajardo called Sunbay
Marina. It sounded perfect for us too so we made reservations for a month stay
there to facilitate us leaving ‘Partners’ during our Easter break. We said our
goodbyes, they weighed anchor for St. John and we for Culebra, a 20 mile
passage to the West. As cruisers we knew our courses would cross again before
too long. </span></span><br />
</small><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">A friend of ours John Perry on
board his sailing catamaran ‘Stingo’ was already in Culebra on a mooring ball
behind the reef at Ensenada Dakity, part of the larger bay named Ensenada Honda.
After a good uneventful cruise in calm conditions we entered Ensenada Honda. Culebra,
one of the Spanish Virgins Islands, is a popular haunt of all cruisers; the
anchorage is one of the best in the Caribbean and affords flat seas in all
conditions. The reef which protects the harbour here is huge and wide so any
seas are reduced to a ripple by time they have passed over the coral. Upon
entering, the US Coast Guard maintains two well marked buoyed channels here, we
were looking through the binoculars to see if we could scope out an available
mooring ball and quite coincidently the ball right beside our friend John was
open, we took it! John had been in Culebra for some time and had got to know
most of the other cruisers moored there. On our first evening there he invited
us onboard ‘Stingo’ for sundowners so we could meet everyone else. Eight of us
whiled the night away with much laughter and storytelling. There is never a dull
moment when a bunch of cruisers get together for sundowners! We spent five days
in Culebra. We enjoyed a meal at the Dinghy Dock restaurant with friends Dave
and Jane from ‘Greta Mae’, we had first met Dave and Jane in the Windward’s
at Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou last July. They told us they were on their way to the
East coast of the US with intentions of cruising the NE for the summer. We also
hosted a sundowners party onboard ‘Partners’ before our departure...all a fun
time. Our last evening was again a visit to ‘Stingo’ to enjoy Johns rendering
of Pasta Alfredo...was it good or what; John is a single-hander and I guess as
such one learns how to cook! Sadly when we returned to ‘Partners’ we had
generator problems and we couldn’t charge our batteries which we had to do to
get us through the night. This necessitated us leaving a little ahead of
schedule so in the morning after a ‘short’ night (we had to run the main engine
to put enough amps back into the batteries for the night) I called up Sunbay
and asked them if they could accommodate us a little earlier than expected...no
problem! We weren’t due there until the 15</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> April and today's the
10</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">. The wind had been blowing strongly for the past four days but
fortunately a front had killed the gradient wind and the Trades had abated for
this trip, we made good way and after a comfortable crossing arrived in Fajardo
after 3½ hours. Sunbay is an all inclusive marina where the slip fee includes
water, electricity, cable TV and Wi-Fi service. For our 42’ boat the monthly
rate is $750! A really good price for the Caribbean we feel.</span></span>
</small><br />
<small><br /></small>
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunbay is all that Brian and
Jackie ‘cracked’ it up to be, friendly clean and secure; we are comfortable
here. There appears to be no swell that enters so we are virtually motionless
in our slip. Olga, one of the owners of the marina, greeted us in the office
and made sure we had answers to all our questions she really made us feel at
home. Olga provided us with a map which, as we were to rent a car, was most
helpful. Olga’s husband, the other owner, also built the marina some six years
ago so this is a family owner facility and it shows. Another helpful perk is
that the marina has in slip fuelling!<o:p></o:p></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">I will end here and say that the
Virgins will ‘call’ again, the calm protected waters make these islands one of
the finest cruising grounds in the world and fortunately there are enough
islands, bays and sights to keep us interested, visit after visit, the trip from
the south back across Anagada is certainly worth it! After our trip to Florida
for Easter we will resume our cruising, we are not sure where we will be off to
at this point but we will let you know when we decide! <o:p></o:p></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is it time for you to plan for a
life afloat?</span></span></small></div>
<small>
</small>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbuFqh89ywVn6bimn5bygon7oJNWdBGcVsuKskXnLAeMNlEu5X-drizl4jVeOf7X2h2gz0T9meES3JXY62taKt9UPbirM4WW1D7McMGUEUZ3S1wngIGYp14avYuAoAhJMRgOw-ovo_Erx/s1600/DSC_0052+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbuFqh89ywVn6bimn5bygon7oJNWdBGcVsuKskXnLAeMNlEu5X-drizl4jVeOf7X2h2gz0T9meES3JXY62taKt9UPbirM4WW1D7McMGUEUZ3S1wngIGYp14avYuAoAhJMRgOw-ovo_Erx/s1600/DSC_0052+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great view while on one of our walks...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<small><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small>Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-88616799357993607052014-02-17T20:21:00.004-05:002014-03-04T12:04:05.662-05:00St. Lucia, Martinique & Îles des Saintes<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">February 17<sup>th</sup> 2014 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 15° 52.304’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 35.116’
W</span><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=15.872588,-61.584656&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=15.871247,-61.586545&spn=0.092634,0.142822&z=13&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=15.872588,-61.584656&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=15.871247,-61.586545&spn=0.092634,0.142822&z=13&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
<small></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We cruised north from Grenada and
travelled directly to St. Lucia our destination being Marigot Bay famous for where
Admiral Rodney used palm fronds lashed to his fleets masts to disguise them and
</span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiukZCoanEK13dhR7eByNCoMVm3ggQ-xNixe3JD_Va5ekfs1Ruzq2PHCRwjGp91DxWv1KZNKKELl37cID5pgNvgb587ti1AJglc_qQJyrqager3POz2nf7_Auu5fgYWkaf0JnyQOHa5qc/s1600/DSC_0021+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiukZCoanEK13dhR7eByNCoMVm3ggQ-xNixe3JD_Va5ekfs1Ruzq2PHCRwjGp91DxWv1KZNKKELl37cID5pgNvgb587ti1AJglc_qQJyrqager3POz2nf7_Auu5fgYWkaf0JnyQOHa5qc/s1600/DSC_0021+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching St. Lucia the <br />
Pitons are conspicuous</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
hid from the French. Admiral Rodney eventually defeated the French fleet and Admiral
De Grasse in 1746. It is very easy to see how Rodney pulled this off as the sand
spit which protrudes from <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ4gbcg9uCRQlnz-1b51C-4pvkeg-VBR5fw2md6Lq6YzFTri7JgeTX1A9LDtTjZi5nW1ts8dwtB4diF2v8m4bukMAvNrlcjNUj6q0HcUNyFxzEHYVyz4gNQmJ784SqWEJjf9oPGz-J74g/s1600/DSC_0032+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQ4gbcg9uCRQlnz-1b51C-4pvkeg-VBR5fw2md6Lq6YzFTri7JgeTX1A9LDtTjZi5nW1ts8dwtB4diF2v8m4bukMAvNrlcjNUj6q0HcUNyFxzEHYVyz4gNQmJ784SqWEJjf9oPGz-J74g/s1600/DSC_0032+2.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first night in Marigot Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">
the northern side of the bay is covered in palm trees
so the fleet being strategically place behind it with their palm frond ‘dressing’ made for
the perfect disguise. We spent three days in Marigot, did some hiking and enjoyed a
good rest after our trip from Grenada. From Marigot we cruised up to Rodney Bay
and anchored in the huge bay for a week we walked through the national park and
to the fort on the northern end of the bay. <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In
St. Lucia we met Marty and Deb Campenella who own ‘Bay Pelican’ </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">another
42’ Kadey Krogen, in fact number 76, four on from ‘Partners’. We visited with
them in the marina where they are based and were getting some repairs before
cruising north to Sainte Anne’s in Martinique. We invited them to ‘Partners’
out at anchor in the bay but unfortunately they couldn’t make it. This is where
we met ‘Aquarelle’ with Terry and Evelyn, they did make it for cocktails and we
had a very pleasant evening with the two of them. After a short visit to St.
Lucia it was time to move on, we will return to spend much more time exploring
this big island. The next morning we set off at dawn for our passage to
Martinique, a rough trip but we made it safely.</span> </span></span></span></span></small><br />
<small></small><br />
<small></small><small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Martinique is the first of the
French West Indies Islands we have visited with ‘Partners’. We have visited St.
Bart’s while on a Caribbean cruise some years ago. This year it is our plan to spend
most of the winter cruising the French islands, Martinique, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Iles</span></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">des Saintes, Guadeloupe, St. Bart’s and Saint Martin. Martinique
is a department of France and therefore benefits from many of the things one
would be familiar with in Europe, good roads, plentiful consumer goods, well
stocked supermarkets and, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">oh, </i>the
wonderful food, wine and coffee! Thankfully a large part of the population
speaks English! Lavinia does speak some French which helps; unfortunately I
either didn’t pay enough attention in school or am suffering from a bad memory
because I don’t. There are a lot of Frenchmen sailing the Caribbean and it
seems that most of them are here! The French like the French and as unfamiliar as
things generally appear foreign to us they are obviously familiar to the
French. The very well stocked chandleries are full of French and German
products, the grocery stores only have French items. We have not seen any
familiar US or British products, none! In most of the other islands there is a
mixture of British, American and European items...our conclusion is that the
French do make a point of being French and do not show much tendency towards
integration! Le Marin is the centre of yachting here in Martinique. If you need
anything it can be found here. Any and all services are available and there is
a wide choice of each. One thing which is very apparent is that the businesses
here unlike Trinidad, for example, understand instant gratification; the
shelves are full, no ordering here. If your heart desires it, the chances are
you can get what you want in Le Marin. We had some trouble with our generator,
which wouldn’t start! The local Westerbeke dealer came promptly to us in the Le
Marin marina where we were able to get a berth at short notice. The diagnosis a
20 amp fuse! While we were marine bound we met three young sailors from ‘Tyke’
an ocean racer cruising sailing boat moored in front of us. They kindly invited
us on board to see her and to enjoy sundowners with them. As I have said before
this life is not just about freedom and travel but about all the interesting
people one meets. The two men were Italian and were the crew, they had a guest
crew member who had joined them for the sail north from St. Lucia to here. She
was half Italian and half American, spoke perfect English, Italian and French
and was pretty! Lucky guys! We left the marina and made the short trip to
Sainte Anne. </span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nearby, just along the coast to
the South is the small town of Saint Anne’s, a beautiful little enclave mostly
unspoiled by tourism and a ‘Mecca’ for us boaters. The azure blue waters and
calm anchorage beckon; the narrow streets with their friendly vendors all
encourage a visit and exploration. This could be one of those places which is
hard to leave...<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The priorities, a boulangerie,
the vegetable market, a liquor store and beautiful beach are all here. Our first
trip ashore was to the beach where we found clear water and fine white sand. It
is protected from the wind which allows calm water with no waves, wonderful.
Along the half mile long beach are restaurants and bars, not too many just
enough for a choice and easy accessibility, we floated in the perfect
temperature water for an hour it was pure heaven. The saline content of the
water is high and one can float very easily. Now remember that we are in early
February, mid-winter for the northern hemisphere, and here we are basking in
84°F sunshine and swimming in 80° water. Our anchorage is in 17’ of clear water where
we can see the mostly sandy bottom. Reefs, plus the headland of Saline, gives
protection from the prevailing seas and wind, so it is calm. We woke up the next
morning to new arrivals ‘Receta’ with Steve and Ann aboard also Terry and
Evelyn from ‘Aquarelle’, who we had met in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, both had anchored
in the bay. Our great friends Bill & Ann on board ‘Ann Louise’ had arrived
back in Trinidad on the 3</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> February after a visit to their home in
Georgia for Christmas and New Year and were going to make an attempt, weather
permitting, to ‘jump’ the 200+ miles from Chaguaramas, Trinidad to Sainte
Anne’s and join us. We were really pulling for them and for the weather to stay
travelable so they could get to Martinique, they made it! After the welcoming
Bloody Mary’s and breakfast on board ‘Partners’ plans were made for some serious
nonstop socializing. With the eight of us here, there is only one word to
describe the ensuing days…fun! For the next few days we had some great
gatherings. On Monday the 10</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> it was time for us to leave, we were
sad to say our goodbyes especially to ‘Ann Louise’ as they were going south
again back to St. Lucia. Due to the sale of their home they would be leaving
from St. Lucia in March to return to the US for the closing. All this meant
was that sadly we would be losing our travelling buddies for several months.
Our plans will take us to Puerto Rico by mid-April so we can return to Florida
and meet our children and grandchildren for Easter. Our goodbye to Bill and Ann
included a promise to meet up again ‘somewhere’ south for hurricane season.
‘Receta’ would travel the same route as us stopping at Portsmouth on the island
of Dominica and then on to Iles des Saintes and Guadeloupe so we were looking
forward to their company.</span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOEd5TYYD8VEyTVj6ESzVjzTQLVwekbfrze33DnhndNR32wIKAmTd53ZZAIRKEjr40CItl4fc9JQKjGwZh0yoQol1vvsda5a5_iZ3ILL0i_JHv1QdcuScNXIcYSYaacxW8MsmHVknDRcQ/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTOEd5TYYD8VEyTVj6ESzVjzTQLVwekbfrze33DnhndNR32wIKAmTd53ZZAIRKEjr40CItl4fc9JQKjGwZh0yoQol1vvsda5a5_iZ3ILL0i_JHv1QdcuScNXIcYSYaacxW8MsmHVknDRcQ/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not always great weather in the Caribbean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVYB-VBLKXcgaJI39wZSyAN94yold6eKg_Fn5Iljqz1SyUGYPKJBSjXLpElUIxQTDfmW2s2bLMYud9NojereweFn1DNwioS0rH834qTTFfHfYz-CVxRifmU7YfYXTpcus5ZJQBMgXf62o/s1600/DSC_0020+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVYB-VBLKXcgaJI39wZSyAN94yold6eKg_Fn5Iljqz1SyUGYPKJBSjXLpElUIxQTDfmW2s2bLMYud9NojereweFn1DNwioS0rH834qTTFfHfYz-CVxRifmU7YfYXTpcus5ZJQBMgXf62o/s1600/DSC_0020+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Receta' in Portsmouth, Dominica</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpiPfRqZhG9uDlUctAFOaKIql6DowSy5c20a-w_LO1BkN9wPVNN_Ag7CUf6KzPcGCQKs3GXWCr3XsXZfW0kLFxPu8ILbz6Oj7RjEEJLpwipNH1N02hNRobd2C2Akhuo3bQKpK7WlYZg4u/s1600/DSC_0041+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpiPfRqZhG9uDlUctAFOaKIql6DowSy5c20a-w_LO1BkN9wPVNN_Ag7CUf6KzPcGCQKs3GXWCr3XsXZfW0kLFxPu8ILbz6Oj7RjEEJLpwipNH1N02hNRobd2C2Akhuo3bQKpK7WlYZg4u/s1600/DSC_0041+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Iles des Saintes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMXZtY90PECjOclnFeepO3dNHFUrv3W6wwLgGmxO3xiEUPAH7nv_cPsos-q4UKK_AS6ZIp9gV0Q1Ibgvul9WPzOQgO3amSdBDRhGcPu_TEkZirpjwLL3gSRwjNruQQBp9JVxKJThQIVUK/s1600/DSC_0047+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMXZtY90PECjOclnFeepO3dNHFUrv3W6wwLgGmxO3xiEUPAH7nv_cPsos-q4UKK_AS6ZIp9gV0Q1Ibgvul9WPzOQgO3amSdBDRhGcPu_TEkZirpjwLL3gSRwjNruQQBp9JVxKJThQIVUK/s1600/DSC_0047+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terre-de-Haut</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3YgFs6tBHwqpfXjqJIuxj0DNuA6aePgZajMayByh7XqffZ0CDyZkXiQLMCVli9FLEDi3A7vuTuk8CG2FLU5j1jNqRFP9uDA1jOu5ZiAvgRist2qNO8zuCO4voL4S9M1r7ThpkA5dDm6I/s1600/DSC_0049+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3YgFs6tBHwqpfXjqJIuxj0DNuA6aePgZajMayByh7XqffZ0CDyZkXiQLMCVli9FLEDi3A7vuTuk8CG2FLU5j1jNqRFP9uDA1jOu5ZiAvgRist2qNO8zuCO4voL4S9M1r7ThpkA5dDm6I/s1600/DSC_0049+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruise ship 'Wind Surf'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our cruise to Dominica was a bit
on the rough side with wind at a constant 25knts and seas to about 8’ - 10’.
Our stabilizers helped but it was still a trip that could be over as soon as
possible. After 4½ hours we were, at last, in the lee of </span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dominica where
miraculously all went calm. After a really pleasant cruise to the northern port
of Portsmouth we anchored in 30’ of water but rolled constantly because of the
Atlantic swell which was curling round the north end of the island. I woke up
at 02:30 and that was it…a long day ensued! Fortunately the passage from
Portsmouth to Les Saintes is only 18 nm so with a slight drop in the wind and
the sea from yesterday the trip was much shorter and calmer. Oh Les Saintes</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-size: small;">, these islands are picturesque to look at as one approaches
and the archipelago reveals itself, upon arrival one can’t help but smile. The islands are isolated, no big aircraft come here, some tourist arrive by ferry every day
from Point a Pitre, Guadeloupe so there are visitors other than cruisers. The
islands, however, do cater to cruisers. The main ‘Bourg’ Terre de Haut boarders
a protected bay and provides mooring balls at a very reasonable charge. We
eagerly motored to our chosen ball and moored up. With the dinghy lowered and
equipped with our ships papers we set off to clear in and then walk around to
get the lie of the land. Boy, this cruising travelling stuff is fun! Approaching
a new island and destination port is always fun and full of mystery and
expectation. I used to be concerned about finding customs and immigration,
where to dispose of garbage and generally gain the lay of the land...not any more;
it is just the cruising life. Everything unfolds and the locals have always
been helpful even in the French islands with the language barrier. Most islands
will grant three months entry and some six without special request. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Les Saintes are a small cluster
of islands that comprise two that are inhabited and several that are not, the
whole land mass only covers 4.9 square miles so they are small. The population
is about 3,000, 1,900 who live on Terre-de-Haut and the balance on Terre-de-Basse.
Scooters and tiny electric cars are the transport of choice, one walks in the
road and the vehicular traffic simply winds its way past and between the pedestrians. The
pace of life is slow but oh how civilized. The shops all close for 2½ hours at
lunch time reopen at 3 then close again around 6. The French locals like a leisurely
lunch and really make the time for it. One immediately realizes that there is
more to life than the daily rat race. We naturally, after only one day slipped
into these ways. The first day I said to HT “let’s get a sandwich for lunch”,
well sandwich shops which abound in the States don’t here, each small restaurant,
and there are many, post their menu de jour on a blackboard, in beautiful hand writing,
which lists the choices of the three courses available for lunch and we quickly
realized a sandwich for lunch is not the 'done' thing! Dinner in the evening is
another lengthy affair. An early dinner would be at 7 o’clock finishing 3 -4
hours later. The most popular time to sit down is 8. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></small><br />
<small>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The day after we had arrived ‘Receta’
and George and Jan on ‘Wild Cat’ sailed in. We had not met George and Jan,
friends of Steve and Ann on ‘Receta’ so a cocktail evening onboard ‘Receta’ set
that to rights. Great hors d'oeuvres were served courtesy of Ann, foodie extraordinaire.
We meet such nice people as we cruise, we really do. On Valentine’s Day the 6
of us made a reservation at Les Petits Saintes restaurant, one of the finest in
the French West Indies. We finish our outstanding, superb, wonderful etc.,
etc., meal at 11:30. It ended with Xavier Simon, the chef, coming to talk to<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M2uenSKWnmUt-xTZIlQoxAN4_rF7V8Co2jOCAPwSo_FSulXH5TVLKkfebYo1Qz41dLn9rpxzxz-VGhrVAL9PeFAgtvnfiWm4gVDUXgMB36DsAxPZwriz6-2pD-ZPLKyytvcRpqBNGb7d/s1600/les-petits-saints-restaurant-chef-xavier-simon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0M2uenSKWnmUt-xTZIlQoxAN4_rF7V8Co2jOCAPwSo_FSulXH5TVLKkfebYo1Qz41dLn9rpxzxz-VGhrVAL9PeFAgtvnfiWm4gVDUXgMB36DsAxPZwriz6-2pD-ZPLKyytvcRpqBNGb7d/s1600/les-petits-saints-restaurant-chef-xavier-simon.jpg" height="182" width="200" /></a></span></span></small></div>
<br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO31_a7tdAZzBDEJcWKyDKWmHca_VizJca-OwH87LoQAPylI4e8Mcp0uSQHliZc300fkkW1mhyngG79ofcCWWX-7FkD0Ue6fPB2SMtlT2NiIwyA5Lpd1esGyZeHVHWst8S6z1lzlTQRvE0/s1600/les-petits-saints-salle-restaurant-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO31_a7tdAZzBDEJcWKyDKWmHca_VizJca-OwH87LoQAPylI4e8Mcp0uSQHliZc300fkkW1mhyngG79ofcCWWX-7FkD0Ue6fPB2SMtlT2NiIwyA5Lpd1esGyZeHVHWst8S6z1lzlTQRvE0/s1600/les-petits-saints-salle-restaurant-02.jpg" height="146" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our table</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">us and he was gracious enough to explain some of his
techniques and ingredients. The meal was truly memorable and the presentation
simply both creative and beautifully artistic. For those interested, here is a
link to the Hotel and Restaurants website, they have pictures of some of their
dishes...http://www.petitssaints.com/photos.html...
Having come from Europe where leisurely eating is more widely practiced, my
ways had been amended during the 30 plus years I have lived in the USA where
customs are different, so this pleasant reminder of the art of food and the way
to savour it was fabulous, there is no table turn over here...<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were due to say our goodbyes
to Les Saintes today but an undesirable weather report is going to keep us here
for another week, oh yes! Sooo, what does this mean? Yep, more buttery croissants,
delicious pastries, real bread and baguettes, tasty coffee and oh, that
wonderful food. The scenery and water are pretty good too!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The anchorage at Terre-de-Haut
can be a little uncomfortable at night as the wind drops and allows ones boat
to sit in the small wave troughs, not bad enough to cause a loss of sleeps, however, but
still a bit of a nuisance when moving around the boat, also the most uncomfortable rolling is
when, with total disregard for the cruising boats in the bay, the high speed
ferries speed by to the ferry dock. These boats travel at close to 30 knots and
you can imagine the wake that they create, yes, glass breaking rolls
ensue...thank heaven we can hear them coming and can prepare and thank goodness
they don’t run at night! Iles des Saintes will definitely go down as a special
place and one of our favourite destinations. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">To close this entry I must pass a
compliment to the French islands we have visited so far. They really have gone
out of their way to accommodate the cruiser by building sturdy welcoming dinghy docks
everywhere, they also provide accessible convenient garbage disposal and are
the first islands we have visited that recycle, with containers for disposal on
almost every street corner, bravo!</span></span></small><br />
<small>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Life is good... </span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIvaCKIru6mXZkMg-TLs1wFNTgN__ODd-n0GrYqOo1zk_LjIqxX-lsG-TOHY3nWl25psQlZJNLpwVSga7oEHj6L9lb0ThK5wcwW7hUxK1QnIuDCR5QcPVPhwSEzWGtf1cdu7d4tfXy_dB/s1600/DSC_0014+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqIvaCKIru6mXZkMg-TLs1wFNTgN__ODd-n0GrYqOo1zk_LjIqxX-lsG-TOHY3nWl25psQlZJNLpwVSga7oEHj6L9lb0ThK5wcwW7hUxK1QnIuDCR5QcPVPhwSEzWGtf1cdu7d4tfXy_dB/s1600/DSC_0014+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windjammer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9VfOKDw6Xt3zhaNU4AjOphQMrnTuWIXy_faone7y-6PNvnjUFSDUDlDeX5SaV7B6h0ecT33lre13_YclsNbjEFy0eDip0_8Vle1sIA8HKNQsNJ1l2Rm41V5erkW19D2jep94_r5x_irW/s1600/DSC_0022+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih9VfOKDw6Xt3zhaNU4AjOphQMrnTuWIXy_faone7y-6PNvnjUFSDUDlDeX5SaV7B6h0ecT33lre13_YclsNbjEFy0eDip0_8Vle1sIA8HKNQsNJ1l2Rm41V5erkW19D2jep94_r5x_irW/s1600/DSC_0022+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavinia at the windward shore, Pigeon Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5GWR7KHBEiY1mzkagdAqmyEZryH0JJY1V_C7EDPOCmbGg2wXQZuteTpe4w8_ZTNohb4M7lglPVw9ghuednBxCBAYXH83hkTIHIRr5wAV3aPVyxJQAH9J35aLs9Vxdw2evgJU4nucQwpO/s1600/DSC_0018+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5GWR7KHBEiY1mzkagdAqmyEZryH0JJY1V_C7EDPOCmbGg2wXQZuteTpe4w8_ZTNohb4M7lglPVw9ghuednBxCBAYXH83hkTIHIRr5wAV3aPVyxJQAH9J35aLs9Vxdw2evgJU4nucQwpO/s1600/DSC_0018+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw this Windjammer while at Marigot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpzD7y95Ym65PhY0o0Pg2LGw-RLBOxMhnZPZgB-A2o24q0zpl_0dYY5jAn6EGXMqGbuOoGow7hMqy6WfDv3i3BIgOIYPfVfKzpqdT386hbP9YRVm2bECPBKNbvBjMgxIXaYANKz3WPB4g/s1600/DSC_0009+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIpzD7y95Ym65PhY0o0Pg2LGw-RLBOxMhnZPZgB-A2o24q0zpl_0dYY5jAn6EGXMqGbuOoGow7hMqy6WfDv3i3BIgOIYPfVfKzpqdT386hbP9YRVm2bECPBKNbvBjMgxIXaYANKz3WPB4g/s1600/DSC_0009+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When one sees the palm trees one <br />
can just imagine Admiral Rodney <br />
inside with this fleet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99LzJmPwddZvg80X54fVo3CUNcEpQ76Oxd2RWResXdg-WdBzUyMvBUri4KRddMWY6HMF8lz6XngIxuBEIbfhgaIcGOBoS5a9lmPWHbcJDHOBWc8Tgs34rChShUWC-eepSJXAEzCoTex3z/s1600/DSC_0011+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99LzJmPwddZvg80X54fVo3CUNcEpQ76Oxd2RWResXdg-WdBzUyMvBUri4KRddMWY6HMF8lz6XngIxuBEIbfhgaIcGOBoS5a9lmPWHbcJDHOBWc8Tgs34rChShUWC-eepSJXAEzCoTex3z/s1600/DSC_0011+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a><br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBpNOl8s_z_MC4_zddn5TRAFVyt6MwgeKy-B9Ixf_qdmqQeidq9II9I0jXijcGab98-kthUamKaxSCPGAVPCTNN0QWaxHevRZPokQ48VAfb8B1LU7PYXagqNbXMy4YRZR2Hod6_gQjMhh/s1600/DSC_0044+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYBpNOl8s_z_MC4_zddn5TRAFVyt6MwgeKy-B9Ixf_qdmqQeidq9II9I0jXijcGab98-kthUamKaxSCPGAVPCTNN0QWaxHevRZPokQ48VAfb8B1LU7PYXagqNbXMy4YRZR2Hod6_gQjMhh/s1600/DSC_0044+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fort at Pigeon Island, St. Lucia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOd6BJlmD7ck3KvES2GkAUc4TCw6x6Y14us4w9K-ZE2a8y9ZywbDoowPPKXgUuPe5JeCxKxrHEvajQlhqwCxpTrA0pl2NTx6UOtJCKLpADrbeNFktoQVR1OTFPlEPY3mKQA_kw6XdJcqau/s1600/DSC_0040+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOd6BJlmD7ck3KvES2GkAUc4TCw6x6Y14us4w9K-ZE2a8y9ZywbDoowPPKXgUuPe5JeCxKxrHEvajQlhqwCxpTrA0pl2NTx6UOtJCKLpADrbeNFktoQVR1OTFPlEPY3mKQA_kw6XdJcqau/s1600/DSC_0040+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partners in Rodney Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVV5CPayw0CrEWVwSHiKBxn7Yvy-K-ToZfGlIYQpUf3FUOTcYZ6ofgicnlYjwezaMhUuALCUqG7mDF0ZVADcYx-SpjSiAVpGbD5sXQfoc84-txYmK6oNGEaDch7F7JNvJsMaj8vu69rHB/s1600/DSC_0047+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVV5CPayw0CrEWVwSHiKBxn7Yvy-K-ToZfGlIYQpUf3FUOTcYZ6ofgicnlYjwezaMhUuALCUqG7mDF0ZVADcYx-SpjSiAVpGbD5sXQfoc84-txYmK6oNGEaDch7F7JNvJsMaj8vu69rHB/s1600/DSC_0047+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, the water!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ5zcKoyqHEIBJ9j3aUtu3Acns_8BEfbm8Ol1hEGaaKEsvIvVZJWKwO8_vNiJPsuCI2tjfXC13JzlLj477k1DnN7K9WbarVoUeMi1XKkQdlHDISaeAdC9WZhQPEBocHoydztMfDrAFwQ5/s1600/DSC_0087+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ5zcKoyqHEIBJ9j3aUtu3Acns_8BEfbm8Ol1hEGaaKEsvIvVZJWKwO8_vNiJPsuCI2tjfXC13JzlLj477k1DnN7K9WbarVoUeMi1XKkQdlHDISaeAdC9WZhQPEBocHoydztMfDrAFwQ5/s1600/DSC_0087+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jet ski racing at St. Anne's Martinique</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgtLVhBF4GqeB5FfoMjcbt88KCFUOzby-cCIuUz3ZZfS3QetqGrs0Eusqrx9TH-mmsz_Q56VUUGwiVBj_Wflp7LmNhhkTmgSKDuSRjbtfZZlRIXKDz0Z4D3bSpTJu7kJSvoRYZRxxQo3_/s1600/DSC_0110+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRgtLVhBF4GqeB5FfoMjcbt88KCFUOzby-cCIuUz3ZZfS3QetqGrs0Eusqrx9TH-mmsz_Q56VUUGwiVBj_Wflp7LmNhhkTmgSKDuSRjbtfZZlRIXKDz0Z4D3bSpTJu7kJSvoRYZRxxQo3_/s1600/DSC_0110+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoUQGv9mDdiVIt0dSdErLd41N6RgO2dDK3WReSPTW_1tpiSlrk3CiiZWGix4y0Tdhug6e80CB_UlrTuQq8LZ9rAya4Dtfi8FVUSJj0ZguRhYWKwt9TI2AuyptPMOTSIGjRFd8Ut2BXn5L/s1600/DSC_0127+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLoUQGv9mDdiVIt0dSdErLd41N6RgO2dDK3WReSPTW_1tpiSlrk3CiiZWGix4y0Tdhug6e80CB_UlrTuQq8LZ9rAya4Dtfi8FVUSJj0ZguRhYWKwt9TI2AuyptPMOTSIGjRFd8Ut2BXn5L/s1600/DSC_0127+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YT relaxing on the aft deck with a cohiba</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-6371674969522381182014-01-11T16:28:00.004-05:002015-03-03T06:20:30.569-05:00The Spice Island<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">January 10<sup>th </sup>2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 12° 00.423’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 43.792’
W</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Clarkes Court Bay, Grenada</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=12.007966,-61.730075&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=12.008743,-61.731105&spn=0.094193,0.142822&z=13&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=12.007966,-61.730075&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=12.008743,-61.731105&spn=0.094193,0.142822&z=13&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although we did stop briefly in
Grenada, as we were travelling south to Trinidad, we did not explore as we had
to move on quickly for our rendezvous in Trinidad with Anthony our eldest son.
This is the beauty of what we do, we can go wherever we please and stay, most
of the time, for as long as we please, so we are back! We initially cruised
into Prickly Bay after a fairly pleasant passage from Chaguaramas, Trinidad.
The sea swells were close to 10ft from the east, on our starboard beam, but
were spaced at about 9-10sec intervals which, with our stabilizers, was okay.
There was a 4ft wind chop on top of the swell which gave us an occasional nudge
from time to time, all in all though not bad. We both slept during our off
watch times which is a good sign. The trip was a good one and with each passage
we are building our confidence back, ‘Stonewall Jackson’ has not missed a beat
since we installed our day tank back in Tyrrel Bay last July/August. We have
now made a trip to Trinidad, then Tobago, there and back to Trinidad, and now
this one to Grenada, a total, since leaving Carriacou, of 380 NM. All were 12 –
16 hour runs so were a good test. We seem to have ‘Partners’ running well now
and, after the expense and troubles in 2013, are really hoping for a worry free
cruising year in 2014…we think we deserve it! There is still one issue to
address which is the new battery and inverter installation; I don’t think that
the Victron inverter has been programmed correctly as it is not putting out the
maximum amps it is capable of, whilst charging. It, therefore, takes longer to
replenish our batteries than it should. It also does not seem to charge the
engine start and bow thruster battery at as fast a rate as it should. To
address these concerns we are going to ask our friend and electrical engineer
Alan Reynolds to check everything over for us. He lives in Grenada and will
visit us after the Holidays, probably the weekend of January 11<sup>th</sup>.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meanwhile, we enjoyed Christmas
Day in Prickly Bay and ate Christmas Dinner at the Prickly Bay </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6xTt5YcCJluAaWhvR0HIVfPFQ0zFDRkxghkzPAnB07OK_KI1z9Vxun9nhD4NdkkYLt72NXXdpZDsuIJxirNDo1DAKJUukNjQwKjK1GSpbuTprb917FLH0MW0YGCRY2dHjQSQyOaE61-Z/s1600/Prickly+Bay+Marina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6xTt5YcCJluAaWhvR0HIVfPFQ0zFDRkxghkzPAnB07OK_KI1z9Vxun9nhD4NdkkYLt72NXXdpZDsuIJxirNDo1DAKJUukNjQwKjK1GSpbuTprb917FLH0MW0YGCRY2dHjQSQyOaE61-Z/s1600/Prickly+Bay+Marina.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prickly Bay Marina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Marina
restaurant, it was very good…turkey, ham, roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and
lots of vegetables, roast potatoes and gravy. It was a very traditional English
style Christmas Dinner. The main entrée was preceded by a choice of lobster
bisque or prawn cocktail, we both had the prawn cocktail which consisted of a
small salad garnish, three large juicy prawns and Marie Rose sauce, a real favourite of mine. For dessert
HT had red velvet cake and cream, I had a banana split, we shared! All of this
was washed down with a nice Pinot Grigio and finished off with coffee. This was
the first Christmas Dinner in the 22 years HT and I have known each other that
she hasn’t cooked Christmas Dinner! It was also the first Christmas that we did
not have family around us which was a little sad. Something all of you planning
a cruising retirement need to bear in mind. Many cruisers who retain a land based home
return there for the Holidays we don’t have another home, ‘Partners’ is it so
our options are limited. After we arrived on Christmas Eve morning we went
ashore to explore and treat ourselves to some breakfast, guess what! As we were
alighting our dinghy at the dinghy dock I saw a familiar face. “Dan", the person
looked at me and didn’t immediately respond, “Is your name Dan?” I asked again.
He then said “Yes it is”, “Remember me?” Dan was a friend from another life
over 20 years ago when I lived on the East coast of Florida in a little town
called Flagler Beach. Dan and I knew each other back then but since had gone in
different directions. To cut a long story short we agreed to meet on board
‘Partners’ after Christmas Dinner and catch up. Catch up we did and had a
fabulous time explaining how, by pure chance, we both arrived at a dinghy dock
in a remote bay in Grenada, West Indies at the same time! Amazing. Dan and
Barb’s boat is ‘Another Way’ a CSY 37’. We will see them both again before we
leave the Island.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On Boxing Day we decided that the
rolling in Prickly Bay was too much so we upped anchor and proceeded to cruise
to calmer waters and ended up in Clarkes Court Bay just a couple of miles east,
it is still rolly but not quite as bad. We relaxed and enjoyed a quiet sunset and
evening enjoying the cool breeze and a Blue Moon with the traditional slice of
orange. After a great Mexican salad, it definitely had a ‘kick’, we retired
early and slept with the cabin hatch open so we could rest feeling</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> the
wonderful Caribbean Trade Winds…</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoNXkd1vEhbTnF4C335jR3NmiEskaUXsCD6d_MaNKd9Q0HA0kzSa6rwQKieH4o9B31uy_8iX68pg7vOAHthOoIV-ATiD0BDMPu3gakZRKRtwzY83MmX5z-3dq_GjNQFGSm0LY1cOMJxx2/s1600/DSC_0015+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoNXkd1vEhbTnF4C335jR3NmiEskaUXsCD6d_MaNKd9Q0HA0kzSa6rwQKieH4o9B31uy_8iX68pg7vOAHthOoIV-ATiD0BDMPu3gakZRKRtwzY83MmX5z-3dq_GjNQFGSm0LY1cOMJxx2/s1600/DSC_0015+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moor Mega Yachts than any other boats! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHdhvmG0ugQ0_a7q347US32VDHDqdnwMaQlncIUL2Ogff4_lLqU2Qn0jyUMaOEW5euB03vKa49RY54Fs2HISMKmkt3_ftYedvPbW2HpHY57fmpOHxUnq8PZ7Djr0J3EGrmriqNS2fJb5M/s1600/DSC_1-1+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHdhvmG0ugQ0_a7q347US32VDHDqdnwMaQlncIUL2Ogff4_lLqU2Qn0jyUMaOEW5euB03vKa49RY54Fs2HISMKmkt3_ftYedvPbW2HpHY57fmpOHxUnq8PZ7Djr0J3EGrmriqNS2fJb5M/s1600/DSC_1-1+%25281%2529.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lite up at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4nY03Ek8_mW6DBeogdNuxqvEuc3XDLxqLlvd3bYqygc3GjXpcuNxK-8Gnkl1PGBUikPP3PipTlhaNputOQHTeEhOU0pMQd7GJtFlv2eqku0rE8zFtMW2XN-rLdPYtfbvbKjGhZYLuJIo/s1600/DSC_0002+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4nY03Ek8_mW6DBeogdNuxqvEuc3XDLxqLlvd3bYqygc3GjXpcuNxK-8Gnkl1PGBUikPP3PipTlhaNputOQHTeEhOU0pMQd7GJtFlv2eqku0rE8zFtMW2XN-rLdPYtfbvbKjGhZYLuJIo/s1600/DSC_0002+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our first day in this large open
bay started with a hearty breakfast omelette to set us up for a day of
exploration. We wanted to dinghy around Clarkes Court Bay and ‘get our
bearings’. We set off and first went to the head of the bay and located the
small grocery store and a couple of bars. We also visited Clarkes Court Marina,
a small facility with docks for about 25 boats and the requisite bar
restaurant. Fortuitously, while we were there the shopping bus returned with
about 8 cruisers on board. We spoke to Trevor the driver who clued us in on his
shopping bus schedule which we now know runs on Fridays and Saturdays. He also
advised us he does Island tours for a very reasonable price and I think we will
do one next week. Our next visit was to Hog Island and the much protected
anchorage there. Roger’s beach bar situated on Hog Island enjoys the only sandy
beach there but unfortunately is a dump with bottles cans and garbage strewn
all over the place. Some people would, I am sure, argue that this is the atmosphere
of the place but we didn’t like it. We retreated back into Clarkes Court Bay
having decided that the water and breeze was more favourable in Clarkes Court
Bay. We motored in the dinghy over to the east side of the bay again and
visited Whisper Cove Marina which had a good dinghy dock and a much more
inviting bar and restaurant, this could be a haunt! Having pretty much done the
circumnavigation of ‘our’ bay we just had to navigate through the cut between
Calivigny Island and the mainland to investigate! After carefully following the
marked channel we were exposed to the vista of Le Phare Bleu Marina and resort;
wow this place is beautiful there is a genuine old lightship moored to the long
dock which the European owners have turned into a fine restaurant. Part of the
proceeds goes towards the upkeep of the historic ship. On the mainland there is
another bar and restaurant which is reasonably priced...we enjoyed lunch here
and had a margarita pizza and a Carib beer each for total of EC$56, which we
thought was reasonable. The staff were friendly and polite and the service
impeccable. The marina also has an Immigration and Customs office for checking
in and out. It also has a canvas shop and mechanical repair facility plus other
services including a chiropractor, very nice!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dec 28<sup>th</sup>. Today was a
‘jobs’ day. HT did laundry and then we both cleaned the oily slim which had
attached itself to the waterline during our stay in the dirty waters of
Chaguaramas. It was stubborn and took us forever. When we had finally finished
the two of us decided to carry on and scrub the exhaust stains from the transom
and clean the teak swim platform. In other words we had decided to give the
exterior of ‘Partners’ a spring clean. In the afternoon I replaced some of the
caulking on the foredeck teak deck and one teak screw plug which had popped
out. ‘Partners’ is pretty again! The rest of the day we read and relaxed
enjoying our surroundings, oh, I forgot we swam and cooled off at the back of
the boat in the beautiful 82°F water! We had a Thai chicken stir fry with
coconut rice for dinner and some Christmas cake and brandy butter for desert,
my favourite! Life is good...</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After nearly a year of cruising
these beautiful islands it is easy to take things for granted. Although we have
been to quite a lot of the islands once, we are planning subsequent visits this
year as we move up the island chain, the first visit really does little more
than familiarize one with the basic geography, a second visit reunites one with
some of the familiar faces and venues but stimulates much more curiosity and many
more questions. The second visit picks up from the familiarity of the first and
somehow provides comfort to be more inquisitive. It is the inquisition, not in
an aggressive way though, but more of a friendly delving for more, kind of way,
that revels the findings and information that provide the lasting memories. The
faces seen previously seem friendlier and therefore provide license to ask for
more information than during the first encounter; ones memory of the places
visited is stimulated to seek and probe for a little more. The second visit makes
the experience more indelible and provides a much deeper understanding of the
islands culture, its people and history. We have found this when both talking
to and listening to other cruisers. When either we or they tell stories about
the island visits the words are full of life and are more meaningful and descriptive,
often personal to the local people who one becomes friends with. We have, more
and more, realized the privilege of our life style where we are able to embed
ourselves into the society of an island, drink and breathe the life of the
islanders, become part of their unique countries. It is hard to move on
sometimes, in fact many cruisers ‘swallow the anchor’, as they say, and never
leave, they have found their Shangri-La… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">January 7<sup>th</sup>. Today we
sortied forth in search of some fresh eggs and bread; we have found that most
islands have good bread and eggs. Until now we have not taken the trip into St.
George’s and the supermarkets there. We still have supplies from Trinidad and
just need a few basics. Where we are is somewhat remote although about a mile
ride in the dinghy and a short walk finds us the nearest bus stop. Within the
bay there are a couple of local stores with some ‘bare’ essentials. There is
also a meat market located at the Whisper Cove Marina run by the marina owner
and his lovely wife Mary. A French Canadian couple, he a butcher by trade thus
the meat market. All the produce is organic, a little expensive, but highly
reliable and very good. We tied up the dinghy at the marina dinghy dock, all
the marinas have welcoming dinghy docks, and walked up the steep steps and
pathway to find a tidy clean dining area and well stocked bar which overlooked
the small very well protected marina. </span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rvnRoJxF3VC6KYLF8t_CYAQOSJmF5_z5jWYPuXg1AQe0AgpNjb2MuINuD903OSzzniHwpeSygDrXa-5wUr56rnpVKBIfhSsH56bMAfrmw8GMMAmYr2js1XN3oGpofYeg-H96LxFUf0y4/s1600/DSC_0008+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rvnRoJxF3VC6KYLF8t_CYAQOSJmF5_z5jWYPuXg1AQe0AgpNjb2MuINuD903OSzzniHwpeSygDrXa-5wUr56rnpVKBIfhSsH56bMAfrmw8GMMAmYr2js1XN3oGpofYeg-H96LxFUf0y4/s1600/DSC_0008+2.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Cove. We swam from the back of 'Partner' ever<br />
day in this beautiful water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This was definitely our kind of
place…Mary greeted us and immediately made a good impression, she was
delightful and friendly, she told us how she and her husband arrived in Grenada
and stumbled across this broken down establishment saw the potential and
realizing a demand that was not being filled, they bought the place and have
stayed ever since, that was four years ago! We entered the small market and ‘Oh
my’ what we found was exciting, fresh bright red tomatoes and beautiful crisp
lettuce, among other enticing produce and wares. Who would have thought we
could get so excited and<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> happy over two little things.
Although we didn’t need them now we found that the shop stocked a very good
selection of French, German and Italian cheeses, the meat selection was
fabulous too. You see our values are different now, what we used to take for
granted we are now a little surprised to find. Little things make us happy…we
rushed home, sat down on our back porch and ate a lettuce, tomato and cheese
sandwich then once finished jumped into the water, we swam in the warm water at
the back of ‘Partners’ for a while...a beautiful day.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">We enjoyed a
complete island tour last week which took us the length and breadth of the
island and took in two rum factories, one the oldest in Grenada which was
fascinating. It is still producing but using the same steam powered cane
crushing machinery used back in the early 1800’s when the <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4ONB_TRq_hNPst3MD9Rqd70epnE3iFzVH1HSAEXlj6udpGlKIxynYVCK4hmmBhCvzM0vBAVvqTAqMKEZzApCPy1I-p6A4Jvf1rMfM_vLJAKSW3iVCFJsmF4SZVtABI80m1SC5g2N-Ln3/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4ONB_TRq_hNPst3MD9Rqd70epnE3iFzVH1HSAEXlj6udpGlKIxynYVCK4hmmBhCvzM0vBAVvqTAqMKEZzApCPy1I-p6A4Jvf1rMfM_vLJAKSW3iVCFJsmF4SZVtABI80m1SC5g2N-Ln3/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Clarkes Court Rum factory and dates <br />
from 1935. The weigh platform is the <br />
original one and is still in use today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC-uj3uLDfpJjzxZRtrVUrhk9J9Jw7E6DVS3TnJQOU2UpRr3IcjcApdaWSyZ_YIIt4ml9K689Hj9-2kqVrWAlS4NVXac8B993cZvr41P4i0Km1ZupzxIcrMRJCQiwjmDWoaz7QhnK1yFq/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilC-uj3uLDfpJjzxZRtrVUrhk9J9Jw7E6DVS3TnJQOU2UpRr3IcjcApdaWSyZ_YIIt4ml9K689Hj9-2kqVrWAlS4NVXac8B993cZvr41P4i0Km1ZupzxIcrMRJCQiwjmDWoaz7QhnK1yFq/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavinia with Hard Hat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
</span></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ccjvVfDZXZqK1ym0fT2SDB4taGwYwaLji77vYqz6flqbb-hK5XU2l_PgwfWXuYRqBISTexfY8INDsBNj3ylbqyCMK5LvqlDUnBE7dG3mFwqA75pqen3Ftj53U6YNENXL6kA2R3DRXJ9H/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ccjvVfDZXZqK1ym0fT2SDB4taGwYwaLji77vYqz6flqbb-hK5XU2l_PgwfWXuYRqBISTexfY8INDsBNj3ylbqyCMK5LvqlDUnBE7dG3mFwqA75pqen3Ftj53U6YNENXL6kA2R3DRXJ9H/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAT5eYNzd38TLr2NCOFWquTM52KxI6IVJdlv94ScY5iROzR5__Kd4nghFK_xO_QHqXZfJRziJuuZGr9cuUKgau32fU3BqpNtrp4PTDQtO7upJxB3xN9ktwVjTWk2608vH8sug4F5HjIGvA/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAT5eYNzd38TLr2NCOFWquTM52KxI6IVJdlv94ScY5iROzR5__Kd4nghFK_xO_QHqXZfJRziJuuZGr9cuUKgau32fU3BqpNtrp4PTDQtO7upJxB3xN9ktwVjTWk2608vH8sug4F5HjIGvA/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pictures above show inside the factory<br />
which is all powered by steam!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0iIZoUtQsCzQU0Uhy1gCDA89h9F_N0V7qkeFNzNsGejXBLGMqUVWpDBS6znHT8y0qx16G3LYHwn__RKpS4NK7eoIjvgWtsmiYts1v3HrifBGOFBJ2HjQXZfpD_iW3I_iaVG2ygCtmtm8/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL0iIZoUtQsCzQU0Uhy1gCDA89h9F_N0V7qkeFNzNsGejXBLGMqUVWpDBS6znHT8y0qx16G3LYHwn__RKpS4NK7eoIjvgWtsmiYts1v3HrifBGOFBJ2HjQXZfpD_iW3I_iaVG2ygCtmtm8/s1600/DSC_0044.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grenadian roundabout.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpprGVOw4YAEb2_5ioU5A2QbfvdvNnkAbGCFH_vn1WLRvAhw8dSqbdokrcRk-d-FSgQXwtiDPypVL8NxwCoCQFuHinewtHIt-nSdGd3EZbbu3xI8Y5BBkI79qJGwqqZS9t1gNR5YenjHd/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpprGVOw4YAEb2_5ioU5A2QbfvdvNnkAbGCFH_vn1WLRvAhw8dSqbdokrcRk-d-FSgQXwtiDPypVL8NxwCoCQFuHinewtHIt-nSdGd3EZbbu3xI8Y5BBkI79qJGwqqZS9t1gNR5YenjHd/s1600/DSC_0120.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left over from the American invasion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6_8W3tV17X4wMqn1FrCmyfGiAaucA6HRr1RRnyzFjxNhCLxYkEUUDeBPKP2HHk8kqnIC1Btf6xtjEjPIMfvg-klEfdo9p_2W9O89ELR_-LTP-yDgNmPdo61Y8LI6qem1JP7yxH8SB0tM/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6_8W3tV17X4wMqn1FrCmyfGiAaucA6HRr1RRnyzFjxNhCLxYkEUUDeBPKP2HHk8kqnIC1Btf6xtjEjPIMfvg-klEfdo9p_2W9O89ELR_-LTP-yDgNmPdo61Y8LI6qem1JP7yxH8SB0tM/s1600/DSC_0129.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mud bread oven.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HM-Gd8ffbTmFKCwVCpX5J2mXumoW7ZRdn8hhh2S9tH2NeKncl7c9SbNhVk6uBrvdFzDV4_TqTFyeH_yO45OKOWRNgrAKw1GBcimUn9ONreaZC9ivgujdZI51Yt5AsFjYN6-9D8Blgo36/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HM-Gd8ffbTmFKCwVCpX5J2mXumoW7ZRdn8hhh2S9tH2NeKncl7c9SbNhVk6uBrvdFzDV4_TqTFyeH_yO45OKOWRNgrAKw1GBcimUn9ONreaZC9ivgujdZI51Yt5AsFjYN6-9D8Blgo36/s1600/DSC_0134.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This water wheel provides the power <br />
for the cane crushers. It is the original <br />
one for the 1700's!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlI436Od3l9TTEi9mXHSsjEWt7dPX8VTLGHijHvhZbUQ5Zl9zvz4A3l36olBcM92cQEwHu4b5hFTsCuDbmxsL4gPQTOIgHoQSs8JXpHJMRYjQZ7AoPYr2CGV1hio6RS2owafGfPjeIoAI/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlI436Od3l9TTEi9mXHSsjEWt7dPX8VTLGHijHvhZbUQ5Zl9zvz4A3l36olBcM92cQEwHu4b5hFTsCuDbmxsL4gPQTOIgHoQSs8JXpHJMRYjQZ7AoPYr2CGV1hio6RS2owafGfPjeIoAI/s1600/DSC_0137.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sugar cane after it has been crushed.<br />
It is used for fueling the kilns where the <br />
rum is reduced. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj2enUeUsfUL1bV12fsX3w_qvyv8GNYReoH5QYHUPcRs5uHTqCsd_ENmhZ3c_Xd-Cg0lmwS3oHGW64SXT3LxNAC2q311UWqBQg5Wc0T8yYRyFR9tS2esaku6zVTxy4rJ3PmJyGtv0Tp5a/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTj2enUeUsfUL1bV12fsX3w_qvyv8GNYReoH5QYHUPcRs5uHTqCsd_ENmhZ3c_Xd-Cg0lmwS3oHGW64SXT3LxNAC2q311UWqBQg5Wc0T8yYRyFR9tS2esaku6zVTxy4rJ3PmJyGtv0Tp5a/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rum fermenting...looks awful doesn't it?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTMBg_PyBhcwU79ySqgD-iiCdQMnqpgGqnbnwY4V65e3Dtli0umJVZm19BiEgqs-EB51jrlVWO2p_nrMNiAcYQUkLnzVhHmx5BzArQ9AzcWxiar5q9QvoebqNdceGGSTuB8j4wOh-2S9L/s1600/DSC_0133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTMBg_PyBhcwU79ySqgD-iiCdQMnqpgGqnbnwY4V65e3Dtli0umJVZm19BiEgqs-EB51jrlVWO2p_nrMNiAcYQUkLnzVhHmx5BzArQ9AzcWxiar5q9QvoebqNdceGGSTuB8j4wOh-2S9L/s1600/DSC_0133.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HT relaxing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCUtXxn1lOzC6OGQIDInHvYIhQck5oUM4vRdmrGPqOVlaFK7QGFNXPhuVnJnUNbSQU_A2I5xORlGw6tL7Q6ScM9MN3E85jqXvo4SGzadf7XPDA_o1f2_WtqoJl6iXDFoH9h5wAaoF1OKx/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCUtXxn1lOzC6OGQIDInHvYIhQck5oUM4vRdmrGPqOVlaFK7QGFNXPhuVnJnUNbSQU_A2I5xORlGw6tL7Q6ScM9MN3E85jqXvo4SGzadf7XPDA_o1f2_WtqoJl6iXDFoH9h5wAaoF1OKx/s1600/DSC_0154.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful church.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2N58IiMkG5B9hCGsAMVKXKuK8wqSZMtaqhTwYD5Rjpo_CJShd1T8Hlq1fxwDZAdfbR_DVq8oets1GIMI8H5HoF8Q523tcYJ0ofXvuHzRF_J9Gjyvql7btedKEW1hVVIWXTLH6SofvuoA/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk2N58IiMkG5B9hCGsAMVKXKuK8wqSZMtaqhTwYD5Rjpo_CJShd1T8Hlq1fxwDZAdfbR_DVq8oets1GIMI8H5HoF8Q523tcYJ0ofXvuHzRF_J9Gjyvql7btedKEW1hVVIWXTLH6SofvuoA/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV0Mr9aasFLsyPed1IgK-gJQv8rX8loSLlVX3jAMkJH19oIWFK4gLm3IaVm_rCD_2b8hJ0ydJVkKTdJwzjhm4Jf5YwHhPJTmgOIBORfOt0YospbE7BKbujX2m7yP7QwAF23FjT8OKmHTd/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV0Mr9aasFLsyPed1IgK-gJQv8rX8loSLlVX3jAMkJH19oIWFK4gLm3IaVm_rCD_2b8hJ0ydJVkKTdJwzjhm4Jf5YwHhPJTmgOIBORfOt0YospbE7BKbujX2m7yP7QwAF23FjT8OKmHTd/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shuffling in the cocoa beans on the <br />
drying racks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjRyciewHfeEZU2QPS0MLp9Z7IhCTNhCrnseSEtw3Vqq6iOpGLAfN4jMLzvvPyShtn90Nuo01aZ9wN9kq9O6aOO1gYmLSUtwtTRDJmPIza3D_N_4pdG3Y3tCJuw-0F-KDTHBPilcw0gQP/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjRyciewHfeEZU2QPS0MLp9Z7IhCTNhCrnseSEtw3Vqq6iOpGLAfN4jMLzvvPyShtn90Nuo01aZ9wN9kq9O6aOO1gYmLSUtwtTRDJmPIza3D_N_4pdG3Y3tCJuw-0F-KDTHBPilcw0gQP/s1600/DSC_0181.JPG" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from our lunch stop...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">
factory began. The
other, River Distillery, used a water wheel to power their crushers and has been in existence since the 1700's. We had plenty of samples
too! Some of the rum we don’t care for, it is like ‘white lightning’,
‘moonshine’, very harsh and throat burning, the stuff that takes ones breath
away, also ones equilibrium! As the tour continued what quickly became apparent was how mountainous the island is and also how green; everywhere there is foliage of some sort. We went to Grenada’s spice gardens which we found
fascinating plus they explained the islands tag, the ‘Spice Island’. Throughout the
day the group sampled some of the island food too and we finished off the tour
at the Grenada Chocolate factory where we sampled just a little of their chocolate…all
great fun!</span></span></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim and Tammy Ennd, cruising
friends of ours, returned to Grenada after a 6 week hiatus back in the States
for the Holidays. They re-launched their sailing boat ‘Sweet Chariot’ and anchored
in Mount Hartman Bay, the next bay over from us. We dinghied over to the Sunday jumble sale at Secret
Harbour Marina and saw ‘Sweet Chariot’, anchored in the bay. We hadn’t seen
Jim and Tammy since leaving Grenada in late August when we left to cruise down to
Trinidad. We approached and called out to them, in just a minute two heads
appeared. They looked a little flustered and I could tell they were busy with
preparation. Having had their boat on the hard for six weeks a lot has to be
done to ready her again for passage, sails have to be rigged and set, all sorts of
other things need checking and cleaning etc. We invited them over to ‘Partners’
when they we ready so we could catch up. They came the next day and we had a
good time telling and hearing stories about both our experiences since the last
time we had seen each other. We spent 4 hours talking non-stop; this life is far
from a boring existence so a lot happens in four months!</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhtu5wzSBxcKTvWKbzgiD_qB6M8QO_ql_qWzGIikOk1UTc5rZUFy8oHBdPr3Xo4M_Xm9_BirL5hAB4-xDQa8AysG24cpynnjJxs0oGZOyePKyP2VdYOVbEL49FkHSiytEtF5TKwFpPQ59/s1600/DSC_0010+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhtu5wzSBxcKTvWKbzgiD_qB6M8QO_ql_qWzGIikOk1UTc5rZUFy8oHBdPr3Xo4M_Xm9_BirL5hAB4-xDQa8AysG24cpynnjJxs0oGZOyePKyP2VdYOVbEL49FkHSiytEtF5TKwFpPQ59/s1600/DSC_0010+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUnqdd0yFUqrovv7306wTyZMg3PDEtF1y4vtQzCkqIcTkVe2cd51s1ya4u8erUzOdTM_okTomtFsnQdsTMxD2jse83IbtvTJJYLEpByMdF13uc1L6X72-atmqButkdy30Px9QZDqno5fw/s1600/Big+Sailing+Boat+2+-+Calivigny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUnqdd0yFUqrovv7306wTyZMg3PDEtF1y4vtQzCkqIcTkVe2cd51s1ya4u8erUzOdTM_okTomtFsnQdsTMxD2jse83IbtvTJJYLEpByMdF13uc1L6X72-atmqButkdy30Px9QZDqno5fw/s1600/Big+Sailing+Boat+2+-+Calivigny.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">173' long!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Hymr0u8LctUdJfuJCv_XFA8GsMAV50KXe1p4CxgyOSTyf7GWa_o84XI2Oc3r7WoL6MYnb3bW5S6XKYEvNT4R6BsAMSTr-CA_UlSIzy3zF69Fggca1WyKxsFL8TgQjEPWLAA7K64zUyj/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7Hymr0u8LctUdJfuJCv_XFA8GsMAV50KXe1p4CxgyOSTyf7GWa_o84XI2Oc3r7WoL6MYnb3bW5S6XKYEvNT4R6BsAMSTr-CA_UlSIzy3zF69Fggca1WyKxsFL8TgQjEPWLAA7K64zUyj/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty night from our aft deck.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There is always something going on here in Grenada, the southern part of the island very much caters to the cruising community. Every day the restaurants at the different bays compete for the cruiser custom. The result is fairly priced good food and usually a beer ‘come on’ deal i.e. 3 bottles for EC$10 about US$3.70. The other advantage is the choice. From where we are anchored there are four marinas and a couple of local establishments within easy dinghy distance. In the evenings more is available as most of the venues offer pick up and return transportation. Most also have music, either a group playing or a DJ. Talking of music, yesterday Le Phar Bleu Marina held a dinghy concert which was sponsored by
Westerhall Rum Company and Island Water World, a marine supplier similar to
West Marine. They have an old tug boat which has an open aft deck which is
where the band play, alongside was a big steel barge where all the people who
did not come in dinghies sat on benches. The rest of us cruisers who did come in
their dinghies tied up to the floating barge and rafted back from there. Around
200 people came, the turnout was great, the weather was perfect and above all,
the music performed by the group ‘Sabrina and the Navigators’ was outstanding. All this happened out in the middle of the bay. (See The Travels of Partners on Facebook for pictures) These are fun times for us, every day is a blessing we really are grateful for our
good fortune of being able to enjoy these, the golden years. As I have said before
you should all look forward to retirement, plan for it well, for it is the thing
of the future, your time! </span></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SABw_0caEdtkThQ6-myaiE2qy10yupNP719YxONYnHQKcY4Xr_dYOnp4xESJZUh14VGD60dIKb8992Qj8U8muLp5JjTW_4iXCQ4Nj6ulMCS0ZqGOGOs8i3MGolAX4nTMuA6_vCvVaDtZ/s1600/DSC_0025+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9SABw_0caEdtkThQ6-myaiE2qy10yupNP719YxONYnHQKcY4Xr_dYOnp4xESJZUh14VGD60dIKb8992Qj8U8muLp5JjTW_4iXCQ4Nj6ulMCS0ZqGOGOs8i3MGolAX4nTMuA6_vCvVaDtZ/s1600/DSC_0025+%25282%2529.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Minnie Tree!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGaKNIznN3b5eQB825hbk-hP4xAOXuNnV24AlMdiiuEDvm326P2C4FS0Rn77dQPLM_8BSJnT_uMWlDQkZeB2Qgq8Nqb5pX0OkX8Qaj9C6VJKx2i9bSzYu_mTy9qJzQT9oIzSdoI-cNXbk/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGaKNIznN3b5eQB825hbk-hP4xAOXuNnV24AlMdiiuEDvm326P2C4FS0Rn77dQPLM_8BSJnT_uMWlDQkZeB2Qgq8Nqb5pX0OkX8Qaj9C6VJKx2i9bSzYu_mTy9qJzQT9oIzSdoI-cNXbk/s1600/DSC_0002.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our perennial Santa!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Our Christmas lights!</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy New Year everyone!</span></strong></div>
Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-67719453158725167042013-12-26T13:00:00.003-05:002014-05-06T16:06:24.053-04:00Goodbye Trinidad…<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">December 21<sup>st</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Position 10° 40.733’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61°
37.937’ W<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB">Chaguaramas, Trinidad</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4kSnYlXOKri-n6bHVPyoM_K7HrujjzpaQuHG6RIdjcC9heVRENxD4XfZn6o_jaqcObiOmrActjOyMf8jMh84BVv75nxHkurWuzum4s6vWfT9xs86MgAbudoxd8Nd7PGM1JuAMgqQYDjx/s1600/Ann+%2526+Lavinia+Dec+-+Chaguaramas+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4kSnYlXOKri-n6bHVPyoM_K7HrujjzpaQuHG6RIdjcC9heVRENxD4XfZn6o_jaqcObiOmrActjOyMf8jMh84BVv75nxHkurWuzum4s6vWfT9xs86MgAbudoxd8Nd7PGM1JuAMgqQYDjx/s200/Ann+%2526+Lavinia+Dec+-+Chaguaramas+2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann & Lavinia - on 'Ann Louise<br />
picture by Bill Miller</td></tr>
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Dec. 6th. Up extra early this morning, our friends Bill and Ann on ‘Ann Louise’ are being hauled today and we are going to help them leave the marina, take a last short cruise around the bay and then help them with lines at the haul out at Peake Yachting Services, LTD. We cast off the lines at 07:00 and cruised out into the bay. Bill wanted to run all his machinery and do a thorough check of all systems to make absolutely sure everything was working correctly before ‘Ann Louise’ was blocked off in the yard. It is good to know everything was working correctly to start with as after several months on the hard mysteriously things happen and at least this way one has a starting point! There is a lot of preparation, the watermaker needs to be pickled, and the holding tank needs flushing and cleaning with detergent and freshwater. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqvsECmMpvg1Pzfqh4MMJyzvb3600Z7p-HzPD4nAa-HkvfJ4a4Unf-qXR9It7iyqbdO5rdCBuuPZ96GrWYwNfU4z4rge_IVZqNnA-XbBhM2rQStw1-whDQqL1FwXA8Pa7LKRQfBzVFp0a/s1600/Me+-+Ann+Louise+-+Chaguaramas+12-2013+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqvsECmMpvg1Pzfqh4MMJyzvb3600Z7p-HzPD4nAa-HkvfJ4a4Unf-qXR9It7iyqbdO5rdCBuuPZ96GrWYwNfU4z4rge_IVZqNnA-XbBhM2rQStw1-whDQqL1FwXA8Pa7LKRQfBzVFp0a/s200/Me+-+Ann+Louise+-+Chaguaramas+12-2013+2.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me on 'Ann Louise' <br />
picture by Bill Miller</td></tr>
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When on the hard Bill runs his generator and engine and flushes all the salt water from the cooling system to minimize corrosion by the salt. This is super worthwhile as it considerably lengthens the life of the heat exchangers and oil coolers. An air conditioner was placed on top of the pilot house roof in one of the two ventilation hatches to provide dry cool air to the boat while just sitting. A couple of fans strategically placed ensures circulation throughout the boat. Lastly a power cord provides current to the battery charger to maintain the batteries which keep the boats services running, refrigerator, freezer, bilge pumps and fans. At Peake Yachting Services they have a small hotel and restaurant complex so those who don’t or cannot stay aboard have accommodation available. Bill & Ann chose this amenity. <br />
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Once ‘Ann Louise’ was in her parking place HT and I walked back to Crews Inn, about a mile and a half walk. Arriving back at ‘Partners’ hot and sweaty, it is still ‘summer’ here with temperatures still approaching the 90°F mark, we went inside and the first thing was to turned on the A/C…oh no! There was a problem, the A/C system relies on water being pumped through the air-conditioning unit and therefore needs a constant supply. When I check the overboard discharges there was little water coming out which indicated that there was a blockage. Unfortunately Chaguaramas harbour suffers from floating and submerged garbage which flows in and out with the tide. Obviously one of the plastic bags, which we see frequently, must have been sucked into the through hull restricting the water flow. Immediately I called Rodney McLean, our diver. Rodney was miles away, ironically having his car A/C fixed, he couldn’t come until tomorrow…okay, so we came to terms with no A/C and as an alternative decided to go for a swim instead. The swim did the trick and cooled us down. Right around 4 o’clock Bill and Ann arrived, we had invited them over once they had finished all the necessary chores on ‘Ann Louise’, so we all enjoyed a cold beer and a snack to finish off the afternoon. A good day… <br />
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Sunday 8th. HT plays Mexican Train Domino’s and Sunday is the day. At 1 o’clock she leaves for the weekly gathering of the cruiser who indulge. While the domino’s goes on I get a little time alone to watch the Sunday afternoon American Football game. Yesterday was the first weekend of the season that there has been a televised game while it was snowing. A stark reminder of where we are, still applying the sun screen in 90° weather and swimming in 84° water! This is our first year where we will have completely missed a winter of any kind. People think that living in Florida, as we both have done for over 30 years, that we don’t experience a winter. Well, we don’t in the sense of getting snow but we have had frost and usually do get a couple of cold snaps each year. Down here in the southern Caribbean summer is relentless and the humidity, although a little less now, never goes away. The Earth’s rotation will put the sun over the Tropic of Capricorn on the 21st December, the Southern Hemisphere’s mid-summer, and then will begin a slow return to being over the equator by March 21st. It will be overhead here in Trinidad on May 1st over the Tropic of Cancer June 21st and again over Trinidad on Aug 10th as it again completes its seasonal cycle returning to being directly over the Equator on September 21st. Anywhere between the two ‘tropics’, Cancer and Capricorn, have the sun directly overhead twice per year. The Caribbean enjoys constant summer with only a slight change in pressure gradients which bring the stronger winter Trade winds that the sailors look forward to and calmer summer doldrums which more suit us trawler types. Temperatures vary, both day and night, by only 4 – 5 degrees year round. <br />
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Bill & Ann flew out to Atlanta and their home in Roswell today (Dec. 9th). They returned to some cold bleak weather unfortunately, something none of us cruisers in the Caribbean are used to anymore. We made reservations for the evening of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parang">Parang</a> at the Wheelhouse Pub on Thursday which will mark the beginning of the Christmas season here in Trinidad. Following, here in Chaguaramas, will be a charity auction and BBQ put on by the cruising community for the poor and less fortunate, which will be on Friday. Then there are several more events leading into the week of Christmas. Trinidad celebrates the Holidays in a big way with most businesses closing down on the 20th and not re-opening until the 6th January. I think we can look forward to plenty of music, steel band and the like, between now and the New Year. Trinidadians or Trini’s turn to celebration and music easily, they are happy people by nature, they are very polite and need little excuse to dress up. Carnival is coming and it seems to me that The Christmas Holidays are a warm-up to Carnival which peeks in February. Here are some of the costumes to look forward to during Carnival time…we won’t be here!<br />
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Chris, our Watermaker service guy here in Trinidad, is coming today as we are going to change all the watermaker clear plastic hoses. Over the years, with standing water remaining in the lines, they have turned black inside! HT is adverse toward this and feels that ‘black’ mean bacteria so ‘new’ is the answer. There are about 40’ of hoses that carry the water from the membrane to the water tanks. When I looked at doing the job myself I decided that the contortions I would have to perform and the fact that the hoses disappeared into ‘dark’ holes and didn’t seem to immerge again worried me and therefore I decided Chris, the expert, would be the right choice. He said the job wouldn’t take more than an hour or two so we will see; he’ll be here in an hour! Chris was right! The hoses were all changed to a stronger reinforced type of hose and in less than two hours…total cost US$96 including all materials! HT is happy. <br />
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Monday next sees the carpenter on-board ‘Partners’ to prepare the battery boxes for the five new Lifeline batteries which will be arriving next Wednesday from Florida. Dennis from Goodwood Marine is going to install the new Victron 3000kw inverter and its control panel, plus he will be rigging up a switch to enable the older Xantrex, we have, to remain as a redundant spare. If all goes well we should have a new inverter/charger/battery system in place by Friday the 20th. The Victron inverter/charger and control panel was purchased using Marine Warehouse as the local supplier Caribbean Marine wanted to charge US$800 more for the hardware. <br />
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Chris Parker, our weather forecaster, is telling us that there is a possibility of a slight reduction in the Trade winds beginning on the 23rd which will give us calmer seas and enable us to cruise north up to Grenada in a little less discomfort arriving Christmas Eve and in time to spend the Christmas Holidays there. We are ready to get back to cruising and swinging on our anchor in the beautiful clear blue waters. I am picturing our dinghy in the water swinging at the stern of ‘Partners’ ready to take us, once again, on missions of exploration and to take us to idyllic swimming and snorkelling sights…can’t wait. In case some of you are wondering, the weather at this time of year at these latitudes is middle to high 80°s (31°C), even 90° occasionally, during the day and mid to high 70°s(26°C) at night. The water temperature is in the low 80°s (28°C). In other words we can wear our bathing suits from morn until night and never have to worry about being cold! In fact we jump off the swimming platform several times a day to cool off! <br />
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Some of you who read this drivel may identify with this account:- <br />
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Yes, it is that time of the year and yes, today is the day. The day I have been waiting for now for almost a year! It is the day we put up the Christmas tree and lights! Oh! You are thinking I look forward to that day too… First we couldn’t remember where the little boat sized Christmas tree was stowed, eventually after eliminating several other ‘hiding’ places we found the stash, on the starboard side of the flying bridge in the cowling locker. First, I realized that whomever placed the black garbage bag containing the tree in the locker did it in such a way that getting it out was prohibited, as all the branches now were acting as barbs! Eventually after much wiggling and reaching in, with one’s arm completely disappearing in the hole, the bag immerged. Wonderful! It contained the lights too! Ever since we decided that today was that day I have been visualizing the lights…probably mysteriously, during their almost 12 months of dormancy, several of the bulbs will have ‘gone’ thus rendering large parts of the strings to be ‘dark’. Oh and the other picture in my head is of this perfect ball of lights or should I say knot of lights. You all know, right, you carefully coil the light strings thinking you will get it right this year and make the roll which next year will be easy to unroll…wrong, it never happens. True to form this year was like all others, bulbs blown and the perfect balls of knotted lights! Lavinia did a beautiful job inside ‘Partners’ and the wreaths, old cards and Christmassy trinkets’ placed all over the boat, I mean every cabin, made for a festive aura to permeate throughout. The Christmas spirit had arrived! Wait a minute! Don’t get lulled into this festive wonderland yet, the lights haven’t come into play! In addition to interior decorations the exterior of ‘Partners’ needs her Christmas dressing. Lavinia started with gentle suggestions of how ‘we’ should arrange the lights but pretty quickly into the conversational banter Lavinia’s suggestion seem to change and the suggestion quickly turned to orders! Guys do not misunderstand your spouses ‘suggestions’ they are carved in stone and are not really negotiable! The orders are to run strings of twinkling lights around the whole flying bridge deck. Now folks remember this is not one of those cool frosty mornings with clear skies and ‘huff’ emerging with every breath, this is Chaguaramas, Trinidad where winter doesn’t exist and the temperatures have reached 88 -90°F ten out of the last fourteen days, its hot! With tie wraps in hand and Polaroid’s on up we went, the first chore to untangle the ‘balls’ and do it in such a way as not to damage any more bulbs. Stress has already set in and the Polaroid’s have already captured beads of dripping perspiration obscuring clear vision…there is no point in using ones T-shirt to wipe them as it too is laden with sweat. Soldier on fellow, get the show on the road, show her you are the man she wants you to be and not the man you have changed into over the years of marriage the two of you have endured; don’t be a ‘Grinch’, smile and impress her with your fortitude and endurance. We, together, gradually worked our way around the perimeter tie wrapping the lights to the rail and finally an hour later the job was almost complete when it was realized that we would need an extension cord. Guess what? Extension cords are stowed in the largest locker and are the farthest back and at the bottom of same…gradually I removed all the items obscuring the route to the indispensable prize, 25 minutes later I immerged, now so wet with sweat that if someone grabbed me I would be like a bar of soap and slip right through their hands. Back up top I went but without Lavinia, she had been overcome with heat and had retreated to the comfort of the air-conditioning and a nice cool drink! I finished off and made the last few adjustments and the job was finished. I climbed down the stairs to the aft deck and began to enter the salon “Stop! Don’t come in here dripping sweat all over the carpet”. “Okay”, I said. I thought about this situation for a moment, I mean a nanosecond. I wanted to get out of my dripping sweaty T-shirt and pants, get my swimming shorts on, grab a beer and go to the pool so I could cool off. I mean I was consumed with this necessity nothing was going to stop me! “Can you pass me a beer please?” “What, at this time”. It was 11:30. “Yes, I want a beer and I don’t care what time it is, I want it!” I made a dash for the bathroom quickly donned my swimming shorts, grabbed a towel and the beer, I was ready. “I’ll come with you, can you give me a minute?” What, I am thinking, now I have to wait while HT gets ready and she is nice and dry, comfortable and relaxed after her retreat to the air-conditioning some 20 minutes earlier! I waited! <br />
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I really love Christmas, all us men do, but I for one and some of you too, if you are honest, do not like the ‘putting up of the lights job’, am I right?<br />
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Enough of this frivolity… (December 21st) the inverter and five new batteries are in. We are off to the fuel dock tomorrow to fill up and should be shipshape for our passage to Grenada Monday or Tuesday. I say Monday or Tuesday as we are waiting for a final weather forecast on the sea state to make the decision. With the recent strong Trade Winds the sea swells have been in the 10’ range with an additional 4’ – 6’ of wind chop on top! There is now a moderation in the wind so we are waiting for the swells to drop down to 6’ so we don’t have quite such <br />
an uncomfortable ride. As of today it looks like Christmas Eve will be the time we will leave giving us an overnight passage and an arrival in Prickly Bay on Christmas morning. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mou9vBxu-zii4V1CrH32JgiL2TnZIzxqXYf-0ViOwhUAtWwpL2IUP4FQFf2ntX5jxUZNf6_NGJzrD0cVFYD1k3NwpjOrHZIxqAu0QYiN1SZhoGBwOzQ5GtSEs7eui5TxO0zRqsqlh9zB/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6mou9vBxu-zii4V1CrH32JgiL2TnZIzxqXYf-0ViOwhUAtWwpL2IUP4FQFf2ntX5jxUZNf6_NGJzrD0cVFYD1k3NwpjOrHZIxqAu0QYiN1SZhoGBwOzQ5GtSEs7eui5TxO0zRqsqlh9zB/s200/DSC_0001+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bocas (Dragons Teeth)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3TwFU1WI_Hcp40cH4WZPyAcoUXKNzeeTdpezLlEvKIIJalY-3DgK7Ph8lJ6wZl7iJt5NZ_1owfavsWvU5X302WpzBIMDG75QktnPBWyz19hzHFp5CCdtW_fscMqTUqP5AfFs7ugrbHm/s1600/DSC_0007+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQe3TwFU1WI_Hcp40cH4WZPyAcoUXKNzeeTdpezLlEvKIIJalY-3DgK7Ph8lJ6wZl7iJt5NZ_1owfavsWvU5X302WpzBIMDG75QktnPBWyz19hzHFp5CCdtW_fscMqTUqP5AfFs7ugrbHm/s200/DSC_0007+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye Venezuela too!</td></tr>
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We have put in our order for some duty free liquor and wine, always a good thing! We have said our goodbyes to the great crowd of cruisers and ‘locals’ here in Trini, we have had a great time here, good work performed, and will return. Our apprehension about visiting initially due to the publicized crime statistics, in particular the murder rate, passed quickly as we saw that there is very good security on the Chaguaramas peninsular and particularly in the Crews Inn complex. The crime seems to be close to or around Port of Spain and is among gang related activities, in particular drugs. We felt free to walk the area without concern. While we have been here there was one pirate attack off the Paria Peninsular of Venezuela where a sailing boat bound for Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela was boarded in broad daylight and robbed at gunpoint. Although roughed up and pistol whipped the crew of two survived and were able to return to Trinidad. We have concern with our upcoming trip to Grenada as when we leave the Boca’s of Trinidad we will, for a while, be in waters only 6 miles from the Paria Peninsula. We are considering hugging the northern coast of Trinidad heading in an easterly direction until we feel we have put sufficient distance between us and Venezuela. There are two large gas wells just off the coast of Trinidad, the Hibiscus and the Poinsettia wells. Poinsettia is the most easterly of the two and we think we will go far enough east to clear it as we turn north towards Grenada. We’ll see. <br />
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To close HT and I wish all of you who read this blog a Merry Christmas, a healthy and Happy New Year…<br />
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Goodbye, for this season Trinidad…Hello Grenada!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P2Gzc1CLQZsnJl9_j8DUKZCc-xqRN8tLdVmT3478Sa0Eno9ovp2I1U8F-5FpeMbuSE_xPr83VPIRuws8EMYMvZM1DoHseru7zsrpY-6HnbiRQWuFb_r42xqkSsBCKtZmopgpvsx9x84N/s1600/DSC_0010+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5P2Gzc1CLQZsnJl9_j8DUKZCc-xqRN8tLdVmT3478Sa0Eno9ovp2I1U8F-5FpeMbuSE_xPr83VPIRuws8EMYMvZM1DoHseru7zsrpY-6HnbiRQWuFb_r42xqkSsBCKtZmopgpvsx9x84N/s200/DSC_0010+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise as we enter Prickly Bay, Grenada</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYinzuf4W-_GIu7wK103fS7SgMXz0W2qdZLexgifhT0kRNWUUyj3Ko3lR7L0eIx1OO6JZ2x-kIbuz7vZagCRJf0IGkjxeye-i9YiNO_xwPJUWvNh1wbvuk8lvss8aa_-rjcwCRSPBy_MKe/s1600/DSC_0008+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYinzuf4W-_GIu7wK103fS7SgMXz0W2qdZLexgifhT0kRNWUUyj3Ko3lR7L0eIx1OO6JZ2x-kIbuz7vZagCRJf0IGkjxeye-i9YiNO_xwPJUWvNh1wbvuk8lvss8aa_-rjcwCRSPBy_MKe/s200/DSC_0008+2.jpg" height="130" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prickly Bay</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<small>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></small></span></span></span><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></small><br />
<small><br />
</small>Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-36869602621654673312013-11-26T21:58:00.003-05:002013-11-27T06:14:42.521-05:00More from Chaguaramas<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">November 26<sup>th</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 10° 40.733’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61°
37.937’ W<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Chaguaramas, Trinidad</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=10.678827,-61.632255&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=10.678938,-61.632405&spn=0.005915,0.008926&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=10.678827,-61.632255&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=10.678938,-61.632405&spn=0.005915,0.008926&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGlhfBHP4XNDlMio4AMYiuShK4d4jDmcR_plBlSqaCJbxYzToTOklcQ6H00euIOmHGQM-BI6QhWTK6ECIgoiAE7Aawy1GrUJtEud6gNMNlePUuGbvVzAzamcWo6ehKimewsJMvuJDcM9u/s1600/Victron+3000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFGlhfBHP4XNDlMio4AMYiuShK4d4jDmcR_plBlSqaCJbxYzToTOklcQ6H00euIOmHGQM-BI6QhWTK6ECIgoiAE7Aawy1GrUJtEud6gNMNlePUuGbvVzAzamcWo6ehKimewsJMvuJDcM9u/s320/Victron+3000.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victron 3000</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span></small><br />
<small>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello again from Chaguaramas, yes
we are still here! Although impalpable it looks like our upgrades to the
electrical system on board ‘Partners’ is again going to eat into our cruising
time. Let me explain the techno here. After arriving last Tuesday Nov. 19</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">
from Charlotteville, Tobago I consulted Dennis Moseley from Goodwood Marine
here at Crews Inn Marina, Dennis in turn seconded Brian Sellers from Caribbean
Marine to consult with me as to the solutions for my electrical problems. It
came as no surprise to us that the problem was not, as usual, simple. Problem
number one was the inverter, our Freedom 20 Xantrex, which was getting old and
had been repaired once before while we were at Sopers Hole on Tortola, BVI.
Problem number two we knew from a year ago, the Delta gel filled batteries we
had on board ‘Partners’ when we bought her, where at the end of their lives. A
combination of these two things was causing the Xantrex Inverter/Charger to
work too hard for too long and had overheated the charger and ‘cooked’ the fan.
</span></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MFTuUhaYmaB5Zhg7RaWUqqV8sdoiNSZTAF38vijWQR9HdWfAzHAXRBzW0JbemYfY3Sqq8y_M6sjOrWlFahFhD_DZNoB6vE5Z4I9qRPkaw4spYiHofOAOjNPiQWxjkH-EknUZW4BNEYUb/s1600/Victron+Controller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MFTuUhaYmaB5Zhg7RaWUqqV8sdoiNSZTAF38vijWQR9HdWfAzHAXRBzW0JbemYfY3Sqq8y_M6sjOrWlFahFhD_DZNoB6vE5Z4I9qRPkaw4spYiHofOAOjNPiQWxjkH-EknUZW4BNEYUb/s320/Victron+Controller.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inverter/Charger control panel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The engine room is a very hot environment with an average temperature of
110°F/43°C and the inverter requires a fan, which is temperature controlled, to
keep it at a temperature where it can function. Due to the battery condition
they were taking three times as long as they should to charge and obviously
were putting way too much work load on the charger. It didn’t take long for
Dennis to give us his diagnosis…”the batteries are shot”. The five 8D batteries
we have provide two banks of batteries, one bank, with two batteries, for main
engine starting and to provide power for the bow thruster, another bank with
three batteries supplies power for the house services. Our house bank provides
600 amp hours of which a maximum of 300 (50%) are usable. Our boat is an amp
hog and consumes 20 amps per hour. All these factors considered one needs
enough amp capacity and enough charging power to avoid having to be tethered to
the boat for hours at a time while the generator replenishes the negative amp
drain. In our case initially we were tethered to the boat, as I put it, for 8
hours a day, four in the early morning after the night’s amp usage and again in
the evening to replenish the day’s amp drain and prepare for getting through
the night again. Some of you readers are probably saying what draws all the
amps at night? Well, the refrigerator and freezer, as on most boats, are the
big amp hogs and they run 24/7 so day or night they don’t discriminate! For the
first partial solution we installed 430 watts of solar panels which have really
help us and freed up 2 – 3 hours of generator time per day, this too even with
the batteries being at the end of their lives. What we plan now is 5 new
Lifeline 8D batteries of 255 amp hours each. What we will do is also eliminate
the two banks of batteries and combine them. This will give us a total of 1,275
amps (each of the Lifelines is 255 amps) and with the help of a Victron Cyrix Battery Combiner, </span></span></span></small><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmEIklc5ACTxpgo5lO87N4X_6D7VwYeK5wmaAdW0rpaiB1ZSMMjqtrx4lXCITQBmaopl3iYEVNomJX58PkijyghrR6Qq8FRPRPYg51DCke64eNMbpUocz1kIT29lRlL7JcAYhMMP9uOO0/s1600/Cyrix+controller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmEIklc5ACTxpgo5lO87N4X_6D7VwYeK5wmaAdW0rpaiB1ZSMMjqtrx4lXCITQBmaopl3iYEVNomJX58PkijyghrR6Qq8FRPRPYg51DCke64eNMbpUocz1kIT29lRlL7JcAYhMMP9uOO0/s200/Cyrix+controller.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></small></div>
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">which isolates one of them when the
voltage has reduced to 12.7 volts, resulting in always giving us enough power
to start the main engine. Brian from Caribbean thinks that we can install all 5
8D’s on the port side of ‘Partners’ which is fine and will help with our
listing tendency to starboard. It will also free up some space on the starboard
side for storage. The Victron inverter/charger will be give us the opportunity
in the future to ‘stack’ another Victron inverter thus increasing our inverting
capabilities and the battery charging. Another feature of the Victron is that
it can assist either the shore power or the generator with excessive start-up
loads by using inverted power from the batteries. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have just heard some bad news; the shipment of the batteries from
Miami, FL is delayed due to the ship leaving later than originally thought, the
culprit the Thanksgiving Day holiday, all this means that the batteries will
unlikely be available before the 18<sup>th</sup> or 19<sup>th</sup> of
December. The two firms I am involved with here both close down for the
Christmas Holidays on the 20<sup>th</sup> December and don’t re-open until the
6<sup>th</sup> January! I spoke to them to see what they could do to help me.
Brian and his crew are going to prepare ‘Partners’ engine room to receive the
batteries and inverter/charger ahead of time and they promise to try and get
the installation complete by the 20<sup>th</sup>! This is the islands Mon and
Trini in particular so I am not holding my breath. This morning I walked up to
the Marina office to see if they could extend my stay through to the middle of
January just in case, we are currently booked through Dec. 15<sup>th</sup>, the answer was
NO! Trinidad is a really popular place and marina space is always hard to find.
Charmaine, the lady who is trying to help me here at Crews Inn, is going to
work on my request and “see what can be done”. We’re keeping our fingers
crossed.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Barb and Chuck Shipley from ‘Tusen Takk II’, a 48’ Kadey Krogen North
Sea, have been here in Chaguaramas and along with Bill and Ann Miller on ‘Ann
Louise’ another 48’ have been able to get together for a mini Krogen
convention. During the get-togethers we talk, guess what? Yep, boats and
boating of course! During one of these conversations we were talking about
solar panels and I re-told our story of fitting the two 215 watt Kyoceras on
top of our pilot house roof. Barb and Chuck wanted to do a similar installation
and were considering doing it while they were in Trinidad this year. I
mentioned Alan Reynolds who is now a friend and had done our installation up in
Carriacou. Alan is now back in Grenada working full time for a while for one of
the local firms. I suggested that if Chuck and Barb could cruise up to Grenada
they may be able to enlist Alan’s help with their project. Chuck and Barb
inspected our installation and liked what they saw so a few emails and phone
calls later Chuck and Barb had decided to employ Alan to do their installation. </span></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IUjsosgumD7tz9fmSai-hQwGzOHauCl73WGucYgTBx87MDlyyYs2YklfjLp90PWIPvMhc4T42H29UuzFkLBtuYycv4-pNUEpVUdFqEju8OnFKijbFBiw9LJcLgHSihdh_m90tuzGZGSA/s1600/Tusen+Takk+II+solar+panels+11-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2IUjsosgumD7tz9fmSai-hQwGzOHauCl73WGucYgTBx87MDlyyYs2YklfjLp90PWIPvMhc4T42H29UuzFkLBtuYycv4-pNUEpVUdFqEju8OnFKijbFBiw9LJcLgHSihdh_m90tuzGZGSA/s200/Tusen+Takk+II+solar+panels+11-13.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tusen Takk II's solar panels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Today is Nov 25<sup>th</sup> and I have just heard from Barb that they are now
in Tyrrel Bay, one of our favourite places, with their three 145 Watt panel
successfully installed and working! The news was accompanied by a glowing
report of satisfaction for Alan. Bravo Alan and thank you for taking such good
care of our friends! I love it when a referral works out for everyone.</span></span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKIMmlxO9tq9AoWdhKV3HGhC7h_EegewZ3FRS6enpr31YNsAKz2A5oYA0DR0FrmqJDfgzpOoHQ_32bQtv6HcNnoYr-37dTtvJpYTED4jhE09yYLIjn0XRTl6BaU5AA1RHp9ObVQBLrPd/s1600/DSC_0004+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGKIMmlxO9tq9AoWdhKV3HGhC7h_EegewZ3FRS6enpr31YNsAKz2A5oYA0DR0FrmqJDfgzpOoHQ_32bQtv6HcNnoYr-37dTtvJpYTED4jhE09yYLIjn0XRTl6BaU5AA1RHp9ObVQBLrPd/s200/DSC_0004+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Louise coming into Crews Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtszUcf7fc0JYM1dXUP_jcOWCBgkAYQp5z9_2WnpGMsoHKDIGXKgvCAvrJkwXKmfsSxzo2Iv63NylHAKtFjNlGuW8toyTChrmLm_CqNW1R7XTFoEh4Sl_XPqFf1SDlp9Ww1KkRHhNNBaG/s1600/DSC_0009+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtszUcf7fc0JYM1dXUP_jcOWCBgkAYQp5z9_2WnpGMsoHKDIGXKgvCAvrJkwXKmfsSxzo2Iv63NylHAKtFjNlGuW8toyTChrmLm_CqNW1R7XTFoEh4Sl_XPqFf1SDlp9Ww1KkRHhNNBaG/s200/DSC_0009+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann Louise, Chaguaramas, Trinidad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Nov.
26<sup>th</sup> Bill and Ann arrived in the marina today back from Tobago with
‘Ann Louise’. We have made a plan to spend Thanksgiving together on board
‘Partners’ which will be wonderful, Lavinia couldn’t imagine not cooking a
turkey with all the trimmings to share! Ann is making the pumpkin pie and Bill is bringing some champagne! We will have a feast and as usual eat and drink too much, watch the football game and fall asleep I expect! We’re looking forward to a super day. HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone! </span></span></small><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-65096742457770199662013-11-21T10:25:00.003-05:002013-12-14T04:05:31.252-05:00Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">November 21<sup>th</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Position 10° 40.737’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 37.939’
W</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB">Chaguaramas, Trinidad</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=10.678829,-61.632255&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=10.678743,-61.631933&spn=0.005915,0.008926&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=10.678829,-61.632255&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=10.678743,-61.631933&spn=0.005915,0.008926&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMbIQ5FrWewJM1T-Xtv7-dVLKRzgfshKtxhmQD4tv88dkEylqn7fA0pVh0uhLQJdK_7gXJ4f-4iPBczDXt5r_xMDKB1ZmSnpUYhi11qB8qMlSHqYT9MvQyZTduEVCqgYzTmMxDpDJOj3D/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMbIQ5FrWewJM1T-Xtv7-dVLKRzgfshKtxhmQD4tv88dkEylqn7fA0pVh0uhLQJdK_7gXJ4f-4iPBczDXt5r_xMDKB1ZmSnpUYhi11qB8qMlSHqYT9MvQyZTduEVCqgYzTmMxDpDJOj3D/s200/DSC_0003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our good friends, John & Carol</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well, hello everyone, we are
back...Our trip to Florida was terrific and enabled us to see so many people.
John & Carol, thank you, your hospitality was so generous and without you
opening up you home to us the trip would not have been as comfortable or
affordable, we are in your debt. When we arrived in Miami we immediately drove
to Georgina’s apartment in the heart of downtown Miami and a big hug ensued. As
I have said before cruising is the best but I still miss being able to see my
children. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7voaQzeyHoVoZrBeUnkLH9-On44-WYRAwUcxEI6xcfuXVoOa5bMLSY1FplfuF8aJJ_0S7rUlKzg8hmuHIrTUWhakMl4Qxv2SsHblNNXqHs0eEKQl4_lRjelSjhlw3c8BRiHF9KFG_aekU/s1600/Georgie+&+David+9-8-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7voaQzeyHoVoZrBeUnkLH9-On44-WYRAwUcxEI6xcfuXVoOa5bMLSY1FplfuF8aJJ_0S7rUlKzg8hmuHIrTUWhakMl4Qxv2SsHblNNXqHs0eEKQl4_lRjelSjhlw3c8BRiHF9KFG_aekU/s200/Georgie+&+David+9-8-12.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Georgina & David</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
We spent a couple of days in Miami and had a fun day visiting the Ft.
Lauderdale Boat Show on opening day; we spent all the time there with the
Krogen brigade talking about our trip and plans for the future. We spoke too
with a couple just about to close on a 39’; their enthusiasm to ‘get started’
reminded HT and me of when we began, they have no idea of the wonders they have in store! The feeling of getting ready to cruise
is so exciting, they, like us when we bought ‘Partners’, are still working and
will cruise locally getting some miles under their keel and getting their feet
wet, not literally I hope! If you are a cruising boat owner candidate talk to
Kadey Krogen you will find them understanding helpful people, the ones you will
need as support when it is your time to venture out into the unknown. The boats
too are the most seaworthy and liveable trawlers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwBi4MWDTeWWIwqSMlFYO-F0he9ueEpKA54oEn8xnwd2WQvOPI2SA0rRZL32CU-zQ6CXdUboRVilnqnQgwe2PVXLFaV5G0pv3rPNUtYUbzwPdfsVs8qa6NTVjEgBIqVXG2lA6f2ULcChq/s1600/DSC_0015+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwBi4MWDTeWWIwqSMlFYO-F0he9ueEpKA54oEn8xnwd2WQvOPI2SA0rRZL32CU-zQ6CXdUboRVilnqnQgwe2PVXLFaV5G0pv3rPNUtYUbzwPdfsVs8qa6NTVjEgBIqVXG2lA6f2ULcChq/s200/DSC_0015+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset shortly after leaving Trini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcbVFGomyoc_BRcnl7CP6mKyIot5knSs8FOJzzs9hFyoIgJnn6YgWJ0xky61VMXjkLoMBt5Xa_wwPwTZxKypOnCVbKZYG4nTQPUAiz_76uysa9PSskeuioB5jgIzW76L4VuXj5GZ9UHDm/s1600/DSC_0014+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcbVFGomyoc_BRcnl7CP6mKyIot5knSs8FOJzzs9hFyoIgJnn6YgWJ0xky61VMXjkLoMBt5Xa_wwPwTZxKypOnCVbKZYG4nTQPUAiz_76uysa9PSskeuioB5jgIzW76L4VuXj5GZ9UHDm/s200/DSC_0014+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a 'green flash'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once in Sarasota and having
settled in at Carol and FOJ’s we made several phone calls to arrange to see
friends and family, so many people to see in such a short time. The main
purpose of the visit was to attend to annual medical check-ups and obtain a
clean bill of health for the coming year all of which we actually accomplished,
yes!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our nomadic free lives as
cruisers is just the best, having become used to all the rules and regulations
which one is exposed to as a member of society on land it could be hard for
some to adjust to having to run their own lives and make all their own
decisions. This thought crossed my mind whilst visiting Florida. We have truly
become our own ‘men’, we run our own lives, make all our own decisions and have
minimal rules and regulations to abide by...could you handle that? Seriously
though, it is a question which someone dreaming about adopting this lifestyle
has to address. The thought even worried me as my thoughts turned to when our
cruising days are over and I have to re-adjust to a ‘dirt’ based life I might
actually find it difficult...I know I won’t like it! Just sitting in a marina
here in Chaguaramas waiting out the hurricane season for a couple of months,
with TV, air-conditioning and no worry of dragging the anchor, even a daily
newspaper, is scary as it has reminded us of all the things a lifestyle on land
can provide and force one to ‘drift’ into. Such a waste of time! Could you cope
with freedom and self sufficiency? Oh! By the way you won’t miss a single one
of those treasures you think is so hard to part with, and all that ‘stuff’ you
accumulated over a lifetime won’t be missed either. We went nearly nine months
without TV, can you imagine that? It was wonderful…we missed so much crappy,
depressing useless ‘news’, thank goodness, which otherwise interferes with and
messes up a perfectly good day! You will really feel free! Another tip to those
seriously thinking of taking up the cruising lifestyle, get a decent camera and
learn how to use it because the memories the pictures will provide are going to
be your most treasured possessions! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We enjoyed seeing some of our
friends, unfortunately we didn’t manage to see everyone we wanted to but
enjoyed the time with the ones we did manage to see. We saw four of our
children Jennifer, Lavinia III, Christopher and Georgina, Bryony in Norway we
hope to see next year when she comes to Florida for a visit with our three
grandchildren; we plan to celebrate the Easter Holiday together in Miami, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">we hope</i>? We didn’t see Anthony, my
eldest son but as you all know he has just returned from Trinidad to his home
in Jacksonville after a vacation with us onboard ‘Partners’.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTt5GAO5wuX55eZHL2TnD9rq-aEGWL2-XLnHqYZAEmiAtCRdFuWNiZ0FHuknHD-3301_05tq0LZOXaPD3sxPfI8evDIgxvcohjeEsKyYk5OT9SwdUMmrx-7xw_IH2Oxs9_e2M2INqbWvW/s1600/DSC_0012+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTt5GAO5wuX55eZHL2TnD9rq-aEGWL2-XLnHqYZAEmiAtCRdFuWNiZ0FHuknHD-3301_05tq0LZOXaPD3sxPfI8evDIgxvcohjeEsKyYk5OT9SwdUMmrx-7xw_IH2Oxs9_e2M2INqbWvW/s200/DSC_0012+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm Trees at the base of the rain forest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIsEAwPJM6eZMdDtay5jXVpV0TzLtkhRsH4wwvzJIuYlAhjJMnhc3MPIySGVa8lVKITxxe_CpAlczbbrSwRCX0nmapJTWCBu2YLmWBBQkWfX3Xdx_X6BS7X07ZAElx26woylAiGG6VW5B/s1600/Splendide-Ariston+Washer+and+Dryer+11-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIsEAwPJM6eZMdDtay5jXVpV0TzLtkhRsH4wwvzJIuYlAhjJMnhc3MPIySGVa8lVKITxxe_CpAlczbbrSwRCX0nmapJTWCBu2YLmWBBQkWfX3Xdx_X6BS7X07ZAElx26woylAiGG6VW5B/s200/Splendide-Ariston+Washer+and+Dryer+11-13.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new Splendide/Ariston <br />
Washer and Dryer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our new washing machine and dryer
are now installed and fully operational, Lavinia seems very pleased with them
and as you can see from the picture they look good too! A new heat exchanger,
which we brought back with us from Florida, is fitted to ‘Stonewall Jackson’,
so we are ready to cruise! All the jobs for this year are complete, the
machinery is serviced and we have taken on fuel. The question now is where to
go! We have discussed going to Tobago for many months now but there have been
some developments: - a boat in Bloody Bay, a remote anchorage on the north
coast of Tobago, was boarded and robbed; the incident involved shooting
although no one was shot. These types of violent crime are, unfortunately, part
of life anywhere and we as cruisers do see our share occasionally. The incident
has made us rethink our desire to visit the island as, with the exception of
Store Bay, most of the anchorages are remote which makes it easier for
perpetrators’ to operate. Also the trade winds have returned and are building
slowly towards their ‘Christmas Wind’ strength; most of the Tobago anchorages
are known to be rolly and the later in the year one goes the more roll one has
to endure. Sooo, all things considered and after hearing from our friends Bill
and Ann on ‘Ann Louise’ we have decided to go! They are in Charlotteville and
tell us how beautiful it is and have endorsed that it really is like the
Caribbean was 20 years ago. Passing on a visit to Tobago while we are so close
has turned out to be impossible. Jan and Steve on board Sealacious have sailed to Tobago just a few days ago. Judy from ‘Fairwinds’ also encouraged us to
go, in fact she insisted on it! Thanksgiving, this year, will be spent in
Tobago! Our friends Bill and Ann plan on being there until Dec 5<sup>th</sup>
when they are then returning to Trini to be hauled out while they return to the
US for Christmas. Thanksgiving should be fun and with quite a crowd! We will then cruise to Grenada and begin to plan for a
destination where we can spend Christmas with friends here in the islands, our
first on ‘Partners’.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq86sfiidLtSJfMtHmCwnzUqH4OzpHMcyO13Ncr-jeRb3sVNuLrkyb_4PFFGbakPhKjrboLJC_0N0RbAH9rtbtFb1j1T9YUfz2BEEs-PLUPVU3Pt4enACU_tktBXeQIZ8FKUBea5XQX2i/s1600/DSC_0005+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXq86sfiidLtSJfMtHmCwnzUqH4OzpHMcyO13Ncr-jeRb3sVNuLrkyb_4PFFGbakPhKjrboLJC_0N0RbAH9rtbtFb1j1T9YUfz2BEEs-PLUPVU3Pt4enACU_tktBXeQIZ8FKUBea5XQX2i/s200/DSC_0005+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back at Chaguaramas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlp1pb_ImBPr6PNRmYUlnZUob_yloVVgPyinnDGyPX0dq-wCi4g-9wERwUeWbO3BaYlCdAwjdz59QrLCeCj08mTsJ1V16Q3Z0-rsn-HwOp5qiu6zAXe_PXyHUWiTipK9khbN6oBqqFxt7/s1600/DSC_0008+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlp1pb_ImBPr6PNRmYUlnZUob_yloVVgPyinnDGyPX0dq-wCi4g-9wERwUeWbO3BaYlCdAwjdz59QrLCeCj08mTsJ1V16Q3Z0-rsn-HwOp5qiu6zAXe_PXyHUWiTipK9khbN6oBqqFxt7/s200/DSC_0008+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Coast of Trini just before sunset</td></tr>
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</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Nov. 21<sup>st</sup>.</strong> We left Chaguaramas,
Trinidad last Sunday afternoon and had a wonderful full moon overnight cruise
in benign weather – directly to Charlotteville, Tobago. Upon arrival after
‘checking in’ with customs and immigration, we went for a short walk around the
tiny town during the walk we met 'Squeezy', the local musician who also is a good salesman! He sold us far too many lemons and Grapefruits, we then went back to Partners for breakfast. Unfortunately we quickly discovered
that our inverter/charger was not working, a repeat of a problem we had back in
May in Culebra! For us to be at anchor we must have means to charge our ships
batteries. Charlotteville is remote, with no yacht services, so quickly I
decided we must return to Chaguaramas! So, back to Customs and Immigration to
‘check out’ then off we sailed at 4 pm. Again, fortunately, the passage was
relatively calm…so, in total we traveled 160nm in 2 days with very little sleep and are
stuck back where we started from, awaiting more repairs! We have talked with Dennis
at Goodwood Marine and he is advising us of the options. I will report on the
repairs later on.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCxEZQchD1KTVC0Qn945aidjF7nF3lRuie-odoJXdCclo6ii68VpmHsncLT-Adl8ESVU1s4pMh9RGspMmiUrHJA8rqBThfkHFQp9ZKrbyyNiro_eHN6_TZWR6snNCATDhsHflbcQeRFEu/s1600/DSC_0001+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCxEZQchD1KTVC0Qn945aidjF7nF3lRuie-odoJXdCclo6ii68VpmHsncLT-Adl8ESVU1s4pMh9RGspMmiUrHJA8rqBThfkHFQp9ZKrbyyNiro_eHN6_TZWR6snNCATDhsHflbcQeRFEu/s200/DSC_0001+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Tobago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKg3ayPfQ9vKULBuOyB_bVKp2l_SQedfnzUByVB2WeG-tiP1HRhg-lQGGWfR97fqlXbRhCeYArB-6I_Q5n_UjlaeDTOy3kev3JaR92VFL2xyz2UuJc5eIvC8IHawtjCEDGsH86b1tfSOEe/s1600/Charlotteville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKg3ayPfQ9vKULBuOyB_bVKp2l_SQedfnzUByVB2WeG-tiP1HRhg-lQGGWfR97fqlXbRhCeYArB-6I_Q5n_UjlaeDTOy3kev3JaR92VFL2xyz2UuJc5eIvC8IHawtjCEDGsH86b1tfSOEe/s200/Charlotteville.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotteville, Tobago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-xSzcKQxPVmzL3YG-3sODFZa7UTdffexcHLWlbK4v_oYv838FQcmi9b4Ucmo9SiC1OfEhuUv6cfhXgGvnVQ21X5C2Ol1x9066IVgsWiBG7tgT3BxzXWPM1X7IqtUIHRmRleypfkI7fp-/s1600/DSC_0026+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-xSzcKQxPVmzL3YG-3sODFZa7UTdffexcHLWlbK4v_oYv838FQcmi9b4Ucmo9SiC1OfEhuUv6cfhXgGvnVQ21X5C2Ol1x9066IVgsWiBG7tgT3BxzXWPM1X7IqtUIHRmRleypfkI7fp-/s200/DSC_0026+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving at Charlotteville, Tobago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik80mCBK32xyItfrwQkHQtDt8i85L7JoakVIc8RypAUX_7bTf-VS1VbNN0yJeKRYX7S0n4GAZrUDiOe0vt4MrVi59rHWFIb1v6cZgOZNeNuMWUee6yn-D-QWGKcj2hi-Rlx42tNF1Nm4Dj/s1600/DSC_0024+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik80mCBK32xyItfrwQkHQtDt8i85L7JoakVIc8RypAUX_7bTf-VS1VbNN0yJeKRYX7S0n4GAZrUDiOe0vt4MrVi59rHWFIb1v6cZgOZNeNuMWUee6yn-D-QWGKcj2hi-Rlx42tNF1Nm4Dj/s200/DSC_0024+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The anchorage in Charlotteville</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span> <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Due to this turn of events we
will spend Thanksgiving in Chaguaramas and hope to cruise north into the
Grenadines for Christmas. We wish everyone ashore and afloat a wonderful and peaceful
Thanksgiving.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwiKzi11AfE08PhauMgASN-QKu31wZCZeJFSuBd3vidgwQ8S8A9qHLTUnX0SJoCxwZGjGykk8uu6HxEA63boyHJKmOyfysTHIJtiWLCRzWZNcA2ji2ZFJSWzennrYpexhhIdvigOnKNRq/s1600/DSC_0027+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzwiKzi11AfE08PhauMgASN-QKu31wZCZeJFSuBd3vidgwQ8S8A9qHLTUnX0SJoCxwZGjGykk8uu6HxEA63boyHJKmOyfysTHIJtiWLCRzWZNcA2ji2ZFJSWzennrYpexhhIdvigOnKNRq/s320/DSC_0027+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A blow hole that facinated us - Tobago</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiexs2E9sTaiyJoE4hFaBXbfF4rm8-7psRYCpoc396MmIStovUCk3ulAH_dvmcV50pkHmIub1JL1PtuAdsiNZ3tfze83i4Jrnb-jQCqyajVCYNTY0mwqXCmkKGgEHSJgaxd289mOAX3j9i/s1600/DSC_0031+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiexs2E9sTaiyJoE4hFaBXbfF4rm8-7psRYCpoc396MmIStovUCk3ulAH_dvmcV50pkHmIub1JL1PtuAdsiNZ3tfze83i4Jrnb-jQCqyajVCYNTY0mwqXCmkKGgEHSJgaxd289mOAX3j9i/s320/DSC_0031+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sisters, Tobago - nothing east of these until Africa! 2,550 NM</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-61893302873876792602013-10-05T10:04:00.000-04:002013-10-09T07:30:17.335-04:00Trinidad<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">October 5<sup>th</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 10° 40.749’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 37.899’
W</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Chaguaramas, Trinidad</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nf_H_iy6P5l8mby_V0lFvv1iK5UGZkkeczBOuCBwLtdRx6Eku3Ghy38iCLhuhnQlgVTlBCnzkDeEvV_vxiDCQ7EjK_MQu2y4cPlaYh8NLNuJFp6JEISm_1xvDi-UshhEwvdxIy4Wskju/s1600/Port+of+Spain+panorama.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nf_H_iy6P5l8mby_V0lFvv1iK5UGZkkeczBOuCBwLtdRx6Eku3Ghy38iCLhuhnQlgVTlBCnzkDeEvV_vxiDCQ7EjK_MQu2y4cPlaYh8NLNuJFp6JEISm_1xvDi-UshhEwvdxIy4Wskju/s320/Port+of+Spain+panorama.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port of Spain, Trinidad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is Wednesday 11<sup>th</sup>
September and our friends Bill & Ann Miller are returning to their boat Ann
Louise in Trinidad today! I had mentioned before we have not seen Bill &
Ann since we had to leave them behind in Culebra, Spanish Virgins in order to
seek help with our broken generator, so this was an exciting day! Coincidentally,
it so happened, that Crews Inn Marina, our home here in Chaguaramas, was
holding a Managers cocktail party that evening. Perfect! We contacted Bill
& Ann and suggested they met up with us at 17:30 so we could all go
together, enjoy the cocktail party and then celebrate their return and catch up.
The day was filled with boat chores, laundry, dusting and still putting things
away which we had pulled out from their storage places for Anthony’s visit,
extra pillows, sheets etc., Lavinia did most of this while I spent most of the
day in the ‘holy place’ futzing around polishing fuel, cleaning racors,
changing fuel filters and generally ‘inspecting’. I did find two hose clamps
that had fatigued. All the important hoses attached to the through hull sea
water feeds such as the ones to the engine, generator, water maker and air
conditioning all have double hose clamps for security. Everything else looked
good although I have ordered new mounting brackets for the main engine heat
exchanger and also end gaskets and zincs. The zincs disintegrate and pieces of
them collect in the ends of the heat exchanger which can restrict sea water
flow. In other words I am in preventative maintenance mode getting ready to
cruise again!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The anticipation of this
lifestyle is exciting, just talking about the possibilities of where we can go
next for a visit and to explore pricks the hairs up on the back of one’s neck!
While we were together with Bill & Ann we discussed going to Tobago for a
while, apparently people have told us it is like the Caribbean was 20 years
ago, exciting! Many of our friends are in Tobago now, the ones that we met in
Mayreau and Carriacou and those who don’t have insurance companies that require
them to be below 10° 50’ N for the hurricane season i.e. Trinidad. Some have already
sailed back to Grenada which provides good hurricane protection in the many
clean clear water bays on its south coast. Grenada really is the cruisers
favourite island for the hurricane season. We are looking forward to Tobago and
Grenada and also catching up with cruising friends. You can’t imagine how
exciting it is to cruise into a port, even a remote anchorage, and see a boat
you know. In other words it is not only the travelling to places unknown,
meeting the local people and sampling their culture which is our motivation it
is also all about the great people we meet that make up the cruising community.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We paid our first visit to the
Long Circular Mall and the Malabar Meat Store. Jesse James runs a</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWNtAP7ebPHUWk4dLWe19z0hyphenhyphenJuQEHntHvpX3gP5S22V6_kX5Aj5GuEGB7gg2I35lFdoSnlYx78ZfG6EKpsnyXFed63U47w2X9eSsr6PB0JCoCz4bmHxAryuJlBAQdWcPqBzHgD-CXUck/s1600/long+circular+mall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWNtAP7ebPHUWk4dLWe19z0hyphenhyphenJuQEHntHvpX3gP5S22V6_kX5Aj5GuEGB7gg2I35lFdoSnlYx78ZfG6EKpsnyXFed63U47w2X9eSsr6PB0JCoCz4bmHxAryuJlBAQdWcPqBzHgD-CXUck/s200/long+circular+mall.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzig2489vxMJHEd2geivjCnTN0f3lq75SlAxnUweGwwQ7C7R_te35jt3vNmzDzC0ZDsptuzvVIDdkIoJGRtg0luZJ32Ux22eQC79YUPEIS0sEUZIboRNW_8Kp_ndsoH_Ke8IlScynXh6c/s1600/Movietowne+PofS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzig2489vxMJHEd2geivjCnTN0f3lq75SlAxnUweGwwQ7C7R_te35jt3vNmzDzC0ZDsptuzvVIDdkIoJGRtg0luZJ32Ux22eQC79YUPEIS0sEUZIboRNW_8Kp_ndsoH_Ke8IlScynXh6c/s200/Movietowne+PofS.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very modern Cinema</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK6-GZgvfIYCwOjUclz9fqZf8hyTtqWwyphxN0EGxH5fzX_M7KR6q0JVMVknBTwlV0A_aykdr1WmiG4nM_ufYl8ce5IcSjRdy6nQjZRFwosH3xB7AK3-5tppZpGAppwI3_ew5VNNgVYDG/s1600/800px-POS_Academy_for_the_Performing_Arts_03_2012_0959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK6-GZgvfIYCwOjUclz9fqZf8hyTtqWwyphxN0EGxH5fzX_M7KR6q0JVMVknBTwlV0A_aykdr1WmiG4nM_ufYl8ce5IcSjRdy6nQjZRFwosH3xB7AK3-5tppZpGAppwI3_ew5VNNgVYDG/s320/800px-POS_Academy_for_the_Performing_Arts_03_2012_0959.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Academy for the performing arts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWscsdO8AWamYef5gPjfqelzmEYsLG0yfIQFqk6mG536b0v_yUG1PHibii23ZHVKwc93q_FoDClhsMZO0kLNAUfOi7SGq9v4-WftlI3OBOc-baiFDCcIsMjwqwK90dR41GCyO-6eEK6XMb/s1600/800px-Traffic_jam_Port_of_SpainT&T_03_2012_0989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWscsdO8AWamYef5gPjfqelzmEYsLG0yfIQFqk6mG536b0v_yUG1PHibii23ZHVKwc93q_FoDClhsMZO0kLNAUfOi7SGq9v4-WftlI3OBOc-baiFDCcIsMjwqwK90dR41GCyO-6eEK6XMb/s320/800px-Traffic_jam_Port_of_SpainT&T_03_2012_0989.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traffic jams!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xK7e3x2H7yd9nZNM1FXQ8si7L-zYCR9qa5AYgJI0MPXf5FBQ5y4WtL5-rd_iNWqPqpIK8Pgqj6wmP5uKdy1FW_2qakcAcFI5pY6bPtHJG8jXKhiiXgs8pUoVw0FVhgLri0yKBurPDCMi/s1600/800px-Trinidad_national_museum_2006-23-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xK7e3x2H7yd9nZNM1FXQ8si7L-zYCR9qa5AYgJI0MPXf5FBQ5y4WtL5-rd_iNWqPqpIK8Pgqj6wmP5uKdy1FW_2qakcAcFI5pY6bPtHJG8jXKhiiXgs8pUoVw0FVhgLri0yKBurPDCMi/s320/800px-Trinidad_national_museum_2006-23-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The National Museum of Trinidad & Tobago<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
maxi (the
name for a bus in Trinidad) every Tuesday to this mall which is very big and
contains a True Value grocery store as well as all the shoe, clothes and
electronic stores one would find in any Mall back in the US. We had not eaten
so made our way to the food court for some breakfast. What we noticed was that
the usual fast food restaurants we found in the Falls Mall at West Falls where
we went last week like MacDonald’s and Burger King were absent, instead all the
vendors were local franchises with only one exception, Subway. All the choices
looked good especially the Indian food counters...I can eat Indian food any
time of day. I remember when I was at sea, we had Goan stewards and a mix of Indian
and Pakistani crew so enjoyed their food any time I wanted. Chapatti with ghee
and strawberry jam for tea, yum!
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">September 19<sup>th</sup>. The
past few days has seen many of our sailing boat cruising friends unexpectedly arriving
here in Chaguaramas, ‘Out of Africa’, John & Jo, ‘Sealacious’, Steve &
Jan also Doug & Meyka on ‘Banjo’. Unfortunately ‘Sealacious’ suffered a
breakdown of their transmission and ‘Out of Africa’ accompanied them from
Granada to Trinidad, after their successful sail down, ‘Out of Africa’ towed
them through the Bocas into Chaguaramas harbour. Judy, a friend we met in St.
Kitts, flew in from Tobago where her husband Sherman and their boat ‘Fairwinds’
is anchored. She is here on a visit to see her friend Meyka on ‘Banjo’. With
this many cruisers who know each other all in one place a get-together is
inevitable and sure enough last night John, ‘Out of Africa’ arranged a pot luck
barbeque at Coral Cove marina so we could all get together and have fun. We
took our friends Bill & Ann along to meet everyone and a good time was had
by all. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The latest ‘chat’ is about a flotilla of boats heading further south to
Guyana and Suriname, both these destinations are remote and unexplored; Guyana
in particular is trying hard to encourage yachting in their country and is
promoting the country in the hope cruisers will come. We discussed whether we
should go and decided that this year is a little soon for us. I want to get a
few more miles on our new day tank just to make absolutely sure we have
reliability back in our propulsion system. Guyana and Suriname as I said before
are both extremely remote and both require river transits in strong tidal
conditions. Engine stoppages are not what would be needed here! It seems that
every year there are one or two cruises planned for this trip so we will
consider going next year. In the meantime we are making ready for our cruising
season and replenishing the supplies we will need. Spare engine parts have been
ordered from the US and will arrive in the next ten days which will enable me
to finish the servicing in the ‘Holy Place’ and put us in a ‘go’ state. We are
still exploring the refuelling options open to us including a trip to Venezuela
where diesel is only US 4c per gallon; we could take on 500 gallons there
costing US$20! The FM is not keen! The price to locals in Trinidad is US .91c
per gallon but to visitors is US$4.54! Much black market fuel is available at
the lower price and we will probably get some delivered, everyone seems to get
it without consequence. The saving is too high to overlook. I will write more
on this later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKkSRK3vilH0BbQT5Pnx5GDr171btB3tCgIjst9YnXjZAO5x4o-BA3_NVw-hu_purCD0SBXlZSGrXy1UkRsc5Pvmas0Y1MYAPIKkUhfwQKm7dYb834DIDM2GIDqZAZ8JSnDfrmbLP3GuE/s1600/Asa+Wright+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKkSRK3vilH0BbQT5Pnx5GDr171btB3tCgIjst9YnXjZAO5x4o-BA3_NVw-hu_purCD0SBXlZSGrXy1UkRsc5Pvmas0Y1MYAPIKkUhfwQKm7dYb834DIDM2GIDqZAZ8JSnDfrmbLP3GuE/s200/Asa+Wright+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMlj74fVUpp_DpQrySpGB_OU-N5lx8R4nc_tWOR7iRE87NUqpv95gkbzPvgTytT4qlbtkUlsVCCIfcwYWhnUyq-xCXdkGQCUlGCR2DN-DNj5Fnb1J-vG49xBtCNjVlLNf_a5ykPdegvZk/s1600/Asa+Wright+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMlj74fVUpp_DpQrySpGB_OU-N5lx8R4nc_tWOR7iRE87NUqpv95gkbzPvgTytT4qlbtkUlsVCCIfcwYWhnUyq-xCXdkGQCUlGCR2DN-DNj5Fnb1J-vG49xBtCNjVlLNf_a5ykPdegvZk/s200/Asa+Wright+5.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmyfvOncSf0ISstluqDyrlaFCDVhEV5LcWfFFdrnXpYa9aTrfyPlK7kTKBAkfsZJoNsam9CpTaC0eCcmRTiFk8POl1BgTMA1ejvKBDSE8fIuNajvfdrIOoQpitbH_-alE-69P3ffbaKLs/s1600/Asa+Wright+Scarlet+Ibis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcmyfvOncSf0ISstluqDyrlaFCDVhEV5LcWfFFdrnXpYa9aTrfyPlK7kTKBAkfsZJoNsam9CpTaC0eCcmRTiFk8POl1BgTMA1ejvKBDSE8fIuNajvfdrIOoQpitbH_-alE-69P3ffbaKLs/s200/Asa+Wright+Scarlet+Ibis.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi00G4FXo72kZDpXQ1kKvuHRqm73M8HXxaCQ4N8QEWeYYlokBG9tB_RLs3Rpqw_OIYxl-jMxzmA1LusQBXZyVl9tm8xx1ymQ7EOsYoUa-EkF2Mv_cbZ2RIa_cuJNsffNRj_tASsMjLGyMV/s1600/Asa+Wright+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi00G4FXo72kZDpXQ1kKvuHRqm73M8HXxaCQ4N8QEWeYYlokBG9tB_RLs3Rpqw_OIYxl-jMxzmA1LusQBXZyVl9tm8xx1ymQ7EOsYoUa-EkF2Mv_cbZ2RIa_cuJNsffNRj_tASsMjLGyMV/s200/Asa+Wright+3.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZc62zKHvNyFshm7-8qemRwpk4yq1mTy38er13ue7eYvatBBjABzrlfNzJfApS7X81BQKCh0UsAJuVBbKuC_E_S7Sa-WDqJwosxIrAe5-8jYpMpUIbmcJfa6PCWV4Zwh1pwmW76SGoNNh/s1600/Asa+Wright+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZc62zKHvNyFshm7-8qemRwpk4yq1mTy38er13ue7eYvatBBjABzrlfNzJfApS7X81BQKCh0UsAJuVBbKuC_E_S7Sa-WDqJwosxIrAe5-8jYpMpUIbmcJfa6PCWV4Zwh1pwmW76SGoNNh/s200/Asa+Wright+4.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lavinia, Judy and Meyka went on a
day trip to the Asa Wright Nature Centre, Judy is an avid birdwatcher and
Trinidad is a unique place for seeing a huge variety of birds and other flora
and fauna. The Asa Wright Centre was created over 38 years ago and has received
much acclaim since. Please take a moment and check the link here you will be
fascinated...</span><span lang="EN-GB"> <a href="http://asawright.org/about-the-centre/"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">http://asawright.org/about-the-centre/</span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> there is a lodge where one can stay and it
is our plan to spend two or three days here next year when we return for
hurricane season. It is US$150 per night per person which includes
accommodations in a beautiful room with three meals a day and tea in the
afternoon served on the terrace which overlooks the jungle and rain forest.
Doesn’t that sound relaxing and civilized? Credit for the bird pictures published
here goes to Judy Sundin the Birder of the group!</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UATG6AoLxQfRkJcZuX9nIOqhtDsiYV3b3YhtduBaeml_dvnfBbTgEjJ9VVDjaR2-FvLYCZKgOq_WwQMGzhTL2XTAiF-8H9dHEmVL08iNVNQfuP8MzF1PeQu0XAYgSDUckKdHlTQ8TamO/s1600/DSC_0009+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UATG6AoLxQfRkJcZuX9nIOqhtDsiYV3b3YhtduBaeml_dvnfBbTgEjJ9VVDjaR2-FvLYCZKgOq_WwQMGzhTL2XTAiF-8H9dHEmVL08iNVNQfuP8MzF1PeQu0XAYgSDUckKdHlTQ8TamO/s200/DSC_0009+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our aft deck view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yesterday Sept. 20<sup>th </sup>we
spent most of the day in the engine room </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">replacing the sound proofing material
on our generator sound shield box. Back in Carriacou Jim from ‘Sweet Chariot’
had given us some insulation material which we glued in the panels which did
cut down the noise considerably but not to the level proper sound proofing
material does. Anyway, Budget Marine, here in Chaguaramas, happened to have
proper sheets of sound proofing material so we bought two. It is not a
difficult job; just a time consuming one and the removal of the old insulation
material was the hardest part. Let me tell you, the 3M aerosol spray on glue
works! Once off we cut all the pieces we needed for the panels and began to
glue them on. It took four hours in the end which for us now is considered a
full day’s work! The rest of the day, after clean-up, and a long cool shower
was spent watching the Americas Cup racing on the television, having cocktails
at 5 o’clock and then enjoying a lovely dinner al fresco under candle light on
the ‘back porch’. Our aft deck is facing the coffee shop and restaurant complex
here in Crews Inn so we have ‘life’ to watch across the marina canal as we
relax.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A word on the difference between
sub-tropical and a true tropical climate...the temperatures in the summer time
are pretty much the same but the climate here is equatorial and hardly has any
change, there is a wet and dry season however. When the sun is out one really
feels the power, the feeling of burning is ever present and is apparent immediately
one becomes exposed; the humidity is thicker and it is easy to see how the pace
of movement must be slowed to avoid exhaustion. Frequent submersion is a daily
requisite and enables a revival to continue activities. We are lucky as
cruisers to be able to take a cool refreshing dip right off the back of our
boats. One becomes used to the constant presence of sweat, yes, stickiness is
your companion and quickly you realize that the dress code that you planned for
when you packed your suit case is quite different. Here in Trinidad we are only
60 miles from the Orinoco river delta, one of the great rivers of the world and
the third longest in South America, third only to the Amazon which runs from Peru,
Columbia and finally through Brazil and the Paraná which flows from Brazil
through Paraguay and emerges as the Rio de la Plata in Argentina. The region is
tropical and quite different from the eastern Caribbean Island chain, having
lived in Florida for the past 33 years one tends to think that it is ‘tropical’
well it isn’t, here the same plants are bigger and more spectacular, the wild
life is far more exotic and there is a feeling of being an intruder to natures
prolific accomplishments. Nature as most people know it is larger than life
here, the jungle is always close; as one drives through habitation, a small
village or town, it is only a minute before one is back to being accompanied on
each side of the road by the impenetrable undergrowth of the rain forest and
jungle. Trinidad is developed and Port of Spain, the capital, is a
sophisticated grand city with wide boulevards and distinctive architecture that
one would associate with any other established historic city of the world.
Civilization as we know it abounds, shopping malls, cinema complexes and the
trappings of wealth are evident. For long now the nation of Trinidad and Tobago
has prospered from natural resources which include oil, natural gas, pitch, coffee,
sugar and most other agricultural cash crops which are fuelled by the
equatorial climate. Trinidad is a Caribbean ‘heavyweight’ is an influential Caricom
member and is certainly very important to the development of the Caribbean
islands.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvQnIy4rxxCcbDOFswAT2ygFNoIrYNcfeoFycWkX4gDreQwtDVxJCLb5EtVDVMiz1qDrCQ8Bcb4ZgvWMf-2aMeLDYnZf3FrWZolFFf3CNXMR7iQaodEXnBuhMkPIS3GOdkMnmz2hB-IRf/s1600/Americas+cup+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvQnIy4rxxCcbDOFswAT2ygFNoIrYNcfeoFycWkX4gDreQwtDVxJCLb5EtVDVMiz1qDrCQ8Bcb4ZgvWMf-2aMeLDYnZf3FrWZolFFf3CNXMR7iQaodEXnBuhMkPIS3GOdkMnmz2hB-IRf/s200/Americas+cup+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4w2cbQ1BZBvPa-NSkZR26GW5EOM_O1eZc42Ji7__DCKQLzDM8McBcdNGoP7XcMwhwpEmr4CSH9j2iDWYhMgIe8OytOwVy0ZeH-taFLg934YU8uPl7KoOX64KoD5pgVByWPLLuh34g-lJ/s1600/Americas+cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4w2cbQ1BZBvPa-NSkZR26GW5EOM_O1eZc42Ji7__DCKQLzDM8McBcdNGoP7XcMwhwpEmr4CSH9j2iDWYhMgIe8OytOwVy0ZeH-taFLg934YU8uPl7KoOX64KoD5pgVByWPLLuh34g-lJ/s1600/Americas+cup.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I have just risen from the edge
of my chair where I have been ‘glued’ for the past two hours watching the
America’s Cup finale, wow, unbelievable...the comeback of all time. I think
that the odds one could have received two weeks ago against the American boat
winning and retaining the cup would have been huge but they did it! This is one
of the most exciting events I have watched in years...well done USA ‘Oracle’!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lavinia and I have decided to
return to Florida for annual medical checkups and a visit to friends and
family, so we have reserved flights to go on the 29<sup>th</sup> October
returning November 12<sup>th</sup>. We are in a great marina where we feel
‘Partners’ will be cared for in our absence plus the timing is right so the
tickets are booked. Our friends Carol & John in Sarasota have kindly offered
us a bed so we are all set. With the internet it is possible to do so much, and
we have a good connection here, appointments have been made with doctors,
dentists and arrangements to see family and friends are all planned. We will
fly into Miami and stay with our youngest daughter Georgina for a couple of
days so we can go to the Ft. Lauderdale boat show on the opening day, Thursday
31<sup>st</sup> before driving across to Sarasota. We are excited; we have a
short list of ‘essentials’ that we will go shopping for while there, things which
are hard to find in the Islands. We will have been away cruising for nine
months, which incidentally seems like no time at all and already we are
realizing how important it is not to waste time; life is too short and the
opportunity for adventure is small so we intend to use our time well, packing
in as much adventure, exploration and travel as we can before we fall apart
with old age! Yes, there will come the time, sadly, when we physically can no
longer continue with this dream. Hear me folks, get out there and make it ‘your
time’ as soon as you can! Tempus fugit!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieog19RzcuhL6Q-OeJwLJmABNkoqYeJFjKderbbPkYAAR1fLIxFoQKJ2BlVlAX1VKhZ6zbdPIinpbZFXYDODeFdRrJZ3VkhWrmCpoJb_d426u5l6fMiPoKOOha3ttHJfGxK4m4qEwyH7YJ/s1600/Ann+at+the+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieog19RzcuhL6Q-OeJwLJmABNkoqYeJFjKderbbPkYAAR1fLIxFoQKJ2BlVlAX1VKhZ6zbdPIinpbZFXYDODeFdRrJZ3VkhWrmCpoJb_d426u5l6fMiPoKOOha3ttHJfGxK4m4qEwyH7YJ/s200/Ann+at+the+market.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ann at the Saturday Market <br />
meeting a very excited vendor!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yesterday four of us bought
tickets for the government bus, a large single deck air conditioned nice bus,
and ventured into the heart of Port of Spain and the Saturday farmers market. We
set off at 7:30 AM to travel the 30 minute journey from Chaguaramas to Port of
Spain costing TT$2 each way, the equivalent of US$0.32! Bill, Ann, Lavinia and
I laden with our backpacks and insulated shopping bags were ready for this
experience. The market, only held on Saturdays, is huge, I am guessing that it
covers at least three acres and has a thousand vendors all with their own stall
nicely laid out and set up with the produce they have. Most of the market is
vegetables, but there is an indoor section where there is a fish and meat
market too. One of the main undercover barns contains a vast selection of
clothing vendors as well. I don’t think I can remember ever seeing such a large
market and it was bustling. The vendors, unlike many places we have visited
including America, were controlled and did not hassle you to buy their wares,
instead they were friendly and all, say “Good Morning” as you approach, it was
very welcoming and definitely made us feel relaxed and able to stop and ponder
each vendors wares. We bought shrimp, tomatoes, watercress, avocados, fresh
lettuce, potatoes, spring onions and much more. As a cruiser getting fresh
produce is not always easy and in most of the islands the produce is not grown
there but arrives by ferry which only comes occasionally, so here in Trinidad
we are indulging! From the bus station to the market was probably a mile walk
which was, with empty bags and backpacks, easy, the walk back was a different
story, however! Because of our excitement at seeing the choice we bought too
much of course. A few steps into the walk back I couldn’t help imagining having
a camel of two to carry our load which would have been wonderful! We made it
and all by 9:30! The bus was on time at 10:00 and we were on our way back to
Chaguaramas arriving at 10:30. For lunch it was such a treat to have a fresh
watercress, vegetable and citrus salad with a little fresh blue cheese
sprinkled on the top, Um!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yesterday Oct 30<sup>th</sup> HT
gave me a hair trim, I sit on the dock, no hair on the boat, in one of our aft
deck wooden folding chairs and she cuts away. Yesterday she forgot the razor to
shave the hairs on the back of my neck and had to step back onboard to get it.
What luck, the washing machine and dryer where going and the next thing I heard
was “quick, we have a fire”! I rushed on board and the washer and dryer had
stopped, I assumed there was a safety switch that had shut it down. The boat
smelt of burning and was full of smoke, I immediately thought it was the dryer
which had caught fire because of fluff which was blocking the exhaust flew and
had backed up finding its way to the heating elements. I immediately went to
work dismantling the exhaust pipes and cleaning them out. Once complete the
moment of truth did the dryer still work? Lavinia turned on the circuit breaker
and we winced as we turned on the dryer...it worked just fine and because of
the clean out I think it was working better. We resumed the completion of my
haircut! Later in the day HT remembered that there was still washing in the
machine and went to resume the cycle...oh dear, yes the burning smell was from
the washing machine not the dryer! The washer was ‘dead’! We have had a problem
with the washing machine; one of the stabilizer arms to the drum has broken so
on the spin cycles it tends to wobble and bang! We decided to look for a
Frigidaire dealer, the machine is a Frigidaire, so that if it is not worth
repairing the same company can supply us with a new one; a project for today.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tonight we have the sailing boat
crowd coming onboard for cocktails and </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">hors
d'oeuvres which will be a blast. There will be eight of us, John & Jo from
Out of Africa, Steve & Jan from Sealacious, Doug & Meyka from Banjo and
us.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> We wanted
to have a get-together before all of them trek off to Guyana and Suriname next week.
We would love to be going with them and think we will do the passage next year.
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3Ch01RsuCAwLDO2kHr29QRAt3VjaXQ8X_QqpQmknBBViPZU8HRSKQSu6-uLvsYQj41OQC7japw7_cczOtE07_XcMKDg-zvl3j3XNpQSs_bRFwD4D6fgl0c3CubstBJeEW1KYn10tH9tR/s1600/Splendide+Stackable+Washer+Dryer+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3Ch01RsuCAwLDO2kHr29QRAt3VjaXQ8X_QqpQmknBBViPZU8HRSKQSu6-uLvsYQj41OQC7japw7_cczOtE07_XcMKDg-zvl3j3XNpQSs_bRFwD4D6fgl0c3CubstBJeEW1KYn10tH9tR/s320/Splendide+Stackable+Washer+Dryer+1.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splendide Stackable Washer Dryer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our investigation into the washer
and dryer replacement turned out to be more difficult than just replacing the
unit we have with a new one of the same. The latest version is now made by
Whirlpool and is the same width and depth but is 5” taller...no good! Even with
the services of a carpenter there is no possibility of gaining any height. We
need something which is no taller than 65⅝” tall. We scoured the internet and
after several days where the washer dryer replacement project dominated our
thoughts and conversations, a decision has been made. We found that the new
Splendide stacked washer and dryer units total a height of 65⅝” and should fit!
The only minor problem is that the washer, which once installed, will be the
lower of the two units, and will require the steps up to the salon from the
lower companionway to be removed in order to load and unload the washing
machine. Lavinia says she is okay with this. The steps are made to be removed
and the operation is a simple one, they are just heavy and awkward so guess who
is probably going to be involved in that operation? Our friends Bill and Ann
used a company called Marine Warehouse to purchase and ship some items from the
USA to Trinidad and the service, so they say, was hassle free and pleasant.
Lavinia and I walked over to their office yesterday and talked with Fanny and
the project is under way, we are just waiting to see if they can get the two
units at a competitive price. The way Marine Warehouse work is they buy the
items one needs and in that process make a little profit by buying at a
discount and then they profit a little more from the freight charge. All in all
though the prices supposedly are competitive and the big plus is the ease of
the operation for us. The liability of a satisfactory delivery is all on them!
We expect to hear back from Fanny in a day or two. If per chance they cannot
help us, sometimes they cannot purchase the items at a price which makes sense
for them and the customer, in this event we will just buy them ourselves and
arrange shipping through a freight forwarder.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">October 3<sup>rd</sup>. Thursday
is Pot Luck dinner night at Crew Inn. Every Thursday the resort provide a table
and chairs, with table cloth, and also the charcoal for the barbeque pit, in
fact they even light it and get the fire going! Eight of us from five different
boats gathered for the get-together. The location, the breezeway by the bar in
the hotel part of the complex is ideal as it is weather proof! The breezeway is
just that, a tunnel through the main hotel building providing cover and we
hoped a breeze. Cover we got although it didn’t rain, the breeze we didn’t get
on this occasion! The evening was great and was filled with much food, constant
conversation and concluded with an agreement to an encore next week. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU-xOWJGgaD3Un00HKIOgnLbhgTj6R5va4R0FfAN5RtuDpVG_COPTdYEHmbN37iaz3Wn0Slj_26UQlrKDfLNPGUUmiyStqQfpGpzyj0CxdkrDRgTXq-H73ju745_2xKg3Q5CT5E26tfFz/s1600/800px-Port_of_Spain_Skyline_at_Night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU-xOWJGgaD3Un00HKIOgnLbhgTj6R5va4R0FfAN5RtuDpVG_COPTdYEHmbN37iaz3Wn0Slj_26UQlrKDfLNPGUUmiyStqQfpGpzyj0CxdkrDRgTXq-H73ju745_2xKg3Q5CT5E26tfFz/s320/800px-Port_of_Spain_Skyline_at_Night.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Port of Spain at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You can see that there is plenty
going on here in Trinidad and it is all too easy to get stuck here enjoying almost
all the comforts of home. While at the dock we get a complimentary newspaper
delivered and have the use of a gym, library, coffee shop, duty free wine and
spirit store, a bakery plus a comprehensively stocked grocery store. You all
are probably not that impressed...well, compare getting a small supply of
grocery items and the whole operation taking 30 minutes here to a dinghy ride
to either a rickety dock or a beach where one has to exert oneself pulling the
dinghy up the beach so it doesn’t float away while you take the long walk to
the grocery store in 90° heat! Counting the trip back to ones anchored boat
this is an expedition which could take three hours or more. It is nice for a
change to be in a marina but we are beginning to get ‘itchy feet’ and are
talking about our cruising plans for November and beyond. We have already
learnt that trying to plan too much and too far into the future is a waste of
time as, because ‘Partners’ is our home and the fact that some of the places we
visit we really like, affords us the option for us to stay put for a while. Usually
a minimum of three months is granted by most immigration departments. You may remember
me saying we liked Tyrell Bay in Carriacou and before we knew it we spent 7
weeks there! In other words because we have ‘Partners’ our little white ship
and home, we can travel to and stay in places we like for a long time. It is
just so exciting talking about all the places we are going to visit and the
possibilities we are afforded by our choice of being cruisers. Just imagine
looking through a travel brochure every day!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This will be my last post from
Trinidad this year, the next rendition will be from another island, either
Tobago or Granada, you’ll have to wait and see...<o:p></o:p></span>Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-14220838477786407102013-09-08T08:03:00.001-04:002013-09-09T19:49:20.760-04:00Leaving the Windward’s, Hello Trinidad!<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">August 27<sup>th</sup> 2013 </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 10° 40.749’ N</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61° 37.899’
W</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Granada to Chaguaramas, Trinidad</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=10.678932,-61.631573&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=10.67888,-61.631488&spn=0.002873,0.004737&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=10.678932,-61.631573&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=10.67888,-61.631488&spn=0.002873,0.004737&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
<br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our cruise from Tyrrel Bay,
Carriacou to Prickly Bay, Grenada was one of those perfect events where weather,
seas and mechanics all came together. Our new day tank was put to the test for
the first time on a passage and performed as expected; Stonewall Jackson didn’t
miss a beat! Then the weather performed as well with calm seas and virtually no
wind. The 36 nm trip flew by, we trolled a line for most of the time but I
guess the only disappointment of the day was that we were completely skunked. We
left at 06:30 and arrived in Prickly at 12:30, an average of 6 knots. As we
entered Prickly Bay Judy on ‘Fairwinds’ hailed us on the VHF, she had seen us
enter the bay and coincidently they were upping their anchor to leave for
Tobago so invited us to take their spot in the anchorage, which we did. Sherman
was on the bow and we did get in a wave. It was sad to watch them leave as we
had not seen them in 6 weeks and would have loved to have had a get-together;
we will catch up, another time, another island.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdvKv8TpFVTEzy723CJNaMVY1NVCcrTiec-tvRvLyVruVyP6wAEnhQsqBQFWkKTT4KFDt0tjA8CEiyFNTCdoX7ML9IzKXtGUnPrUz-SvoP-y4zJ1Zd8F6eEvR6pSNjinu_6ys_UyLL2wD/s1600/DSC_0032+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzdvKv8TpFVTEzy723CJNaMVY1NVCcrTiec-tvRvLyVruVyP6wAEnhQsqBQFWkKTT4KFDt0tjA8CEiyFNTCdoX7ML9IzKXtGUnPrUz-SvoP-y4zJ1Zd8F6eEvR6pSNjinu_6ys_UyLL2wD/s200/DSC_0032+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Georges, Grenada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrLTnrp1QzkUPNKXXIuHQzJ5xiINow7iWOHj0XN9PMcZgW8HK3Pcpys3mKlpW_wkt1w9XmHxoFECEzX0F-2cwTglx_NhPs6L3hb02I5yQMyFD13Pe2n2SV_JmFBnswGD1eFqCOgLJ6zVE/s1600/DSC_0036+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrLTnrp1QzkUPNKXXIuHQzJ5xiINow7iWOHj0XN9PMcZgW8HK3Pcpys3mKlpW_wkt1w9XmHxoFECEzX0F-2cwTglx_NhPs6L3hb02I5yQMyFD13Pe2n2SV_JmFBnswGD1eFqCOgLJ6zVE/s200/DSC_0036+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Grenada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once we were secure John from
‘Out of Africa’ popped over in his dinghy to welcome us to the bay and quickly
brought us up to speed on the geography, i.e. where the dinghy dock was and the
cruisers bars, most important, Budget Marine and the routine for getting to the
grocery store. He invited us over for sundowners at 17:00. Steve and Jan from
‘Sealacious’, Jim and Tammy from ‘Sweet Chariot’, who followed us down from
Carriacou, where all there too and as usual we all had a great time; time flies
when you are having fun and we called it a day at 20:30. Before parting company
we agree to meet up the next night at Prickly Bay Marina for dinner, and
dancing as they had three different bands scheduled, oh, the cruising life...</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><strong>Friday 23<sup>rd</sup>.</strong> We
ventured ashore with Jim and Tammy to the grocery store in Spice Island Mall
and stopped on the way to browse Budget Marine. Low and behold while we were
there John and Jen from ‘Aeeshah’ happened to be in the store so we had a quick
chat and arranged to see them for dinner at Prickly Bay Marina that evening. The
bus from Spice Island Marine took only 10 minutes and was EC$2.50 each. The IGA
supermarket was exactly as one would expect in a large US town and had just
about anything one wanted. We were low on everything so a dilemma arose of how
much ‘stuff’ we could carry back to the bus and the boat which would provide
the limitation of our haul. Everything to do with boating is a little harder,
more walking and more carrying, one just doesn’t realize the convenience of
driving a car to the store and driving it home. The hardest part is just
unloading the car in ones garage and carrying the haul some feet to the
kitchen. Boaters have to get the shopping to a bus or carry it on a long walk,
then load all the bags and back packs into the dinghy and then drive the dinghy
back to the boat which could be a mile or two away. Then lifting everything
again out of the dinghy in a rolly anchorage onto the mother ship is another
adventure requiring good timing as the dinghy rises and falls. In other words
it is all a little harder on a boat!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Dinner at Prickly Bay Marina with
the crowd was great; we had a great curry and sat with John and Jen to catch up
on their lives. The last time we saw them they were in Tyrrel Bay with their
two delightful grand children onboard, Rhianna and Ethan who have now returned
to their parents in Bermuda where they all live. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8K2pfC4VlxErQBcCUwodb6h9l2EsfJ-YLcakKYDdALwaWmw29QKX7YqabCa1oSf9MSn6JQ4sD8bUvGGwm6Dd2IZKR4pwEg5R_zTo2IkdgumGvnI_pOjxAM24_hOYiUu8CHMVcrNaca71/s1600/DSC_0037+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8K2pfC4VlxErQBcCUwodb6h9l2EsfJ-YLcakKYDdALwaWmw29QKX7YqabCa1oSf9MSn6JQ4sD8bUvGGwm6Dd2IZKR4pwEg5R_zTo2IkdgumGvnI_pOjxAM24_hOYiUu8CHMVcrNaca71/s200/DSC_0037+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Grenada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM29mGkVwSfoK3IwDvD_h2KrjbTx6g3eJBJ54nsP0PK4ryqfFuvWgl0ZRZhnwNfaPD3W4CNstnPAWybOAFrdzh0SdChlLw9rqzTONx05uT4R2DK5v8dD8tM3b4_NDWTWVibipUACx3F9v/s1600/DSC_0044+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaM29mGkVwSfoK3IwDvD_h2KrjbTx6g3eJBJ54nsP0PK4ryqfFuvWgl0ZRZhnwNfaPD3W4CNstnPAWybOAFrdzh0SdChlLw9rqzTONx05uT4R2DK5v8dD8tM3b4_NDWTWVibipUACx3F9v/s200/DSC_0044+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The coast of Trinidad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A whirlwind three days passed
quickly and our short visit to Grenada was over. We had planned to leave at
16:00 on Monday 26<sup>th</sup> August which would give us an early morning
arrival in Chaguaramas, Trinidad the next day Tuesday. Our weather window was
excellent with hardly any wind and flat calm seas. Since we had left Florida
back in February we had not had a more enjoyable calm cruise. The day tank
again did its job and we successfully covered the 83 nm at an average speed of
6 knots without incident. We actually arrived a little early for the Customs
and Immigration so slowed our speed at the end so as to be able to check in
after 08:00 so we did not incur overtime fees! The approach to Trinidad is
guarded by the Bocas, the dragons’ teeth as the islands are known, and we
entered from the Caribbean Sea to the Gulf of Paria between Monos and the Diego
Martin peninsula, a narrow channel but deep. Off to the east in the channel is
Scotland Bay which we planned to visit during my son Anthony’s stay. Once in
the Gulf of Paria a sharp turn to port revealed the complex of Chaguaramas. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IP7JjE8ZufIycRm9eTzZVoa8_i3WAEo51RoVHpBhuaBerlbCPLR1GnZOF4x_PrZSGgt7MN3rSx3jkKnqBBsrGIBl80IoBsbGFjcE8FfpaVwTtVOlRVxr6cdbEO55VkMRJ2OWnu88Lgpm/s1600/pink-ibises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IP7JjE8ZufIycRm9eTzZVoa8_i3WAEo51RoVHpBhuaBerlbCPLR1GnZOF4x_PrZSGgt7MN3rSx3jkKnqBBsrGIBl80IoBsbGFjcE8FfpaVwTtVOlRVxr6cdbEO55VkMRJ2OWnu88Lgpm/s200/pink-ibises.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Ibises</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSP9j_-pYZQkc30LAeZBNoToarauMkXeLkD9cdz8H-5ocKkMXsREA-lzxqVcns9GtZAS4ekgyyfLYum3LDONiAPV50HumxPEwms_4hIDY-v6NVTcHfHX1cCNZmh85NvEfx82_guuqu8nbH/s1600/Hummingbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSP9j_-pYZQkc30LAeZBNoToarauMkXeLkD9cdz8H-5ocKkMXsREA-lzxqVcns9GtZAS4ekgyyfLYum3LDONiAPV50HumxPEwms_4hIDY-v6NVTcHfHX1cCNZmh85NvEfx82_guuqu8nbH/s200/Hummingbird.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Hummingbird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUdpnNX-Y6_O00LsV8z5uhltVzMjiB0_wpqRv1uKU4Oe5eIwWP0OGs93WSHMcaxaGM60yFJNaUwuWwpJJpj8_GAerme1u6UpBMVfR_9qlSw4omdBJEyOELaUbeAv0ejHV7DNUkXApT8ZP/s1600/Green+rumped+Parrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUdpnNX-Y6_O00LsV8z5uhltVzMjiB0_wpqRv1uKU4Oe5eIwWP0OGs93WSHMcaxaGM60yFJNaUwuWwpJJpj8_GAerme1u6UpBMVfR_9qlSw4omdBJEyOELaUbeAv0ejHV7DNUkXApT8ZP/s200/Green+rumped+Parrot.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Parrot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6SaQCY0esUGhrFGphTLexZAYPZ9H-3hBmw96u0hq3lizPmcAemqXzN0vRw00Hes2q75MIioJhJEmrWF1UdqntbNs1sb0vN3tHM4OpHFk-WqbEtysqno7L2rX_n_8GDLg4swgO3BUXuo7/s1600/DSC_0009+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6SaQCY0esUGhrFGphTLexZAYPZ9H-3hBmw96u0hq3lizPmcAemqXzN0vRw00Hes2q75MIioJhJEmrWF1UdqntbNs1sb0vN3tHM4OpHFk-WqbEtysqno7L2rX_n_8GDLg4swgO3BUXuo7/s200/DSC_0009+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our view of the lighthouse from <br />
our slip in Crews Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Chaguaramas is a busy port as
well as a haven for yacht storage and repair. Our destination was at Crews Inn
which is situated on the south perimeter. The majority of the working yards,
Peake, Power Boats, Tropical Marine and Coral Cove are all on the north side.
Crews Inn has a full service marina and hotel which is accompanied by a grocery
store, swimming pool and several restaurants; a very nice facility. A short
walk to the north side there are more restaurants and two large chandleries
plus every marine facility, and business one could wish for. We checked in with
customs and immigration which was a very pleasant experience and cost us a fee
of TT$50! We made friends with the senior officer in the Customs department
and on the following Saturday night, Trinidad’s Independence Day we were
invited to their party. Riad, the officer we made friends with, was also being
promoted to the main office a little further down the coast towards Port of
Spain so it was a double celebration, it was a fun evening. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I fast forwarded there for a
moment as on Friday 30<sup>th</sup> my eldest son Anthony arrived for a
vacation from his home in Jacksonville Florida. We met him at the airport and
then drove the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">long</i> drive back to
Chaguaramas with our first exposure to Trinidadian traffic...terrible is the
only word to describe it! There are just too many cars on the roads for the
roads. Most main thoroughfares are just two lanes and with gasoline priced US$0.91
there is no restraint in usage. The fuel is heavily subsidized by the
government and has been the same price for the last 20 years! For us cruisers
the price is different and brings the cost to more than in the USA US$4.54 per
gallon. As I mentioned before Saturday 31<sup>st</sup> is Trinidad’s
Independence Day and we joined in the festivities during the day by hiring a
taxi and guide to take us to Port of Spain and the pan yards. Pan yards are
areas where steel bands congregate and play their music. Steel bands originated
in Trinidad and this pastime is enjoyed by all the population and is taken very
seriously. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FHRVy7YRp13pweK6qnZhnsWmSyl5Udv-9QvIu7X576_U36SsQb8wVMzwO-73LI-cXrO4rnAgGR1YvgY4ZHE8eJqduRBsuZkxGw_7uyK0_8id-U8JTj4djUu9N63_9dhAx2DHjpjVy-GZ/s1600/Pan+Yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FHRVy7YRp13pweK6qnZhnsWmSyl5Udv-9QvIu7X576_U36SsQb8wVMzwO-73LI-cXrO4rnAgGR1YvgY4ZHE8eJqduRBsuZkxGw_7uyK0_8id-U8JTj4djUu9N63_9dhAx2DHjpjVy-GZ/s320/Pan+Yard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many pan yards around Port of Spain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Seriously in as much as the bands vie for popularity and the fame and
fortune which accompany it. Some of the pan bands have as many as 200 members
and the remarkable thing is that all the musicians can play in sync,
incredible. We joined in the fun and bumped shoulder to shoulder with the
locals for two hours. At two o’clock we left the pan yard and walked to a local
restaurant and sampled a roti, we all had shrimp and, believe you me, it was
delicious. Sated for the journey home we boarded the taxi and drove back to
‘Partners’. We were hot, wet, it had rained hard and soaked us, and tired so
just laid low for the rest of the afternoon before venturing out for some dinner
and the visit to the Customs and Immigration departments party. A full day...</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwGu39BtxqKMr_QgQwZFnuXaFqMGgMYrarBkjnwWPoBjV-pyjwWs66m6WdRC4ePDPDtspPNIiW9RHtM6hbL9G3oKtRAHk1SKRneruwlrAA4WFH2X_UXnoBRpjGKFewqiV5DLkzX73C76-/s1600/DSC_0089+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMwGu39BtxqKMr_QgQwZFnuXaFqMGgMYrarBkjnwWPoBjV-pyjwWs66m6WdRC4ePDPDtspPNIiW9RHtM6hbL9G3oKtRAHk1SKRneruwlrAA4WFH2X_UXnoBRpjGKFewqiV5DLkzX73C76-/s200/DSC_0089+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony and his rented bike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Anthony is an off road cycling
enthusiast so before arriving in Trinidad he had been in contact with several
of the cycling clubs here and had researched many of the riding trails. Coincidently<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span> most of the good challenging trails were within a mile or two of
Crews Inn, ‘Partners’ home here in Trini. Anthony was planning on bringing his
own bike but due to expense and the inconvenience to transport it, endorsed by
the inexpensive bicycle rental fees in Trinidad, he decided to rent when here.
The plan turned out perfectly and he was able to ride many of the trails during
his stay. His last day he rode to an observatory 1,700 ft up a very steep
mountain, I was impressed!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When we arrived here in Trinidad
we were still fairly low on day to day provisions and with Anthony’s visit
looming we listened to the cruisers net on channel 68 on Wednesday 28<sup>th</sup>
August, our first day, so we could glean some information about where and how
to shop. We quickly found out that Jesse James is the man, a local character who has made
a reputation and living for years by providing excellent services to the
cruising community. After the net we immediately contacted Jesse to arrange,
first, a taxi to the airport so we could meet Anthony upon his arrival on
Friday and then also signed up to join the shopping trip Jesse had set up for Friday
to the Hi Lo supermarket and the Mall. Surprise, surprise Trinidad is just like
the US, MacDonald’s, Burger King, KFC they’re all here and the stores are just
like home, the prices are just less. Trinidad manufactures and supplies much of
its own food and produce so the brands we are familiar with are supplemented
with the local Trinidadian ones, the choice is huge. We stocked up ready for
the hungry sons visit!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G3bWKOLVnetDRXNz9GXDizsdAU2Q5TWrkaddQxI-o5z1tClQuiMx4Fn0GexP61JzNL0-FHun4GP7BQt3ZMlcBcf98PP5fsDwfzXXMUxmk3QXJg_tCdxXMYbH_yYCp8YcTRREseJeXH77/s1600/DSC_0024+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9G3bWKOLVnetDRXNz9GXDizsdAU2Q5TWrkaddQxI-o5z1tClQuiMx4Fn0GexP61JzNL0-FHun4GP7BQt3ZMlcBcf98PP5fsDwfzXXMUxmk3QXJg_tCdxXMYbH_yYCp8YcTRREseJeXH77/s200/DSC_0024+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruising the Gulf of Paria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqISORSYdhA2NnHv-NB8V9E-N9cvZmXnKsNigXy1B5ZuZl_EEsy4YHV92im6yJ-zkWX0wjB66vnsVjsAWW6VRG2xvUYEKe5M5Ix0lZHCRondHVSSWofeZ0UDJFOsdxZN5p9Wo5Z5Ngqbrq/s1600/DSC_0026+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqISORSYdhA2NnHv-NB8V9E-N9cvZmXnKsNigXy1B5ZuZl_EEsy4YHV92im6yJ-zkWX0wjB66vnsVjsAWW6VRG2xvUYEKe5M5Ix0lZHCRondHVSSWofeZ0UDJFOsdxZN5p9Wo5Z5Ngqbrq/s200/DSC_0026+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oil and gas well drilling ship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfD1l95J4Tg2m4KyqYQt9ukhQaInDSfkSTjqEBylJKwHQkajgbPU06AYWXSpxdNYisB3DzH_PFHAsyGe2sU5vk_rpOzz3YzZDuCgbRSeXoNmeWE8BRcEeupfdS1ed3-I5M1bq-FPuzbd9/s1600/DSC_0084+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfD1l95J4Tg2m4KyqYQt9ukhQaInDSfkSTjqEBylJKwHQkajgbPU06AYWXSpxdNYisB3DzH_PFHAsyGe2sU5vk_rpOzz3YzZDuCgbRSeXoNmeWE8BRcEeupfdS1ed3-I5M1bq-FPuzbd9/s200/DSC_0084+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what you call rain!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisibKZncirHSXl9mK2fXa5VBNzK52Fk3DJXp1orW7v_ttJZnaLICH2fs9LN6sKtgHkS2AYCPlWnuRegxkbF5hY3oDCk0VPi418oCEFjHpVjd9ctVTbJkxMlYTtezuSTy1L7d5WCjZbsrfV/s1600/DSC_0055+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisibKZncirHSXl9mK2fXa5VBNzK52Fk3DJXp1orW7v_ttJZnaLICH2fs9LN6sKtgHkS2AYCPlWnuRegxkbF5hY3oDCk0VPi418oCEFjHpVjd9ctVTbJkxMlYTtezuSTy1L7d5WCjZbsrfV/s200/DSC_0055+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relaxing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsrNDQKKm3LTJFH_Ps4I5ZGEA_uDeEHdjjL940DNckdhZPB2_M5gMtTJr3KXVHQfIzZSMrm19qF7anGukYRDZhA0gzSKhpV2E1c2Cg8xnrvWI5ohdIi3kxhyphenhyphen48TSdDYA2D8Bdw8hNIqqS/s1600/DSC_0061+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsrNDQKKm3LTJFH_Ps4I5ZGEA_uDeEHdjjL940DNckdhZPB2_M5gMtTJr3KXVHQfIzZSMrm19qF7anGukYRDZhA0gzSKhpV2E1c2Cg8xnrvWI5ohdIi3kxhyphenhyphen48TSdDYA2D8Bdw8hNIqqS/s200/DSC_0061+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anthony swimming in Scotland Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is now <strong>September 7<sup>th</sup></strong>
and Anthony left us this morning at the crack of dawn to catch his flight back
to Orlando, FL. We had a packed week and managed to fit in a two day cruise
around the Bocas passing within six miles of the Venezuelan coast as we
ventured out into the Caribbean Sea to do a little fishing. We also anchored
for one afternoon and night in Scotland Bay which is protected from weather on
all sides with the bonus of wonderful and spectacular scenery. Unfortunately,
true to form, we tell it as it is, the beach area at the head of the bay plus
all the other coves and beaches in the vicinity that we explored in our dinghy,
were disgusting. The floating trash and </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUSwhd2Z5VG025Rig4RFtVxwyDVQJ7aTd8FZFltry6goPMYs2qiOPYi8FjsYHpb-cdJMJ4rj-w6dCV2V2nBbcn6DeSEg_s09eo9ORzvrOg2EMV1KZju5V_QNcJJTnuReajuwfHQNsIKYb/s1600/DSC_0087+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBUSwhd2Z5VG025Rig4RFtVxwyDVQJ7aTd8FZFltry6goPMYs2qiOPYi8FjsYHpb-cdJMJ4rj-w6dCV2V2nBbcn6DeSEg_s09eo9ORzvrOg2EMV1KZju5V_QNcJJTnuReajuwfHQNsIKYb/s200/DSC_0087+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scotland Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
discarded rubbish just spoiled the
experience and we will probably not revisit. We are hoping that the government
will sponsor a clean-up and a campaign to educate the population so as to
improve the garbage disposal habits of the people. We have never seen a country
which has a worse problem than here. Scotland Bay is the local playground and
at the weekends the locals visit in numbers. There are no facilities what so
ever in Scotland Bay so a start would be to arrange some trash cans and an
emptying schedule of same. For an oil rich country this would not be too much
to ask we feel.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The techno for this post is the
RO pump and the anchor light repair. The anchor light is a quick rant. While we
were in Scotland Bay for the night I turned on the anchor light, you guessed
it, nothing. Well, this morning I climbed the mast to find the bulb laying,
disconnected from the socket, the light assembly is an Aqua Signal Series 40.
Considering that the light is an expensive one I feel that the socket could be
of a little heavier build. The socket is flimsy and I had to bend the contacts
to hold the bulb in the socket so it would not vibrate loose which is obviously
what happened before.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The RO pump is the other rant.
When we bought ‘Partners’ she had just had new fuel tanks installed which had
entailed the dismantling of many of the systems in the engine room to be able
to reach the outboard sections of the hull where the fuel tanks are located.
One system which was removed was the water maker. Once our purchase of
‘Partners’ was complete I asked Sailcraft Service, in Oriental, NC, to
reinstall the water maker and test it. FOJ (First Officer John) and I tried to
make water during our return to Sarasota and were unable to get the system
going. A long story, after much time and effort, John worked tirelessly and
finally we got the water maker going. Fast forward to Carriacou, Granada last
month, the RO pump began to leak oil and water! Here in Trinidad we met Chris
who used to work for Echo Marine the big water maker people here in Chaguaramas,
Chris quickly informed me that the red transportation cap, ensuring no oil
leaks from the pump during transportation, had not been replaced with the
orange cap which allows the pump to ‘breathe’ i.e. allows the pressure build up
to escape as the pump is in operation. Because of the wrong cap the pressure
had ruined the seals in the pump and that is why it had developed the leaks. I
am not the expert here but want all of you reading this to be aware that when
you employ someone who purports to be an expert ask them how many systems they
have worked on. Sailcraft is a sailing boat yard and very few sailing boats
have water makers, enough said! Within a couple of hours and US$200 later we
had a rebuilt fully operational pump. The outstanding thing here was not only
the great service Chris provided but was also that in its rebuilt state the RO
pump was now making 37.5 gallons of beautiful RO water and hour or 900 gallons
per day. We were happy with the 21 gallons an hour the pump was making before
it started to leak, the equivalent of 500 gallons per day. Soooo, thanks to
Chris we have discovered we have a 900 not a 500 gallon per day water maker and
we didn’t know it!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have settled in to Crews Inn,
home for ‘Partners’ while we are in Trinidad. Now Anthony has departed and we
are alone again we will begin our exploration of this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">big</i> island. Lavinia is all excited to go to the movies; yes they
have a movie theatre! There is also an Apple Store so I am hoping to get my
iPhone repaired after its dunking in Tyrrel Bay!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">September 8<sup>th</sup></span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Yesterday Bill Miller of ‘Ann Louise’ (<a href="http://www.journeyoftheannlouise.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.journeyoftheannlouise.com</span></a>)
contacted me to say he and Ann would be arriving back in Chaguaramas on the 11<sup>th</sup>.
Their boat, a 48’ Kadey Krogen is on the hard being stored in Peake Yachting
Services while they returned back to their home in South Carolina, USA for the
summer. We are looking forward to our cruising buddies return and can already
taste the celebratory beer! We have not seen Bill and Ann since they continued
on their journey to Trinidad from Culebra, Puerto Rico where we started to
suffer from a series of mechanical and electrical failures which prohibited us
from accompanying them south. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5-yUK_AJYWUZxth0s3D-SCBBB8820Wz0opsvV-AGUnTMSeAwo_uESjUlNIRWwdB2TQ3g5xa2lqyybxXGkutNipLOqWPc2QJuxtojGpLOnHoTqq432yDwcz8t2Kte3eIFWZCwC8OeoMcx/s1600/DSC_0069+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY5-yUK_AJYWUZxth0s3D-SCBBB8820Wz0opsvV-AGUnTMSeAwo_uESjUlNIRWwdB2TQ3g5xa2lqyybxXGkutNipLOqWPc2QJuxtojGpLOnHoTqq432yDwcz8t2Kte3eIFWZCwC8OeoMcx/s320/DSC_0069+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Ann Louise'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNsz2SaBRS_GGaVuP2jPu0zk2g-j3SJOHm3I6nHJA88qyiLfWuOcKGectD-dTk2givPiEEYQNvDQyiJiyFAoZoVZLyUC_Clz5zLlKssCFhGqtB6dFv05NRQNkjUy72MI7QW8yiMeM9vVl/s1600/Culebra+and+Benner+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNsz2SaBRS_GGaVuP2jPu0zk2g-j3SJOHm3I6nHJA88qyiLfWuOcKGectD-dTk2givPiEEYQNvDQyiJiyFAoZoVZLyUC_Clz5zLlKssCFhGqtB6dFv05NRQNkjUy72MI7QW8yiMeM9vVl/s200/Culebra+and+Benner+005.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Partners' & 'Ann Louise'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More to come from Trini soon...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-57283289339229742572013-08-28T16:26:00.001-04:002014-04-21T13:45:52.755-04:00The Windward’s II<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">August 19<sup>th</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 12° 27.301’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61°
29.283’ W</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Tyrell Bay, Carriacou, Granada</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"></span><br />
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<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=12.452792,-61.487571&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=12.452802,-61.487598&spn=0.011419,0.018947&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDDJqdO-yTNV3tzI6ZiiqHsqI6o2BLy7BKTcJzqL7AlJYLm0rLVgFn14HYoekIqQWFTwzSsckAJYBBZbBDoRykRLOdbxcHgZ6oo7vXrGHpBGM6rAq8exy4kpWNaTI58VNGb4yUiwdEBww/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDDJqdO-yTNV3tzI6ZiiqHsqI6o2BLy7BKTcJzqL7AlJYLm0rLVgFn14HYoekIqQWFTwzSsckAJYBBZbBDoRykRLOdbxcHgZ6oo7vXrGHpBGM6rAq8exy4kpWNaTI58VNGb4yUiwdEBww/s200/DSC_0018.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gus, our Day Tank project manager.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSrOBDe22BkXsm9Nx139b7UZsp_zMkmZXY59r6RgOlyoBvQ1Klk9AJQHUqTEPh0CcHap0HvrWOhrKNkacxpffryIY6LP6ODdrxTBxpZ4g9VNboH9HXnt2NoIc6cBBkdrTpQVHqp1Qp2t3/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSrOBDe22BkXsm9Nx139b7UZsp_zMkmZXY59r6RgOlyoBvQ1Klk9AJQHUqTEPh0CcHap0HvrWOhrKNkacxpffryIY6LP6ODdrxTBxpZ4g9VNboH9HXnt2NoIc6cBBkdrTpQVHqp1Qp2t3/s200/DSC_0013.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from being on the hard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqOxnkh_T2NCwazTb3odW8q-_zvLj4jX2RZlWKrY8YVt7X9S1wD1J8atvj242Pjln6zmtSBqcTuz4EBS2JFe4_qdpGX6uDodHRkYMnTpELjuAtM4kH8sMpArofyic_alMgGsoHQdOz6Kk/s1600/carriacou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqOxnkh_T2NCwazTb3odW8q-_zvLj4jX2RZlWKrY8YVt7X9S1wD1J8atvj242Pjln6zmtSBqcTuz4EBS2JFe4_qdpGX6uDodHRkYMnTpELjuAtM4kH8sMpArofyic_alMgGsoHQdOz6Kk/s200/carriacou.jpg" height="138" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds just 'chillin'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_1780382703"></span><span id="goog_1780382704"></span><small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The constant rocking and rolling
as well as the fore aft pitching tends to find muscles in ones midriff which
have not, at least in my case, received regular exercise during my land based
life in the States. Now at this point you are all probably thinking that I am
referring to the boats motion...well you’re wrong! I have just described what I
was feeling during a bus ride today from Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou into
Hillsborough the capital. The island has roads, quite nice ones but in patches;
the newer stretches are all concrete but then suddenly the concrete ends and an
unmade track lays before you. It is these stretches that emulate a rough seaway
and cause the girth muscles to work overtime to keep ones balance and avoid
falling out of one’s seat on the bus! During our roller coaster ride around the
island we saw views of the coastline which were spectacular; having a little
elevation and being able to look down at the water one could see the coral
reefs and all the different colours, absolutely incredible. <br />
<br />
The techno for this posting is twofold, amp and day tank related. I am not and
don’t pretend to be an electrician but I do understand amp usage. I know that
an LED bulb uses fewer amps than an incandescent bulb. I also understand that
our house bank of batteries that supply the amps have a limit to their
capacity. We have five batteries altogether two for engine starting, the main
and generator, and they also supply power for the electric bowthruster. The
other three make up the house bank and provide amps for running the
refrigerator and freezer, all lights, navigation electronics and the inverter,
which in turn powers the various 110v appliances. The total amperes amount to
1,000, 600 of which is the capacity of the house bank. The batteries we have
onboard are AGM gel filled maintenance free. The total of 600 amps allows one
to use no more than 50% of that and preferably less than that before charging
should commence. We have an 8kw generator onboard which supplies 110v to all
appliances including the battery chargers, we have two, one is incorporated in
the inverter, a Xantrex freedom 20, and the other is a powerful Balmar stand
alone charger. We would normally use the Xantrex charger to replenish the
batteries and only have the Balmar charger as redundancy should the inverter
fail. What comes out must go back...in other words the amps that are taken
must, somehow, be given back. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAYGdRkW5kvQyTRoEuoUqDmMqwZ0zNoUqRAS0jXQsnNcBKemTflSBjFKMrQiCAoC2usUY80VHSh2BcAvoYbOJzl69JdObwBm_8VFgnv3u8k3vE1HBmQfXyAgNJSrTIVP0hOs_p8Thsx86/s1600/Solar+panels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAYGdRkW5kvQyTRoEuoUqDmMqwZ0zNoUqRAS0jXQsnNcBKemTflSBjFKMrQiCAoC2usUY80VHSh2BcAvoYbOJzl69JdObwBm_8VFgnv3u8k3vE1HBmQfXyAgNJSrTIVP0hOs_p8Thsx86/s200/Solar+panels.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></span></span></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are several ways to ‘give back’, a battery
charger, an alternator, solar panels, trailing generators and wind generators.
All methods are used by different boats. Sailing boats often use a combination
of wind generation and solar some also trail a propeller driven alternator and
most also have their main engine which powers an alternator for battery
charging. ‘Partners’ is a little on the power hungry side and is equipped more
like a home. She has a domestic style refrigerator and freezer, domestic
appliances such as microwave oven. Toaster oven, electric kettle, water heater
etc., we also have computers, a printer and multiple power tools and available
110v lighting too. Our daily amp usage is approximately 480 so you can see from
simple maths that with a capacity of 300 maximum usable amps we have a problem!
Unless we run the generator twice a day the electrical system would fail. Our
generator burns ½ gallon of diesel an hour and it takes a total of
approximately 7 – 8 hours of generator time per day to maintain the batteries.
The downside of this is twofold, first, one of us is anchored to the boat while
the generator is running and second the cost of fuel to run the generator and
of course the frequent maintenance of the generator. We looked into the
question of how we could reduce the number of hours that the generator needed
to run each day. We decided that in our case solar panels would be the answer;
we have a large roof expanse on top of our pilothouse which could accommodate
two large panels. We consulted with an electrical engineer here in Tyrrel Bay,
Alan Reynolds. He educated us on the workings of solar...wow, free amps! Of
course anyone likes to hear, free! What Alan meant was that when installed the
panels would automatically, providing they were exposed to sunlight, produce
amps to the batteries. We decided to install two large 215 watt Kyocera panels
which on average would give us about 160 amps per day back into the batteries
and save us just less than half the generator hours per day. Appealing, we
would be freer to do more activities off the boat not to mention the fuel
saving and the cutting down on the servicing intervals for the generator, a
huge saving. In fact we calculated that the cost of installing the two panels
and the regulator would be paid for in 7 months! Yesterday was the installation
day and all went smoothly. It was such a thrill to see the amp meter counting
the number of amps as they were being produced by the sun! The time of day
(altitude of the sun), shadows on the panels and of course clouds cause
variations in the charge rate; all these factors manifest themselves as a
fluctuation on the meter. I am sitting here writing this waiting for the sun to
come up so we can really see the effect of the panels, today is our first full
day with them, exciting! <br />
<br />
The second techno item is the day tank. Gus, our project manager on this task,
has almost completed the installation, by this evening it should be done. What
we will end up with is a 40 gallon capacity additional fuel tank installed in
the lazerette which will gravity feed the main engine as well as having the
ability to supply fuel to the generator. The day tank effectively reduces the
four other main tanks to fuel storage tanks. An electric transfer pump will
draw fuel through the main racor filters to the day tank at the rate of 6
gallons per minute so it will take less than 7 minutes to fill the day tank.
The tank is installed with a valve system so that the original fuel system
supplying fuel from the four main tanks to a manifold and from there to the
main and generator can be selected during times of any maintenance of the day
tank such as cleaning or fuel hose replacement etc. The day tank also has a
sight gauge and an overflow line returning to the main tanks. Not only will the
day tank supply gravity fed fuel but it will give us a much more accurate
reading on our fuel consumption through the visual sight gauge. <br />
<br />
We have been so pleased with the services we have received here in Tyrrel Bay
that we have decided to be hauled out here too. We will have new bottom paint,
zincs and boot stripe touch up, not to mention the addition of a few minor
preventative maintenance jobs such as some hose and hose clamp replacements.
Tyrrel Bay is quiet by comparison to Granada and Trinidad and is just easy to
deal with. The prices are very reasonable and the people here are just so
friendly and accommodating.<br />
<br />
The anchorage here in Tyrrel Bay is mostly calm but at night when the trade
winds drop the boat settles more with the tide flow and seems to sit across the
low swell which creeps into the bay from around the NW headland. Although we
have been here a month now we have only had a couple of nights where the roll
has stopped us sleeping.
</span></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzDqS7Vzw83aaYBroapWdFMC0bDUwGvCLUpLP2iQsM9zGne6ktqFTi8NiVs7lBmNjSiPalFJQ54fly-7oERFBoStVHPgX3LzvIf4PYmtSLKiEZgNm4qezxqYmlFPAFGkk5sBcwpt3AIES/s1600/The-High-Street-in-Hillsborough-Carriacou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzDqS7Vzw83aaYBroapWdFMC0bDUwGvCLUpLP2iQsM9zGne6ktqFTi8NiVs7lBmNjSiPalFJQ54fly-7oERFBoStVHPgX3LzvIf4PYmtSLKiEZgNm4qezxqYmlFPAFGkk5sBcwpt3AIES/s200/The-High-Street-in-Hillsborough-Carriacou.jpg" height="132" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hillsborough, high street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last weekend and Monday the island was consumed with the annual Carriacou
Regatta. We took a bus into Hillsborough on Monday for the final day and
watched races including the youngsters in there sailing dinghies and then the
locally built boats. There was loud music and festivities up and down the main
street, a real celebration; a great time was had by all. It is now Wednesday
and the three days of festivities associated with the annual regatta have now
passed and most of our friends and fellow cruisers have headed south, the route
tends to be Granada for carnival which goes on through the middle of August and
then on to Tobago for the rest of the hurricane season. Fewer boats are going
all the way down to Trinidad now as the crime rate seems to have increased and
continues to escalate. Most is blamed on the present poor economy, gangs and
drugs. From what we can gather the majority of robberies and petty thefts are
in Port of Spain and the security has been stepped up in the Chaguaramas area
and its marinas so we are hopeful that we will be safe. The advantage of
Chaguaramas over most other hurricane destinations is that it is possible to
get almost any type of marine work done and at very reasonable prices. Granada
however is promoting the same services nowadays and in a more friendly and safe
environment. We are going to consider changing our insurance company to one who
will allow us to spend next hurricane season in Granada instead of insisting on
Trinidad. <br />
<br />
We have had so much fun in Carriacou and will be sad to leave, what with the
barbeques on shore, <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i-WWdr8B00F4cfbC2jXD6b0rZ0SnIWyqtXCKnbJb8nHn_hW8dlSA1Au3DIXezDBDmXOls5Ux8h_aiuQFS5tvelYCkQztUUW1BvZiocofMJwMvbYmp7OUNncu2UXHiQ5zFE4oYn9cypVi/s1600/Hillsborough_Carriacou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i-WWdr8B00F4cfbC2jXD6b0rZ0SnIWyqtXCKnbJb8nHn_hW8dlSA1Au3DIXezDBDmXOls5Ux8h_aiuQFS5tvelYCkQztUUW1BvZiocofMJwMvbYmp7OUNncu2UXHiQ5zFE4oYn9cypVi/s200/Hillsborough_Carriacou.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking Hillsborough</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
the group walks and the Mexican domino get-togethers at the
different local bars we have had a very social time here. We have had several
cocktail hours with friends either on our boat or theirs and three dinner
parties on ‘Partners’. The area is great for snorkelling too and there are so
many reefs to choose from, all a short swim or dinghy ride from our anchorage.
The big thing though has been the people, so friendly, full of warmth and
willing to talk and to offer help if needed. We were told earlier in our
travels that the further south we travelled the friendlier the people would
become...true so far. <br />
<br />
We are being hauled out next Wednesday the 14<sup>th</sup> so we are getting
prepared for that. During our time on the hard we will be staying in the marina
apartment with air-conditioning and a ‘big’ bed...wow! The apartment has
cooking facilities and is spacious with two beds enabling accommodation of four
if necessary. Our decision to move off the boat is because in the marina it is
sheltered and we will not get the benefit of the constant breeze we receive out
in the bay on anchor; it makes a tremendous difference to being able to
tolerate the heat. The sun is virtually overhead now and without the trade
winds blowing the temps would be in the 90’s but the ‘chilling’ effect of the
breeze is amazing and makes such a difference to our comfort keeping the temps
in the mid 80’s. We will be in the marina for 5-6 days so are hoping to be
afloat again around the 20<sup>th</sup>or 21<sup>st</sup> which will give us
time to find a weather window to make our trip down to Granada and on to
Trinidad where we will meet our eldest son Anthony who is coming for a week’s
vacation on the 30<sup>th</sup>. He will be our first visitor since leaving
Florida last February so we are excited! He is a cycling enthusiast and
specializes in riding off road trails. He is bringing his bicycle with him and
has contacted several cycling groups in Trinidad so he will have riding
companions during his stay. We have not been to Chaguaramas before so we are
looking forward to finding out about the activities offered in the area...every
place we go is different and unlike America where every town and city has the
same stores and restaurant chains, there are no ‘chains’ in the islands, not
quite true but almost, we did find a Dominos pizza in Basseterre, St. Kitts, so
it is fun exploring both the urban areas as well as discovering what the
hinterland has to offer. <br />
<br />
</span></span></span></small><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnAcYtXXD-DKYKfXz7X06dlOkmjOuLks1MIFHkMt1vvryncgXLRjxX6cIOeBF-Wh057NxK-8th5lnolDvg61pL1hRKDL-Frr-yCAOksu48y1EdN9uBgW6ZNckXMDnmtECg2g13CzUXlWw/s1600/Carriacou_beautiful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnAcYtXXD-DKYKfXz7X06dlOkmjOuLks1MIFHkMt1vvryncgXLRjxX6cIOeBF-Wh057NxK-8th5lnolDvg61pL1hRKDL-Frr-yCAOksu48y1EdN9uBgW6ZNckXMDnmtECg2g13CzUXlWw/s200/Carriacou_beautiful.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></small></div>
<small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
Aug. 14<sup>th</sup> haul out day...Edwin the marina yard manager visited us in
his skiff while we were still on anchor out in the bay and looked around
‘Partners’ to make sure he knew where the straps on the Travelift should be
positioned to avoid the two appendages we have sticking out of the hull, namely
our stabilizers. Another boat a catamaran was at the haul out dock taking on
water so we made ready to move to the dock by shortening our anchor chain ready
to weigh anchor and move. We received the go-ahead and off we went towards the
dock. This was the first time that we had used the boat running from our new
day tank and there were no worries Stonewall Jackson ran without a hiccup. Once
in the slipway the travel lift moved over us, the straps were positioned and
the lifting process began. In no time we were up and moving towards the pad
where we would have a pressure wash before going to what would be ‘Partners’
parking space for the next 5-6 days. The sanding and scraping began
immediately, cleaning and preparing the hull for the two coats of blue Sea Hawk
44 Plus antifouling paint we would be receiving. The previous paint we had was
Petit Trinidad and Edwin advised a primer coat as we were changing the brand, I
agreed. We are also renewing the dark blue boot stripe which has a few
blemishes and installing all new sacrificial anodes (zincs). While on the hard
I will be re-marking the anchor chain, the measurement markings are just
painted on the galvanized chain and barely last a year. We loaded the 400 feet
of chain on board 10 months ago and the marks we painted on then are almost
gone. I mark at 50’ to start with and then every 25’; rarely if never would we
lay out less than 75’ of chain. I am a believer that if you have it one should
use it. In other words if we are in 20’ of water I would send out 150’ of
chain, a 7:1 scope plus 10 ft for the height of the bow above the water. We
have two heavy anchor snubbers too. In a crowded anchorage where swinging room
is limited I will reduce the scope to 5:1 but only if it is absolutely
essential. While here we will be replacing the sound proofing material on the
panels around our generator as the old foam has perished and no longer performs
well. I will also be fitting a new heat exchanger to the generator and the old
one has a pinhole leak which has been causing us to lose coolant. In other
words any job that being on the hard makes easier we will be doing. <br />
<br />
During our stay ashore cooking has been put on the back burner and Lavinia and
I have been sampling the local cuisine, surprisingly good I might add. We have
sampled BBQ, pizza and very good Italian so far. My favourite has been the Lazy
Turtle, owned by a Frenchman who cooks great pizza and several great pasta
dishes, his red wine hits the spot too! The music is that type which reminds
one of dining in a small bistro restaurant on a fashionable back street in
Paris. The moon is waxing so our view here is straight over the calm bay with
beautiful shimmering moonbeams. Great live music provided by a well renowned
local Grenadian band was a highlight on Wednesday nights. For a small quiet
village, which is Tyrrel Bay, the cruiser has a big choice of eateries. Gus our
friend, mechanic and project manager on the day tank installation drove us,
along with his significant other Joe, to another pizza restaurant at Windward a
small village on the NE coast of Carriacou famous for its boat building. We had
great company, a great evening and learned more about Carriacou. <br />
<br />
To divert from the boring stuff of boat work it is time to remind ourselves of
what has become our daily bread so to speak...the islands. No matter where you
are one becomes familiar with your surroundings and usually one ends up taking
them for granted. We now have become used to our cruising life and have, at
least to us, an added benefit which is that we move frequently and change our
surroundings. The beautiful scenes and vistas which present themselves to us as
we cruise these islands is almost unreal. I, for one, have spent many years
yearning to get back to sea and to be free to move my location at will. It is
hard to put into words this need, I guess it is just the life of a sailor. One
learns to become a ‘local’ very quickly and then as quickly say ‘goodbye’ and
move on. There is always a’ call’, the excitement of a passage, a different
island to see, another tranquil anchorage to gaze and wonder at. What a life,
pinch me is this real? There is no way that our cruising life could be taken
for granted the variance and changing of our surroundings not to mention the
challenges of constantly having to familiarize oneself with new places sees to
that...it is a big affair sometimes just to find and buy an egg, fresh milk, by
the way, is a treasure we have yet to find! <br />
<br />
Parts arrived on the ferry yesterday from Grenada (Aug. 17<sup>th</sup>), a
heat exchanger to replace the leaking one on ‘Faraday’ our generator and the
correct 6 gallon per minute fuel transfer pump for our day tank installation.
Today will be a work day and a day in the engine room fitting the heat
exchanger and re-assembling the sound shield that we dismantled yesterday in
order to replace all the sound proofing material. While visiting Jim and Tammy,
other cruisers we have met here in Tyrrel Bay, onboard s/v ‘Sweet Chariot’, we
were talking about our job list for while we are in the marina on the hard, Jim
mentioned he had a roll of R15 insulation sound proofing material, he used to
be in construction, which he didn’t need so was kind enough to donate it to our
cause. It was ideal and the fitting was easy, simply cut to shape and glue with
3M heat proof spray-on glue, we accomplished the task in an afternoon. Gus will
be coming on Tuesday to install the fuel transfer pump and the three brackets
for the selection valves used for the day tank and generally tidy up all the
fuel hoses which </span></span></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">will finish off the project. </span></span></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<br />
The last coat of antifouling paint will be applied on Monday and the</span></span></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> boot
stripe and zincs will be done on Tuesday. Hurrah! We will be launched on
Wednesday (Aug. 21<sup>st</sup>) if all is well. I have already been watching
the weather patterns and consulting Chris Parker our weather guru to try and
plan our trip down to Granada and beyond to Trinidad. The passage to Granada is
relatively short and much of the trip is in the lee of the island of Granada
itself. Our destination will be Prickly Bay or Hog Island, we’re not sure yet.
We can clear out in Prickly bay but it is only a short dinghy ride to Customs
and Immigration from Hog Island too; Hog Island is known for its calm anchorage
whereas Prickly is known to be rolly; choices! <br />
<br />
Last night we met our friend Les and his son Daniel from s/v ‘Golightly’ and
enjoyed a drink at Twilight, a local waterfront bar, before walking the mile to
Lucky’s for, what has become a regular pilgrimage on a Saturday, her Barbequed
pork ribs, chicken and potato wedges, yum! The usual suspects were there too,
Gordon, Judy, Jim and Tammy etc. Food, beer and great conversation...we all had
a good time and on our walk back stopped at the Lambi Queen, another bar and
restaurant on the waterfront, for a nightcap. Oh, the cruising life...!</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tuesday, our last day in the
marina apartment. In the afternoon while two coats of the bootstripe were being
applied and Gus was putting the finishing touches to the day tank installation
HT and I went to say goodbye to Tammy and Jim aboard 'Sweet Chariot' and also
stopped at 'Golightly' to liaise with Les and Daniel about going over to Petite
Martinique together for fuel and rum before we headed to Grenada and they to Tobago.
After that we headed to the beach in order to clean the bottom of our dinghy
ready to bring aboard in the morning once we were launched. As a treat to
ourselves I made a reservation for the Slipway restaurant and at 19:30 we had
the most superb dinner, HT order the Tuna steak and I the beef steak, both
dishes were accompanied by perfect roast potatoes, carrots and haricot vert and
a remarkably pleasant south African red wine. We lingered over coffee talking
about our six week stay in Tyrrel Bay agreeing how much we had both enjoyed
this gem of a destination; the lights flickering over the bay and the sound of
the water lapping at the beach only 15 feet away really gave a great ambiance.
We had a good last night.<br />
<br />
In summary of our haul out experience I can recommend Carriacou Marine Ltd and
the whole crew here, they were accommodating, extremely polite and very
professional. Trevor the owner of the Yacht Club and the marina yard could not
have been more helpful and we will definitely return to his facility again, it was
just plain easy. <br />
<br />
More when we have cruised a little further south... <o:p></o:p></span><br />
</span></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><small>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6C4abmgoMdeDkdKSSgrzQRGbcV-Ugdi6F_ZcSCksMQmRPJ-26iT3Lmqbcqfg6in5526RPuZL2IUUlxGhew0YkrfeaU2A4f_nTfARN8A9tmimfbq9Bu2Tii15gn2LtjOgwnk1qTqsHalX/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD6C4abmgoMdeDkdKSSgrzQRGbcV-Ugdi6F_ZcSCksMQmRPJ-26iT3Lmqbcqfg6in5526RPuZL2IUUlxGhew0YkrfeaU2A4f_nTfARN8A9tmimfbq9Bu2Tii15gn2LtjOgwnk1qTqsHalX/s200/DSC_0009.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super yacht visitor towing his sport boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<small><span style="font-size: small;"></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
<br />
</span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I-zeCKtOaaed-bR-mLUDye7rVXvJTqwy3F4RBKFkNLqRGidUggjeJE1-rFt8eTcnOP4YX0G_xm7HTJrbUPUIbBMsPB96RYqImFsjcfQ55VTVH6bd8RUjYkQtgZ7CjfLsC_rTYeo01MZd/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8I-zeCKtOaaed-bR-mLUDye7rVXvJTqwy3F4RBKFkNLqRGidUggjeJE1-rFt8eTcnOP4YX0G_xm7HTJrbUPUIbBMsPB96RYqImFsjcfQ55VTVH6bd8RUjYkQtgZ7CjfLsC_rTYeo01MZd/s200/DSC_0014.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Carriacou Marine boat yard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk7mAaCNbBhFv6YGRjxO_wq4GC5H8UicZwk44wHeH7veX6xOiAyxy1Fp0N0TbHBjvdZwxhPsVLe-Bbpp-Iv5VbsU8KLu2rZf-HB8pcCdeAEg7W48uE6G8TdsXo5B8MDEb876I04Eqtopf/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvk7mAaCNbBhFv6YGRjxO_wq4GC5H8UicZwk44wHeH7veX6xOiAyxy1Fp0N0TbHBjvdZwxhPsVLe-Bbpp-Iv5VbsU8KLu2rZf-HB8pcCdeAEg7W48uE6G8TdsXo5B8MDEb876I04Eqtopf/s200/DSC_0007.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boat yard from our anchorage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<small><span style="font-size: small;"></span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6oRqORXfK8_BU4pW-VtV8REN9Bwk0wtvGFKgwTKCEjePaTLXGuJg2Pr2DYhQXFlK1Y_L7rgUDQAztQogGwCKW7YceH0AIkTfQAMSfDw3Vs_5XTjNAWwBGvcmeYWTsy5z6q7G3IjZGsqJ/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6oRqORXfK8_BU4pW-VtV8REN9Bwk0wtvGFKgwTKCEjePaTLXGuJg2Pr2DYhQXFlK1Y_L7rgUDQAztQogGwCKW7YceH0AIkTfQAMSfDw3Vs_5XTjNAWwBGvcmeYWTsy5z6q7G3IjZGsqJ/s200/DSC_0019.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQlF7f4S7dKCUtQ6KME86sueSlxZHuO6H1jj1eFw7g8Wbxu2y-kGjOQrBowEEHBkjKxhzRR18GSd00ZCF4LkxSWS-s2FZF1Li5gjxi-sPjObYewhUIGiDINTvmp25sn-tdvrgLvMY4n3V/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQlF7f4S7dKCUtQ6KME86sueSlxZHuO6H1jj1eFw7g8Wbxu2y-kGjOQrBowEEHBkjKxhzRR18GSd00ZCF4LkxSWS-s2FZF1Li5gjxi-sPjObYewhUIGiDINTvmp25sn-tdvrgLvMY4n3V/s200/DSC_0020.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petit Martinique </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<small><span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
</span></small><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI522RdmKrRP21W-9scll-bTuiLIlrPg6ON9wWU_oHjRHY2Cou_TJa0MwSrCLoChBSy8UKSeGhKgSayj2wBy9zNGG-UTRA2yimLj3lPfrolkHxYc8FtglvyzzOvIhJ-jMv3pYxriT1VPoU/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI522RdmKrRP21W-9scll-bTuiLIlrPg6ON9wWU_oHjRHY2Cou_TJa0MwSrCLoChBSy8UKSeGhKgSayj2wBy9zNGG-UTRA2yimLj3lPfrolkHxYc8FtglvyzzOvIhJ-jMv3pYxriT1VPoU/s200/DSC_0021.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petit St. Vincent (PSV)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgTtKou-6o9nn8PHumIU-khdd4WWIHfPCJ3OjkvTJMSZTzFGwTHND9zEwTk-nRS0uXO1v4-gd9wroWe0L8djLNpjpIr6IJ4CxjwlsAjW8KYOy2jiVs2_b7G6bMoFvOmfAMaOB1jOrPH8u/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgTtKou-6o9nn8PHumIU-khdd4WWIHfPCJ3OjkvTJMSZTzFGwTHND9zEwTk-nRS0uXO1v4-gd9wroWe0L8djLNpjpIr6IJ4CxjwlsAjW8KYOy2jiVs2_b7G6bMoFvOmfAMaOB1jOrPH8u/s200/DSC_0032.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carriacou</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7J8av1nIz7FmhYvURqpZ1e1j6CQRuZ1oVC48nUILX6FCI_3ZYHkVUlMNtSvYnCSnZOHDarY7rkz8ZhNDCpausiuEPxh1S2QUEImWTfDQSekG1P9OYjLqn3wjGMiXYPLPu57WBkiSh7CU/s1600/DSC_0025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7J8av1nIz7FmhYvURqpZ1e1j6CQRuZ1oVC48nUILX6FCI_3ZYHkVUlMNtSvYnCSnZOHDarY7rkz8ZhNDCpausiuEPxh1S2QUEImWTfDQSekG1P9OYjLqn3wjGMiXYPLPu57WBkiSh7CU/s200/DSC_0025.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A favourite beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Fx1RayRSY_fmDHJM3syB_UT1Sgy-LyjuivXOTHba7XldEyIyumXAme9zhs5I-vk0is6vjNI6aEbdGXHdk0sQPXOuxE-T1JeR4xWRA3TBGdUi0CFJXF3KObhUQzWMFCmj7d0cTnZUeIRe/s1600/DSC_0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Fx1RayRSY_fmDHJM3syB_UT1Sgy-LyjuivXOTHba7XldEyIyumXAme9zhs5I-vk0is6vjNI6aEbdGXHdk0sQPXOuxE-T1JeR4xWRA3TBGdUi0CFJXF3KObhUQzWMFCmj7d0cTnZUeIRe/s200/DSC_0033.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another beach!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqanBg5ux8-JydZzqeMvJBc_LHGn6V26GcDb2ZZgCsRCcE_QuJntyUY7OFJ0QwG5j2idNp9OdKbfnynTkZN_ZUpXr7yKux1VDUn1wRUKU1WRkCBkBwoqgJD_ycRlHPE9ou2FvzjXTHOnc/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqanBg5ux8-JydZzqeMvJBc_LHGn6V26GcDb2ZZgCsRCcE_QuJntyUY7OFJ0QwG5j2idNp9OdKbfnynTkZN_ZUpXr7yKux1VDUn1wRUKU1WRkCBkBwoqgJD_ycRlHPE9ou2FvzjXTHOnc/s200/DSC_0024.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and another!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g5bHH7qX2PlnyZ7dPXf-YWi1vgX7KBB9PjtlrA_AJ5SxcQrfuLBYvr0XXcSDq9biyQyxzvwqpWEENTEFmPNwgYhBC3EDsEmSgpJu39t21mhBlpfbMUdaQ2DkTIw4NHzKp3yC754Eswh3/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5g5bHH7qX2PlnyZ7dPXf-YWi1vgX7KBB9PjtlrA_AJ5SxcQrfuLBYvr0XXcSDq9biyQyxzvwqpWEENTEFmPNwgYhBC3EDsEmSgpJu39t21mhBlpfbMUdaQ2DkTIw4NHzKp3yC754Eswh3/s200/DSC_0028.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Prickly Bay Grenada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXsjSh4pJB4Itxe79ow5-6K7Plf7U2jVjfKgwjVNFMrmQ-wng5EJsakEv2TzUNjCRbWUMtRuIeaTeyFQbrrh4VzvML6QvKp9U7i8UQ71tPyU_d-C1Q__prJqa_nsmx1LWpjrIQoy1fYP8/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAXsjSh4pJB4Itxe79ow5-6K7Plf7U2jVjfKgwjVNFMrmQ-wng5EJsakEv2TzUNjCRbWUMtRuIeaTeyFQbrrh4VzvML6QvKp9U7i8UQ71tPyU_d-C1Q__prJqa_nsmx1LWpjrIQoy1fYP8/s200/DSC_0006.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding the SW tip of Grenada</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-89716195248185105042013-07-23T07:24:00.001-04:002014-04-21T13:15:51.217-04:00The Windward’s<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">July 11<sup>th</sup> 2013 </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB">Position 12° 27.301’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>61°
29.283’ W</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou, Granada</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOCJxW2-2FfozgC1yCJYqF3RLQPDOerOAY6jEgn0tA-hM37TBYduQPyfDYh1lpaU2ADvoTuwBj_LcBBsTjzCQC7FF2Npliya8LipAgOHqehlDNMZiwn9ctQGJDlZ5Cxa-VqoGlio_JNoc/s1600/DSC_0004+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOCJxW2-2FfozgC1yCJYqF3RLQPDOerOAY6jEgn0tA-hM37TBYduQPyfDYh1lpaU2ADvoTuwBj_LcBBsTjzCQC7FF2Npliya8LipAgOHqehlDNMZiwn9ctQGJDlZ5Cxa-VqoGlio_JNoc/s200/DSC_0004+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Super' Moon as seen in St. Kiits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV38btff5UYPkh0t1q6oQfVdOBwI2oQWdERU0T00dYyTMHsRHefyzrthaLRm-oK7tABXvVq1UZdKlFDcg4bI0h7uqlE15G6HDLqVx8JJpeRp6zMkdf8eYFJRXVTq4cRUEw5DuP42ILXOz/s1600/DSC_0006+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV38btff5UYPkh0t1q6oQfVdOBwI2oQWdERU0T00dYyTMHsRHefyzrthaLRm-oK7tABXvVq1UZdKlFDcg4bI0h7uqlE15G6HDLqVx8JJpeRp6zMkdf8eYFJRXVTq4cRUEw5DuP42ILXOz/s200/DSC_0006+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">The purpose of my blog, number one is for me to document the adventure
Lavinia and I have embarked upon and secondly to keep in touch with family and
friends who want, from time to time, to know where we are! The other by-product
of these ramblings is to promote cruising and the life style both under power
and sail. <br />
<br />
This life is far from boring, frustrating at times, yes! When things are going <i>well</i>
and the ‘dream’ is going according to plan this life is as close to idyllic as
it gets, or at least we think so. We can do what we want, go where we want,
when we want and there are few if any rules. The feeling of freedom is hard to
get used to at first; I guess we are all programmed to follow a course in life
and the rules that come with that course. Out here you make your own life, own
rules (few) and generally beat to one’s own drum. However, when things are <i>not</i>
going according to plan then events can be scary, frustrating and annoying. For
example readers of my blog will know we are attempting to spend the hurricane
season in Trinidad and our insurance company considers that time to be July 1</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">.
– October 31</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">. If we are not below 10° 50’N during these dates the
plan changes! We have no insurance coverage for windstorm damage or, if we
want, we can buy that coverage, it is US$420 extra per month! This,
proportionally, is a huge extra premium in relation to the total annual sum we
pay. The reason I have brought this up is that we have, again readers will
know, been having a problem with our engine fuel supply with air getting into
it somewhere and causing the engine to just stop! This is where the idyllic
becomes horrific and the plan goes awry. At the moment we have been putting up
with this fuel problem now for four months on and off and have finally made a
decision to stop and have the whole fuel system investigated and hopefully
fixed. We are here in St. Kitts and Nevis where we have employed an engineer of
considerable qualification to work on our fuel supply dilemma. The problem we
now have is getting him and his staff on board we have been in St. Kitts now
for nearly two weeks and have yet to see a wrench! When this kind of thing
happens and we have had our fair share, what with the generator failing twice,
for different reasons and the inverter/charger giving up on us too, life moves
into the ‘out of our control’ mode, not good! </span></span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUYHR08myPeuOj10QDFJ8-DZhapb2pT1kE0Zaw3IY8L-jj00hJYSEUn2LjTGvNivSucX-3J7zlPxfWz5xmCkbhHhc_bF48qAYlrQ66JJu_BZ_cNr0lEGw9iO0af9_90Dakjv5uw6iN8z2/s1600/Brashun+in+the+ER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheUYHR08myPeuOj10QDFJ8-DZhapb2pT1kE0Zaw3IY8L-jj00hJYSEUn2LjTGvNivSucX-3J7zlPxfWz5xmCkbhHhc_bF48qAYlrQ66JJu_BZ_cNr0lEGw9iO0af9_90Dakjv5uw6iN8z2/s200/Brashun+in+the+ER.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vybrashun working on the engine</td></tr>
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<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuFS_4dbAAeUfoqRpSXiiEdjq8zhP8OM4NnKMTiHn0UyFHorjrh1n5yuBuFFNe5OO9BXJy73Z5oEIv2Ir6708WWF6xxxzVWItvJ1inmwS7d6rMtyZUlp76N7cF-dlnsyBOgGOsAMZSk0M/s1600/DSC_0007+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuFS_4dbAAeUfoqRpSXiiEdjq8zhP8OM4NnKMTiHn0UyFHorjrh1n5yuBuFFNe5OO9BXJy73Z5oEIv2Ir6708WWF6xxxzVWItvJ1inmwS7d6rMtyZUlp76N7cF-dlnsyBOgGOsAMZSk0M/s200/DSC_0007+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a>One thing here in the Caribbean,
a cultural difference, is the lack of importance associated with time and
promptness. Island time, Mon! We love it and go along with it, we participate
when things are going well but when they are not one is faced with the choice
of putting up with the mentality or causing a fuss which in turn causes a
dislike between oneself and the individual which simply perpetuates the
problem. Soooo, here we are frustrated, waiting for the help to come, and in
the meantime we are running up a huge marina bill spending more money going out
to the town and missing our reservation in Trinidad for hurricane season,
insurance problems, all not good...life suddenly is no longer idyllic and you
start thinking that this cruising life is the pits, being shipwrecked on a
beautiful tropical island is no longer romantic or fun. Wait a minute...is life
ashore free from frustrations? No of course it is not, everyone has them every
day, a flat tire, a flat battery, a traffic jam on the way to work, day to day
living anywhere is fraught with obstacles. This is where a reality check and
choices come in; which set of problems would you choose? This is the thought
process we have to go through as cruisers to keep ourselves in the game. This
week HT and I sat down and reminded ourselves that this problem will be behind
us soon and our lives will return to the ‘going according to plan’ status. We
remind ourselves of the alternatives and any of the land alternatives don’t
appeal. They will, of course, eventually but for now, we will continue to cruise
until we physically cannot do it anymore. Then, and only then, perhaps the log
cabin in the woods, a comfy chair and roaring fire...what, am I really saying
this, yes it will be a reality one day. Take note folks, do the adventuring and
fun things while you still can, tempus fugit! <br />
<br />
Our mechanic Brashun, short for Vybrashun, his street name he tells us, showed
up. He carried out many test on the engine to determine that the motor itself
was not to blame for its own stopping. Stonewall Jackson passed with flying
colours...it had to be the Racor filters or back from there to the tanks. First
he discovered that the Racor filters were not full of fuel and that there was a
small vacuum showing on the gauge. The filters themselves were new, however,
and therefore were not causing the vacuum. Perhaps the fuel tank vents were
blocked, all four of them, I don’t think so! Could it be a hose that had a
restriction, much speculation was abounding. Brashun bypassed the electric
priming pump we had in the line in favour of a fuel bulb the same as one would have
on an outboard motor. </span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaQkwxnjY_-Dnw0NoEuQbLI29llS7MAYjiFudVYvNMyDiJiCzCV4J0AFLnW0A1Avt0TrFqddmVfIlNxKaYQ5Ct14I6FSFY8Y9TgqZuGRl_n6y1C4zI6jI3WGy2IhfNzHV0652XCVjfjdn/s1600/DSC_0012+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaQkwxnjY_-Dnw0NoEuQbLI29llS7MAYjiFudVYvNMyDiJiCzCV4J0AFLnW0A1Avt0TrFqddmVfIlNxKaYQ5Ct14I6FSFY8Y9TgqZuGRl_n6y1C4zI6jI3WGy2IhfNzHV0652XCVjfjdn/s320/DSC_0012+2.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching the Grenadines</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Monday July 1</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> we set off for Port Elizabeth, Bequia in the
Grenadines, we had a great weather window and wanted to make ground. For two
complete days we cruised without a care or any problem then right at the 48
hour mark Stonewall decided to take a break! Why then, what changed, all the
thoughts were raised again just as each time before when we think that the
problem has been identified and fixed. The frustration too is</span></span></small><br />
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<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmmaUHeWgsirIqkh3iFSMH-thyphenhypheno-iCeAvQbtrkWKMLISgtk_uj7XMhTcKEGquMEO9kjryN_P9DsrHmJ_NMXJYuuuYXt6asarXM2QsjZFRAdY6FWE1dcnyXKfHUiw0HoF9mKlqPhBcDKzF/s1600/DSC_0014+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmmaUHeWgsirIqkh3iFSMH-thyphenhypheno-iCeAvQbtrkWKMLISgtk_uj7XMhTcKEGquMEO9kjryN_P9DsrHmJ_NMXJYuuuYXt6asarXM2QsjZFRAdY6FWE1dcnyXKfHUiw0HoF9mKlqPhBcDKzF/s200/DSC_0014+2.jpg" height="131" unselectable="on" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gingerbread in Bequia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
that each
technician wants to go over everything again from scratch whereas if the same
technician were able to pick up again I feel we could move on to a different
area narrowing down the causes and eliminating them one by one. Here in Bequia,
we love this place and have been here before nineteen years ago when we were
married on Young Island; a small island just off St. Vincent. During our stay
at Young Island we also went on a sail-away honeymoon which took us to Bequia
and Mustique two other islands in the Grenadines. We visited our favourite bar
The Green Boley and you can see the <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIreIcwUe6_M2gqtJK-1OoQbK2bdsbVoZAXuvZLhLM9KlLg5ewjzMpI6S1P9c0oM91i9V1nBLfYIoH-KcdWu2LpgSdI3g_vXQbkE9duspIWuUgbTTP_xuSWuCbcA_33fj9O6sKiR-8OBKm/s1600/DSC_0019+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIreIcwUe6_M2gqtJK-1OoQbK2bdsbVoZAXuvZLhLM9KlLg5ewjzMpI6S1P9c0oM91i9V1nBLfYIoH-KcdWu2LpgSdI3g_vXQbkE9duspIWuUgbTTP_xuSWuCbcA_33fj9O6sKiR-8OBKm/s200/DSC_0019+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our anchorage in Bequia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZKVLC1VVvR3AUwum9dBV19wXXW7k9kzDeK4IVVDv92C-6M0rVxJT2cbZHOf3YM6biOGOVMUwwL6018_Bm3ixnn9IbfeCI3Jn6oQa0HTRYiBcBBn91XJB7d7FuqIq8llJq6vQT21Z0OyK/s1600/DSC_0021+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZKVLC1VVvR3AUwum9dBV19wXXW7k9kzDeK4IVVDv92C-6M0rVxJT2cbZHOf3YM6biOGOVMUwwL6018_Bm3ixnn9IbfeCI3Jn6oQa0HTRYiBcBBn91XJB7d7FuqIq8llJq6vQT21Z0OyK/s200/DSC_0021+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bequia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
picture 19 years ago and the one this time!
<br />
The same gentleman, Lyston who started the bar and restaurant, was there as
usual and greeted us. We joined in a conversation with some of the locals Bob,
Jeremy and Fritz and were invited to join them on their table and ended up
having an extended visit and more libations than planned...the dinghy ride home
in the dark was interesting to say the least!
As we sailed out of Admiralty Bay we cruised past Moonhole, check out the link, (<a href="http://www.moonholecompany.com/history.aspx">http://www.moonholecompany.com/history.aspx</a>) and a shipwreck!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0Hq8BqMQB63QAfJvSBxDXulgqvJjUTW0O4PTGI6jv5c3QBwLZVk95ZuWCFImPf-qMNzdKvIQeaNmZQ5NfWIWoM3c_QmHa4TlI420pjYGWss81rY9HTMtMa6o8pcsMqtr4zFCuhnJS6BX/s1600/Then%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL0Hq8BqMQB63QAfJvSBxDXulgqvJjUTW0O4PTGI6jv5c3QBwLZVk95ZuWCFImPf-qMNzdKvIQeaNmZQ5NfWIWoM3c_QmHa4TlI420pjYGWss81rY9HTMtMa6o8pcsMqtr4zFCuhnJS6BX/s200/Then%2521.jpg" height="200" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></small><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3G5rqCQwDB-u0bua6jpdqWAsL028Prw9_Fw1eazn89kJpExPgrP0ulBMAK0y-TSfyRg51Hi8kGuTEAis7OXKj8oPa7vfDU0n4jcsyFIBLykpdQ-mwsjySHvLpYvfUTGNymm2IXD6Ut_U/s1600/Now%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3G5rqCQwDB-u0bua6jpdqWAsL028Prw9_Fw1eazn89kJpExPgrP0ulBMAK0y-TSfyRg51Hi8kGuTEAis7OXKj8oPa7vfDU0n4jcsyFIBLykpdQ-mwsjySHvLpYvfUTGNymm2IXD6Ut_U/s200/Now%2521.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now!</td></tr>
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<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">July 5<strong><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></strong>.We set sail for the small island of Mayreau and Salt
Whistle Bay. Our friends and fellow cruisers Les, on s/v ‘Golightly’ and
Sherman and Judy, on s/v ‘Fairwinds’ were already there with plans to go to the
Tobago Cays for a few days, supposedly one of, if not, the prettiest spots in
the Windward’s. The dreaded ‘air in the fuel’ plagued us all the way to Salt
Whistle so unfortunately after arriving and anchoring in this spectacular
little bay we had to make a decision, sadly, to continue south to Tyrrel Bay in
Carriacou rather than try and navigate the shallow reef waters of the Tobago
Cays with an engine that can stop without warning! </span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small><br />
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<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxb37QPMqVvRLOKvTqkwVjIM3VbR9uwwZjyeD-GOS7ZzfdDwQoZgocAQXgPD7Qreo0DDknjWlYGmgPFDEzDozQlVrD5B7WcjfuzQPln25PWvpk9BHH-0L2XMs7_zcLD3sq-BZ4JugwG0M/s1600/DSC_0019+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxb37QPMqVvRLOKvTqkwVjIM3VbR9uwwZjyeD-GOS7ZzfdDwQoZgocAQXgPD7Qreo0DDknjWlYGmgPFDEzDozQlVrD5B7WcjfuzQPln25PWvpk9BHH-0L2XMs7_zcLD3sq-BZ4JugwG0M/s200/DSC_0019+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYCPgrOFWFY6tS601ZK1BTJLqprfq4BGNWrz40Kecu1eOqqOGhXVIU_DPac6-Ge_zK_3WTWWULqDYWaN2LXkegO5okpl2Jz9WEmsjKFlUK0IZQiFwbIoJxv6YnMMrytWTS54o9wC1wG6L/s1600/DSC_0016+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYCPgrOFWFY6tS601ZK1BTJLqprfq4BGNWrz40Kecu1eOqqOGhXVIU_DPac6-Ge_zK_3WTWWULqDYWaN2LXkegO5okpl2Jz9WEmsjKFlUK0IZQiFwbIoJxv6YnMMrytWTS54o9wC1wG6L/s200/DSC_0016+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></span></span></small></div>
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<br />
We spent one day in
Mayreau, had a ‘sundowners’ party on the beach with about a dozen other
cruisers and later ended up back on ‘Partners’ with friend Les for a great
supper and, as if we needed it, a good enough bottle of wine! We had a great
day and in the morning watched as the ‘fleet’ </span></span></small><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1_WhK3VKlS4aAC2s-AcvQcpHiw2etpFn3hhWqpxYkgxnRUMq2-wtpPKrrOVV2Jl7d-zLVmgOeYWUpJh8j6uIDiQzTMgxKra3qvfaVJLR4M-nR-Ra6NRnsXlRxCC5axQzKBiYGP3XjdfN/s1600/DSC_0026+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1_WhK3VKlS4aAC2s-AcvQcpHiw2etpFn3hhWqpxYkgxnRUMq2-wtpPKrrOVV2Jl7d-zLVmgOeYWUpJh8j6uIDiQzTMgxKra3qvfaVJLR4M-nR-Ra6NRnsXlRxCC5axQzKBiYGP3XjdfN/s200/DSC_0026+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonhole, houses built into the cliffs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKofoqQ6-y39llgytHZ5qyS-niyKDJ4noYyD4poNOPAadY4rj_rKYv3X0BKbtUwGxAXhBKgVmq7g65Hw6-QGw8PlNZrQIx7Yh0QJAgS7FRm61PEvDLZgcp-Br1uLAuelEknbuCAdLdRgxW/s1600/DSC_0021+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKofoqQ6-y39llgytHZ5qyS-niyKDJ4noYyD4poNOPAadY4rj_rKYv3X0BKbtUwGxAXhBKgVmq7g65Hw6-QGw8PlNZrQIx7Yh0QJAgS7FRm61PEvDLZgcp-Br1uLAuelEknbuCAdLdRgxW/s200/DSC_0021+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPGNqammYy8no-BLU_LS6oZ-AezDkMm4m4gfzRvfxoPIobb4tsavo-FxBWbzFY9NAf7xCg3FUdzu6Q3RxrMmDak5HaRZ4z0Ouq7vtX527KGxWAzG8KGN8ZCu_wC_mGY8bMm0JqK1WpuiQ/s1600/DSC_0031+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPGNqammYy8no-BLU_LS6oZ-AezDkMm4m4gfzRvfxoPIobb4tsavo-FxBWbzFY9NAf7xCg3FUdzu6Q3RxrMmDak5HaRZ4z0Ouq7vtX527KGxWAzG8KGN8ZCu_wC_mGY8bMm0JqK1WpuiQ/s200/DSC_0031+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonhole</td></tr>
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‘Golightly’ and ‘Fairwinds’ plus
half a dozen other boats, sailed off to the Cays. The next morning we upped
anchor and made way towards Clifton, Union Island where we would stay for a day
or two until Monday 8 <span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>th</sup></span><span style="font-size: small;"> in order to check-out from The Grenadines. Monday </span><span style="font-size: small;">because Customs and Immigration charge exorbitant overtime fees to check-out at the weekend and Holidays. We anchored in front of the reef which protects the harbour and enjoyed a view of ‘Happy Island’ and Palm Island off in the distance. I just cannot describe these vistas and even the photographs don’t really do justice to what we see with our eyes.</span></span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">While technically there isn’t much of a beach on Happy
Island, you would be hard pressed to find an island with no other purpose than to serve as an oasis for
rum lovers with a proclivity to limin’. The brain-child of one man: Janti.
About 10 years ago he was volunteering to remove conch (or lambi as they are
known in the Grenadines) shells from the beaches of Union Island. Do you know
how much conch the people of the Grenadines eat? A lot! So he began piling the
empty shells up on the reef in Clifton Harbour and before he knew it visitors
began using the conch pile as a make-shift bar. He was obviously on to
something! A few years and an awful lot of conch shells, some cement and a
tremendous amount of work done almost solely by him and you’ve got a Grenadines
institution.</span></span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"> </span></span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></span></small><br />
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<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9BC4wlF1YkSK4RC_dTmtgn0mEXw63f4hXJV9_GavQxXCghdJSjmz88vmmwIWJ6EnaJBZo7UQitdlYFLhRmzTJBmztlRf6Bv8_WSBKvdxhqovRmHPpBFDdPgbMPhqB6tD8txebMCXJaAJ/s1600/DSC_0037+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9BC4wlF1YkSK4RC_dTmtgn0mEXw63f4hXJV9_GavQxXCghdJSjmz88vmmwIWJ6EnaJBZo7UQitdlYFLhRmzTJBmztlRf6Bv8_WSBKvdxhqovRmHPpBFDdPgbMPhqB6tD8txebMCXJaAJ/s320/DSC_0037+2.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57IV2u_aEVz3yxZZcieGflEva5SppJh87lENUnJbQLO-V7vCOFcZCIFrE_T_VGsVXRQA3KAgoF5_cfahvY1Ri40Ab_FhavJvynw-OMVnJNww673bCutSbhrgYM9OVK1-Byrtpz1uL3nsT/s1600/DSC_0033+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57IV2u_aEVz3yxZZcieGflEva5SppJh87lENUnJbQLO-V7vCOFcZCIFrE_T_VGsVXRQA3KAgoF5_cfahvY1Ri40Ab_FhavJvynw-OMVnJNww673bCutSbhrgYM9OVK1-Byrtpz1uL3nsT/s200/DSC_0033+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdFEWE7JH5Wyt3lnCUaYfDBaWTsD_pDmhfEJ6_TNzs58NPQa0Mt2YX9wnl5H9btMZLyfkg-1voUoRX7lnBRi2-aqfPSVAEr40EBqa6uBKWymJvXVHPncfyyIhMuEK9cfhtIE33_J7f2zz/s1600/DSC_0034+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdFEWE7JH5Wyt3lnCUaYfDBaWTsD_pDmhfEJ6_TNzs58NPQa0Mt2YX9wnl5H9btMZLyfkg-1voUoRX7lnBRi2-aqfPSVAEr40EBqa6uBKWymJvXVHPncfyyIhMuEK9cfhtIE33_J7f2zz/s200/DSC_0034+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></span></span></span></small></div>
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</span></span></span></small><small></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></small><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueRwY_XBH7Tkl4uZhZ2A41dgoVq3kX5BY7HBRjrpn-qPtP5alCE4RP-cLXvT5P0oBi3XgSXoBaMSYmmwglKR1Q_kLKtcdQdshxsXKIxF2oKfo2_0Lc67V5B5vj10KAI2Uv6TAB1p3BEH0/s1600/DSC_0045+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueRwY_XBH7Tkl4uZhZ2A41dgoVq3kX5BY7HBRjrpn-qPtP5alCE4RP-cLXvT5P0oBi3XgSXoBaMSYmmwglKR1Q_kLKtcdQdshxsXKIxF2oKfo2_0Lc67V5B5vj10KAI2Uv6TAB1p3BEH0/s200/DSC_0045+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayreau, Salt Whistle Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAddNLpVMYEjQNhoVw2oGtrCER7hrhHFD3VyGf7Re2olC-qiPW5OVYanvKfB5zklmrAYAYS8jvwpEPP3z-KlpDIJl2CEr4qoJisLx6xtkE-qUY3ET6EIPyPU2lPkcZOqfemqWKTUyAdN_/s1600/DSC_0041+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggAddNLpVMYEjQNhoVw2oGtrCER7hrhHFD3VyGf7Re2olC-qiPW5OVYanvKfB5zklmrAYAYS8jvwpEPP3z-KlpDIJl2CEr4qoJisLx6xtkE-qUY3ET6EIPyPU2lPkcZOqfemqWKTUyAdN_/s200/DSC_0041+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayreau, Salt Whistle Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho10hmcN8_hpu2YsMrYqg_qgHerLXN4nND_zEffcdiZcHc6qypkL2SiHAuYr1WxD46NYrr_-Q7cubEX9e9zB8Cdi7dB7CXAR8ZbU2h8Ec-HJ_ISWLV-yLmzr-82zf9_tDZyDKSmiRfrF8f/s1600/DSC_0038+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho10hmcN8_hpu2YsMrYqg_qgHerLXN4nND_zEffcdiZcHc6qypkL2SiHAuYr1WxD46NYrr_-Q7cubEX9e9zB8Cdi7dB7CXAR8ZbU2h8Ec-HJ_ISWLV-yLmzr-82zf9_tDZyDKSmiRfrF8f/s200/DSC_0038+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mayreau, Salt Whistle Bay</td></tr>
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<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<u1:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Monday
came and I took the dinghy into Clifton and immediately found out that it was a
National Holiday in St. Vincent and all of the Grenadines! It is Carnival in
St. Vincent and that is the reason! Sooo, the Customs and Immigration office
was closed in town but still open at the airport, about a mile walk. Not
pleased I made the trek to the airport and checked-out including paying the
additional EC$120 overtime charge which we stayed until Monday to avoid! Oh
well...</span></u1:p></span></span></small><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRNdGJnV1tLBnlpqor6GkD3-6ZQ91btJa2gejnSJ7ld0K8Dtmu_v3UofLDs-9cYIOrZ0PlOa5NEqVSMQSmUgE4AHDo-ptaTxlnYxuhVhfbPw36PEaeJFCRCI8js-IBmah-KeVMwPTMBIE/s1600/DSC_0064+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRNdGJnV1tLBnlpqor6GkD3-6ZQ91btJa2gejnSJ7ld0K8Dtmu_v3UofLDs-9cYIOrZ0PlOa5NEqVSMQSmUgE4AHDo-ptaTxlnYxuhVhfbPw36PEaeJFCRCI8js-IBmah-KeVMwPTMBIE/s200/DSC_0064+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clifton, Union Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_gWZxS-imp3gzJSAaukgN95_u6A4DYl72VbTZ7BgtAX8IZHoWcwUrAD97QZs96NS7983Pua-SS2c7aVxYbGDHT_N8yCSmqd_hGI2-_tFBjhz6jgDmjH-u3x1VYUFiZNkOLHWr2W4uI3K/s1600/DSC_0061+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_gWZxS-imp3gzJSAaukgN95_u6A4DYl72VbTZ7BgtAX8IZHoWcwUrAD97QZs96NS7983Pua-SS2c7aVxYbGDHT_N8yCSmqd_hGI2-_tFBjhz6jgDmjH-u3x1VYUFiZNkOLHWr2W4uI3K/s200/DSC_0061+2.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Island</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u1:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our next stop was Hillsborough, the capital of
Carriacou which is the other main island belonging to Granada and the only
check-in port for the island. We did not intend stopping in Hillsborough long
as our final destination was to be Tyrrel Bay, a cruiser friendly bay on the
west side of the island. Check-in went smoothly and we were granted a three
month visa. We wanted this just in case we decided to stay in Grenada longer
before going to Trinidad; we were
just covering our bases as it is easier to apply at the beginning rather than
going back later to request an extension. The Customs office only charged us
for a month stay EC$75 so if we did leave early we would not be out of pocket
for the whole three months visa we had been given by Immigration; if we stay
longer than a month, however, we will have to pay an additional customs fee but
will not have to go through the immigration procedures again. We walked back up
the town pier to where we had tied our dinghy and the young man who was there ’watching’
the dinghies, I noticed, also carved wooden plaques depicting various scenes.
The wood he uses is a red colour and it gets everywhere including in all the
moored dinghies! I didn’t think much of it at first and we just continued back
to ‘Partners’. We decided to tow the dinghy round the two miles or so to Tyrrel
Bay to save the chore of loading it up on the boat deck and then lowering it
again after anchoring in Tyrrel Bay. By the time we had made this short trip
and a small amount of water had splashed around in the dinghy the white
fibreglass floor was <i>red! </i>The wood was toxic! Not really, but it did
take me half an hour to bleach out the stains! Other boaters beware<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">...We weren’t anchored for long when the well
known ‘Simon’ came by in his skiff to say hello. Simon is a fixture here in Tyrrel
Bay, he is written about in most of the cruising guides and can find most
anything you will need and provide most any service you will need. Island tours
to garbage collection and supplying fresh tasty mangrove oysters are all within
his capabilities. We bought a dozen oysters and ate them relaxing on our
foredeck seat washed down with a Caribe beer...another idyllic day. Well,
actually not quite, we did have the engine fail four times in the short journey
round from Hillsborough! While I was drinking my beer and enjoying the oysters
I couldn’t help but keep looking towards the neat colourful boatyard just ¼
mile away. I agreed with Lavinia that we would enquire about getting a day tank
installed while we were here. Both of us have become increasingly more nervous
about making the long open passage from Grenada to Trinidad with our unreliable
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">engine!</span></span></span></span></u1:p></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u1:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></u1:p></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u1:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Tyrrel Bay, we found out the next day is
apparently home to one of the best fabricators in these parts so the decision
to install the day tank become more possible. We went to the boatyard and
talked to Edwin the yard manager who directed us to Gus, one of the previous
owners of the marina. Gus knew everyone and himself was an accomplished diesel
technician. I arranged with Gus to come to ‘Partners’ the next day, Wednesday,
to do some tests on ‘Stonewall Jackson’ and make sure we had the room to
install a day
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">tank! </span></span></span></span></span></u1:p></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpe8F6S0duYvlFi4C7HJ6JsfD2-rXH94snywLRydWLBhoh6l_1_jzcUO3ZYT7N7a6ZUtAMGoYqeUiC0CP0svfNSlp6qKrcqSULAIm3zaRsiYEd2Fr8XzkPTSo1swbz_e3t1EQ2pMposqR/s1600/Local+Supermarket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpe8F6S0duYvlFi4C7HJ6JsfD2-rXH94snywLRydWLBhoh6l_1_jzcUO3ZYT7N7a6ZUtAMGoYqeUiC0CP0svfNSlp6qKrcqSULAIm3zaRsiYEd2Fr8XzkPTSo1swbz_e3t1EQ2pMposqR/s200/Local+Supermarket.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our local Supermaket!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u1:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">That evening after a day where we felt we
were on the right track to solving our engine/fuel problems we opened a bottle
of wine and ate al fresco on a beautiful Caribbean evening with the only noise
the water lapping against the hull. Lavinia heard something and enquired “what
is that noise?” I replied and said “probably the wind in the rigging”. No,
wrong, it was a neighbouring catamaran that had dragged its anchor and drifted
straight back into us! The stern davits had caught in our anchor chain and
snubbers and we were ‘joined’. We quickly tried to get fenders between the two
boats to save the chaffing which was the noise we heard while eating dinner.
Damage was done to our bow and after calling on the VHF and blowing our horn
two very helpful men Paul and Brum came to assist us. I released out the two
snubbers and used the boat hook to untangle the davits of the catamaran from
our anchor gear. Finally we were separated again. The catamaran kept drifting
off and the two men managed to get it in tow and take it towards the shore
where they could re-anchor it in shallow water. The owner, Bill, we later found
out, was not on board and it was lucky in a way that we stopped his boat from
drifting out into the Caribbean and on towards Central America, a real threat
as with the strong trade winds it would not be the first time a boat that had
broken loose from its anchor had travelled the whole width of the Caribbean all
by itself! Bill, the owner, was very apologetic about the whole incident and
offered to make good the damage. Gus sent Nolan to inspect the damage and for a
very reasonable fee will be making us as good as new today. Bill and I agreed
that accidents happen and that his embarrassment is almost as bad as our
damage, anyway we have agreed to put it all behind us and have a beer together
in Prickly Bay, Granada as both of us will be headed <span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">that way.</span></span></span></span></span></span></u1:p></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpaP1VBwVulhS68s3S3llCgcDpLLL17FC3GFQLItZDAgi7gwfsFSAhtE8SzuIsVOIr3AtVKk_fhuF1xRyOQRRL7rxgMT7s6K2MY4YbHSQorqwxbyEFljP6_LTdf4ZzhDgwlD7DjeFzTdL/s1600/DSC_0077+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpaP1VBwVulhS68s3S3llCgcDpLLL17FC3GFQLItZDAgi7gwfsFSAhtE8SzuIsVOIr3AtVKk_fhuF1xRyOQRRL7rxgMT7s6K2MY4YbHSQorqwxbyEFljP6_LTdf4ZzhDgwlD7DjeFzTdL/s320/DSC_0077+2.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Moon setting in our anchorage in Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u1:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gus informed us that Dominic, the
fabricator, was away in Trinidad working (a good testimonial as there are lots
of skilled workers in Trinidad). Apparently Dominic is very good! Gus said he
should be back by next week and the fabrication of the tank should not take
longer than three days, so we are hopeful that in 10 days we will be finished.
A brand new tank to supply crystal clear filtered diesel to ‘Stonewall
Jackson’, we can’t wait. Once we are operational again we plan on refuelling at
Petite Martinique and then will cruise down to St. Georges, Granada for a short
stop and to see and walk the town then round to Prickly Bay for some fun and
island exploring.</span></span></span></span></span></span></u1:p></span></span></small><br />
<br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u1:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The travels continue...</span><u2:p></u2:p></span></span></span></span></span></u1:p></span></span></small><br />
<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-34413315934549332052013-06-15T18:00:00.003-04:002013-11-15T05:47:32.622-05:00Heading South...<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">June 7<sup>th</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 17° 17.560’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>62° 43.495’ W <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">St. Kitts (Saint Christopher).</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=17.292626,-62.724853&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=17.292647,-62.724874&spn=0.044663,0.075788&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe>
<br />
<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=17.292626,-62.724853&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=17.292647,-62.724874&spn=0.044663,0.075788&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">View Larger Map</span></a><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After a lengthy and frustrating
delay with much unplanned expense we now appear to have ‘Stonewall Jackson’
performing like his old self. Shadow, the diesel technician at Bitter End Yacht
Club, really help us and worked on his day off to enable us to set sail south
on Thursday June 6<sup>th</sup> to take advantage of the great weather window
Chris Parker (our weather forecaster) had been predicting would come. The
trades have been consistently at or above 20 knots for a month now and although
we can travel in these conditions it is rough and miserable, the idea of
passage making for us is to do it in the greatest comfort possible. There is
nothing better than to cruise in benign sea conditions and to really savour the
gentle ocean undulations and a cool light breeze. Trips like this are so
pleasant and we both agree that a trip like I have just described remind us of
why we love boating and in particular long distance passage making. A few days
ago we were very concerned that we would not be able to make our destination of
Trinidad by the required date of July 1<sup>st</sup>. Well, with a little over
two days of cruising and 300 nm further south under our belt would then put us within
striking distance of our goal. In fact with three weeks left to cover less than
200 nm we will have time to stop and find some idyllic island for us to rest
and explore. Our disappointment of having to bypass so many islands has
mellowed a little now as we are so happy that the mechanical problems which
have consumed us for the past three months seem to be behind us, for the moment
at least, dare I say! <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For us to meet our insurance
companies requirement of being in Trinidad from July 1<sup>st</sup> – October 31<sup>st</sup>
for what they consider the worst of the hurricane season, is a big worry off
our minds. If we had been forced to be above 10° N there would be an addition
premium for the added risk so we are happy we can escaped that if all goes well
with this round of travel plans!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB">Friday 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup></span></i></b><span lang="EN-GB"> Oh no, no, no!
After 24 hours of uncomfortable but successful cruising, battling 12’ – 15’
seas crossing the Anegada Passage we had passed Saba Island to our port and Saint Eustatius (Statia to the locals) lay </span><span lang="EN-GB">straight
ahead, ‘Stonewall Jackson’ decided to take a break...air in the fuel system
again. We are dumfounded, with 24 hours of trouble free operation in pretty
rough conditions, we are totally mystified again as to what causes this. When
the boat stops the tendency is for the hull to settle thwart ships to the waves,
she sits in the wave troughs and then she begins to roll and I mean roll. The
Kadey Krogen 42’ is built to be able to right itself from a severe roll of, I
believe 65°, we were rolling 35°! The routine in these situations is, I have to
go into the engine room to bleed the fuel system and Lavinia mans the
pilothouse readying to restart the engine and to get ‘Partners’ back on
autopilot and her course, with stabilizers running again. This whole operation
usually takes less than two to three minutes and is frantic! Invariably I end
up knocking myself or cutting some part of me as I descend into the engine room
and traverse across it to where the secondary filters are, which I have done many times,
only to wonder at what point and when I did it. The adrenalin masks all else
accept one’s mind which guides the body through the many steps to achieving the
end result of getting the boat under way again. The plan now was to proceed to
the next Island which was Saint Christopher or St. Kitts where we knew we would
find some help. I spent most of the next four hours in the engine room standing
by ready to bleed the engine as necessary. Finally into the lee of St. Kitts
the sea calmed and the tall island provided a shield to the wind. Just having
calmer conditions brought a little relaxation to the prevailing tension. The
next task as we cruised south east down the south west facing coast of St.
Kitts, was to call the town marina on our VHF to see if there was a slip
available for us and to advise them of our condition and the fact that we would
need assistance in case our engine failed at the wrong moment! The entrance to
the Marina was straight forward and was free from navigation hazards. We began
our approach, right at that point I did one more very quick bleed of the system
but no air, had the problem gone away again? By a little after 10:00 we were
safely moored up in Port Zante Marina having travelled the last 30 minutes with
no engine shut downs! Phew! The anxiety quickly dissipates as the realization
of safety returns. Dare I tell you, after securing the boat, connecting the
shore power chords and turning off all the navigation equipment, the first thing
I did was to ‘crack’ a tube, or in English, I sat on the back deck and drank a
beer! I cannot describe how one feels after being subjected to one of the most
frightening episodes an owner of a single engine trawler can experience, it is
euphoric, an ecstasy, a rapid deflation of the tension which has been your
companion for way too long. Remember boats travel slowly, our trawler cruises,
in most weather and sea conditions, at 5–6 knots so to travel, in our case, an
additional 25 nm to our selected destination, meant another 4 hours of tension,
worry and discomfort. We have been doing this for the last three months and 600
nm! Wow, you say these people must be crazy...no we are not, the dilemma with
this malady is that the only way we can know the problem is solved is to go to
sea and see if we can have a trouble free passage! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span lang="EN-GB"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJJOchT90vuL-Yd1-addJm0J_YoFG3MMlNKRArtqK2TRiZ242VTS4-_xTE0AlEkISk0t5ztV_8O1LtHXND5964LDhfSsxzcmVhr1DK1uW8JDvNAfk9A_bPrEmLTS4Kvium1BkF-oSBfr7/s1600/St.+Kitts+Harbour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJJOchT90vuL-Yd1-addJm0J_YoFG3MMlNKRArtqK2TRiZ242VTS4-_xTE0AlEkISk0t5ztV_8O1LtHXND5964LDhfSsxzcmVhr1DK1uW8JDvNAfk9A_bPrEmLTS4Kvium1BkF-oSBfr7/s320/St.+Kitts+Harbour.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basseterre harbour and marina.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are a couple who have a passion to be independent, to explore and
be our own masters. Above all we want to travel and explore the world on our
little white ship ‘Partners’, our only home. We enjoy the fact that there are
few if no rules out here, no petty infringements to avoid, no traffic lights to
obey per se, nothing controlling our every move...such as, we heard this about
our home town of Sarasota, FL. Apparently one is only able to park ones car
nose in to a parking garage space as opposed to reversing it in, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i></b>?
I have never heard of anything so ridiculous. We are in total control of our
lives and do as we please when we want to do it. Safety issues and the ‘Rules
of the Road’ while underway, we observe to the letter but that is only common
sense. When in the many foreign countries we have visited and will visit in the
future we try to be the best ambassadors, we read about the local people their culture,
customs and what they expect as regards dress code and behaviours; we are the
visitors and do not want to be view as unwelcome ones so we behave, we believe
that this is a common courtesy. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zR5QWtW9I_6VAjbXFdr7NIaZX48sms7dXnBoc_RJXyou4Nx9DxE4U8GN_MCAqmeQMGFKpUyorV6Thfix7FEX0GOU-y77N7oAotW8J41ls18S2T26QqcVkCoaPKoGfDceoj8tWqQQoIXg/s1600/The+Quay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zR5QWtW9I_6VAjbXFdr7NIaZX48sms7dXnBoc_RJXyou4Nx9DxE4U8GN_MCAqmeQMGFKpUyorV6Thfix7FEX0GOU-y77N7oAotW8J41ls18S2T26QqcVkCoaPKoGfDceoj8tWqQQoIXg/s320/The+Quay.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Quay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Diverting for a moment...one thing we have found out in these months
that we have now been cruising is (here we go with the Soap Box) that our Kadey
Krogen built trawler certainly possesses the capabilities to endure and enable
us to fulfil our dream, it provides the strong safe platform and design to cope
with any sea we have encountered so far and we have had some ‘doozies’ I assure
you. If only we could solve the propulsion issue we would be fine. Most
trawlers have very simple but fool proof fuel systems and our problem is rare.
For any of you ‘wannabees’ don’t worry your boat will be fine. If a Kadey
Krogen trawler is in your future call John Gear, John is the President of Kadey
Krogen Yachts 800.247.1230 and let him guide you through the process, no
pressure just kind understanding conversation...remember though, when it is 'your
time', that you will be living on your own ‘little white ship’, as we are, for
prolonged periods, so make sure the ergonomics suit you, in other words the
liveability. It really is the most important thing. Capability is a given and
there are a few other manufacturers who, in their designs, can offer that too,
but what about a back ‘porch’ a covered comfortable area from which to view the
world and a pilot house to navigate the boat which will also accommodate the ship’s
crew in comfort during those multi day passages. One spends probably one tenth
to one twentieth of one’s time passage making and the majority of the time at
anchor, simply ‘living’ on your boat. Your Kadey Krogen has all these things
including ease of movement throughout the whole boat, go and see for yourself!
Okay, I'm off the ‘Box’.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Moored in Zante marina we met the owner of a sailing boat in one of the
slips just east of us, he was there due to an engine failure, after having some
work done in St. Martin the technician forgot to secure the sump drain plug in
his engine allowing all the oil to flood into the bilge, when it was started
only a few minutes passed before the motor seized and stopped. Being a sailing
boat he was able to continue to port with his sails. David from Indigo Marine
here in St. Kitts, mentioned in Chris Doyle’s pilot book for the area, happened,
quite coincidently, to be onboard. He was installing a completely new engine in
the boat. We had intended to contact him and employ him to help us. David
worked with Camper and Nicholson as their Chief Designer for 17 years and has a quality background with much
knowledge of ship systems. After a quick interruption and introduction we
arranged to meet onboard ‘Partners’ to assess the options. It was late on
Friday so we agreed that Monday would be the first opportunity depending on how
he was doing with our neighbour’s sailing boat project.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Monday came and went, David was not able to come...w</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">e spent four hours of the day walking around
Basseterre trying to find an attachment for a pump we have so we could pump up
one of our big fenders which is gradually flattening between ‘Partners’ and the concrete
wall we are moored against due to the relentless pressure being applied as a
result of the strong easterly trade winds continuously pushing us against the
dock. We didn't find anything and ended up dragging it to a tire store and got
them to pump it up. The four hours were not totally wasted as we had a great
lunch at a little restaurant on the sea front called Elfredo's and it was
really good, local food prepared superbly and very attractively presented, a
definite recommendation.<br />
<br />
On Sunday evening a friend’s daughter Sara who is attending the Veterinary
school here came over for dinner so one way or the other we are keeping our
minds off our frustrating fuel problem. I wrote to Crews Inn Marina, our
hurricane season home in Trinidad, today to advise them that we may be a little
late. Hopefully they will keep our reservation open; I am anticipating at this
point we could be a couple of weeks late. I also heard from our insurance company
that we will still be covered being north of 10° 50’ N after July 1<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">st</span></sup>
with the exception of tropical windstorm damage. In other words as long as any
claim was not as a result of a named tropical storm we will be fully covered
which is some relief. We obviously do not want to subject the boat or ourselves
to tropical storm conditions so urgency in fixing our problem still prevails,
which will enable us to edge south once again and closer to Trinidad. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have been in St. Kitts now for a week and
still have not been able to start the work on our air in the fuel problem.
David who finished the engine installation on the boat just down the dock from
us stopped by to confirm that Friday morning the 14<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> would be ‘D’
day. Well Friday came and Daren, one of David’s employees stopped by the boat
to do a minor job separate from the fuel problem job, but also brought us bad
news…poor David had hit his head while doing the final check on his engine
installation just down the dock and required a trip to the hospital…no starty
work today! We are jinxed! </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At three we had arranged with Sara to go to
the ‘strip’ at Frigate Bay and watch her play volleyball. The ‘strip’ is a line
of bars and restaurants that stretch a good quarter of a mile of more down the
beach and all cater to the college students that attend the veterinary school
as well as the locals, cheap booze, food and free music (loud). </span></div>
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFXrzPgQMxyTP5ezJSTEC89HRnJpS9bh-LG3rn0Pjr0VXj6sYG4Ku6YaY30nXVD1qQah6_k2sHlyVzAriopiEWI7IZ1h5Xr9oZBkuq0fCylSvGx_aFR5I0dX7maS12NHoUIc03v1XWzX4/s1600/The+Strip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFXrzPgQMxyTP5ezJSTEC89HRnJpS9bh-LG3rn0Pjr0VXj6sYG4Ku6YaY30nXVD1qQah6_k2sHlyVzAriopiEWI7IZ1h5Xr9oZBkuq0fCylSvGx_aFR5I0dX7maS12NHoUIc03v1XWzX4/s320/The+Strip.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Strip'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J89-kjP5SbWiIaBKhU-5hrghK8QFQQXoqcaQGTaEfvEWdgm5hiehswafc5gY2mUjXfIgZZHdg0dOrIr2eQrSHfUL9HmIAmPQDzmTLcQeMPLeKlbrudpZzv0Dr1Yfx4X3ASdMtpvMRAqp/s1600/Having+fun+with+Sara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J89-kjP5SbWiIaBKhU-5hrghK8QFQQXoqcaQGTaEfvEWdgm5hiehswafc5gY2mUjXfIgZZHdg0dOrIr2eQrSHfUL9HmIAmPQDzmTLcQeMPLeKlbrudpZzv0Dr1Yfx4X3ASdMtpvMRAqp/s320/Having+fun+with+Sara.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun with Sara </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We had so much
fun and by 19:30 had had enough! Three buckets of beer later and a burger each we
were sated. (6 beers to a bucket, and there were three of us!). A bucket of
beer by the way was $9.25 US. We had to go home but Sara was going to the
airport to pick up a friend flying in for a weekend visit…then the plan was, they
would go home to shower, change and go back out for more fun, dancing and more
of what young college kids do, oh to be young! We really had a super afternoon
and evening and only wish we had the stamina to continue on into the night.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">St. Kitts at this time of year still has two
cruise ships visiting per week which is a huge boost for the local economy. Between
the two ships the town of Basseterre is flooded with a total of 6,000 extra
people every week all spending a little here and there. The country realizes
the value of tourism and is very friendly towards tourists and cruisers like
us. We have received nothing but warm hellos and helpful answers to our
questions as we have toured around. The majority of the population are descendants
from the slaves brought here by the British although now there is an
established Asian and Indian population, all integrated quite happily. There
does not appear to be poverty the population is well dressed and ‘busy’ I don’t
know the employment details but most people seem to have a purpose to their step
as they move around. There is industry here; the grocery shops, three very
close to the marina, are all well stocked and, in fact, have most of what one
would find in the USA plus in addition some things from Europe and England. This was the first
island we had stopped at where I found Heinz salad cream, a product synonymous with
the famed tea time cucumber sandwiches, yum, we bought some! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<div class="Body1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although we wish we were further south at
this time we are making the best of our stay here and feel lucky that we have
found qualified help in a country so welcoming to foreigners; visit St. Kitts
you will remember the experience. From the point of view of the cruiser the
marina is very reasonably priced at .75c US per foot per day and reliable 110v electricity
is .30c per kilowatt, water is a $15 onetime payment for an unlimited quantity.
It is easy in and out and right in the town of Basseterre the capital. St. Kitts has both English and French achitecture and is a thriving vital town...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFBSmVjTJ1fAHJ5iSoJKDILj1WdoQcSzSchyC0LW2uRXTlNcCFIHpR2V-bDE1ULbr-wkJRlZjbACWzci-4-o2k53897RDVEetEgu53v2yDndSRyQvea5BONPCEIcLfzKiPoWeVSofVI35/s1600/National+Museum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFBSmVjTJ1fAHJ5iSoJKDILj1WdoQcSzSchyC0LW2uRXTlNcCFIHpR2V-bDE1ULbr-wkJRlZjbACWzci-4-o2k53897RDVEetEgu53v2yDndSRyQvea5BONPCEIcLfzKiPoWeVSofVI35/s200/National+Museum.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The National Museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1NDpOWcXnVA5wVcQysT6WO03K5t0ad6iHR9NDeviF8Rxf9UR9IEXaWQGCPB0VCYlRrlwNLAedEAb3WnI72JT2yJKwkt7IMAchytAU0xPJgq0shJPkuWHqEpanyXbYOs0uJvED805Qdxc/s1600/Basseterre.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1NDpOWcXnVA5wVcQysT6WO03K5t0ad6iHR9NDeviF8Rxf9UR9IEXaWQGCPB0VCYlRrlwNLAedEAb3WnI72JT2yJKwkt7IMAchytAU0xPJgq0shJPkuWHqEpanyXbYOs0uJvED805Qdxc/s200/Basseterre.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Clock - modeled after Piccadilly Circus, London</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0c3hmJ_Y8qtqflSR-A255iixZ_B1ThgikGheGPgolkamdDxjosnC0PQKd5AZGLQD4K6MbtbTqT4rXS4RgCiIWkIMbbek9bTx3bNqx9R7Unq0OxYTXJ-UFwyYMcrWQ2CFFyPMwtAoYoG_/s1600/The+Clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn0c3hmJ_Y8qtqflSR-A255iixZ_B1ThgikGheGPgolkamdDxjosnC0PQKd5AZGLQD4K6MbtbTqT4rXS4RgCiIWkIMbbek9bTx3bNqx9R7Unq0OxYTXJ-UFwyYMcrWQ2CFFyPMwtAoYoG_/s200/The+Clock.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'Clock'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhMioYz1LjBpzWLVz0nz1mnwO4LIRSKeXaOjrYFMXBTjOgKAgEzR1senNwOyRc62dwC0JAEE7Sqvxbu7-MHhJAOjqjM-5HF9Oq9hiZVG0w1dODJ52dMWytcU-B4o26m5VRjfOYSFWij1M/s1600/Wild+Green+Monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhMioYz1LjBpzWLVz0nz1mnwO4LIRSKeXaOjrYFMXBTjOgKAgEzR1senNwOyRc62dwC0JAEE7Sqvxbu7-MHhJAOjqjM-5HF9Oq9hiZVG0w1dODJ52dMWytcU-B4o26m5VRjfOYSFWij1M/s200/Wild+Green+Monkey.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Green Monkey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3UFAJVmjxmCZFmhiIMzN8XA3zsQCcGOgAH3cEuXA-VwJPfU-4NcYI-371SwlMx5I5i55JeONhX719zAdFpX1smX9JWSN5vbDKMe56UqG4qGxwsgyOT2CNXOU8g9XGyvQfplUjGf74660/s1600/St.+Kitts+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3UFAJVmjxmCZFmhiIMzN8XA3zsQCcGOgAH3cEuXA-VwJPfU-4NcYI-371SwlMx5I5i55JeONhX719zAdFpX1smX9JWSN5vbDKMe56UqG4qGxwsgyOT2CNXOU8g9XGyvQfplUjGf74660/s320/St.+Kitts+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Across the bay at night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There will be more to come from St. Kitts next
week…</span></div>
Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-8325977513803316082013-06-05T11:09:00.002-04:002013-06-05T11:19:07.597-04:00"If we are not moving forward then we are going backwards!"<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">June 5<sup>th</sup> 2013 </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 18° 29.839’ N </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>64° 21.603’ W </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Still at Bitter End Yacht Club,
Virgin Gorda...I had a good conversation with FOJ (First Officer John) back in
Sarasota last evening as I was sitting with the FM enjoying a beer and pizza at
the Crawl pub. Conversation ensued as to whether we should scrub our plans to
move south towards our originally planned destination of Trinidad, scrap our
cruising all together and return to the US or just cruise around the Virgins
for a while, we thought six months. So many choices! We left the pub and walked
back to ‘Partners’ still mulling over a decision that must be made and quickly.
We retired for the evening and after a restless night I rose at 05:00, made a
cup of tea and started the thought process all over again. The prospect of
going to sea and embarking on a trip of at least 130 nm, which would take us to
St. Kitts, possibly 260 nm, if weather permits us to continue south to
Dominica, all with an engine that thus far has been unpredictable and plain
unreliable, is a frightening prospect and a very difficult decision for me to
make. I am making decisions’ for Lavinia too and that is a huge responsibility.
While drinking my morning cuppa these thoughts were being processed over and
over again. I was miserable and emotional. No one wants to be perceived as a
failure or quitter and above all, most importantly, we are really enjoying the
cruising life, we are having the time of our lives seeing all these wonderful
islands. However, common sense and good judgement must be displayed too, my
nature is one of bravado so this emotion I must control. When HT surfaced and
had her first cup of coffee in hand we started to talk once more. The
conversation didn’t take long and Lavinia uttered the words “if we are not
moving forward then we are going backwards”, so...the decision was quickly
made, we are moving east and south to the Leeward’s and on to the Windward’s,
in other words we are sticking to the original plan and are prepared to suffer
the consequences if any. The right decision, we don’t know? I listened to Chris
Parker, our weather guru, and he confirmed that an early departure tomorrow
would be the best time and from there we should have three reasonable days to
cruise south, seas are forecast to be 6' with a 7 second interval with a 4' - 6'
wind chop on top, pretty good for these parts. Winds are forecast to be in the
15 - 18 knot range reducing to 10 - 15 on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span>Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-13469190103811823342013-05-31T00:50:00.001-04:002013-05-31T16:22:54.750-04:00The Virgin Islands III<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May 26<sup>th</sup> 2013 </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 18° 29.839’ N </span><br /><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>64° 21.603’ W </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">St. John, USVI and the British Virgin Islands.</span></o:p></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.497283,-64.360077&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=18.497232,-64.360646&spn=0.01109,0.018947&z=14&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.497283,-64.360077&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=18.497232,-64.360646&spn=0.01109,0.018947&z=14&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl_hnpHd57fxoSU8d3jRdD2F2ik3lmvtF2GQ5oqcctXTWvw1LD6yq3JSzXX2b9LQcsBiqZhzch0jbt9F7fuZnzKkOhOGb-rCVuGMEIeDkyLgGHXrjEiJoghPCYGETfZWxzrKXK6ZJjgxP/s1600/DSC_0048+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl_hnpHd57fxoSU8d3jRdD2F2ik3lmvtF2GQ5oqcctXTWvw1LD6yq3JSzXX2b9LQcsBiqZhzch0jbt9F7fuZnzKkOhOGb-rCVuGMEIeDkyLgGHXrjEiJoghPCYGETfZWxzrKXK6ZJjgxP/s200/DSC_0048+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On May 14<sup>th</sup> we crossed
the few miles from Christmas Cove St. Thomas to Cruz Bay St. John. We continued
to cruise around the spectacular coast of St. John until we came to Maho Bay.
There were plenty of mooring balls available and the weather was settled so
this was the spot we decided to spend some time. St. John is very unspoiled and
is predominantly a national park. It really is beautiful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJKtNvVzdSlAi-cmHVfMJUZHEFcipOAL8xfwhO-SJ2M4Np0QT-y48Y1OkBeXLrw4h6Cdg0YoAmpbXdGSuBh3GUBIMDAfxPNzKK7qkHE4RBYiqAzx7_Iybtynzx1C6I9HtAV_Z_O4CrimP/s1600/DSC_0026+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJKtNvVzdSlAi-cmHVfMJUZHEFcipOAL8xfwhO-SJ2M4Np0QT-y48Y1OkBeXLrw4h6Cdg0YoAmpbXdGSuBh3GUBIMDAfxPNzKK7qkHE4RBYiqAzx7_Iybtynzx1C6I9HtAV_Z_O4CrimP/s320/DSC_0026+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8Va7vKw1LSGy3ph9ytBA-QtxqpL_VvEj9XbXNCKkMBziX8nd0qcUqogELN3XAQHAPNPXcqLA2teUZd-WcfXG4pZ8Rba5I9ZYjGx8TWPo91BghfKpEVgqHeYp-DEM5s4igTc_U4Hghrlh/s1600/DSC_0067+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8Va7vKw1LSGy3ph9ytBA-QtxqpL_VvEj9XbXNCKkMBziX8nd0qcUqogELN3XAQHAPNPXcqLA2teUZd-WcfXG4pZ8Rba5I9ZYjGx8TWPo91BghfKpEVgqHeYp-DEM5s4igTc_U4Hghrlh/s200/DSC_0067+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>the water was crystal
clear and where we were moored the depth was 10’ which is shallow for the
Virgins; these islands rise straight up from the depths and it is not uncommon
to be anchored or moored in 40’ to 60’ of water. We could see the bottom and we
swam from the back of the boat. We were only accompanied by one other boat as
the photo indicates and really felt isolated and privileged. We spent an
idyllic day on the beach swimming and walk, in fact walking the length of the
beach with a small lemon shark that was swimming along with us the whole way only
6 – 10 feet away. Our night was calm and peaceful. In the morning, however,
when I started the generator to replenish our batteries the inverter/charged
quickly showed an overheat warning light! After a quick diagnosis we sadly had
to make the decision to leave Maho and seek help from a marine electrician so
we sailed from St. John to Soper’s Hole in Tortola, BVI which was the nearest
civilization on our continuing route. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KHqxJZG2tMHNxDyAQdpPkZ-rIv_k7zZ56xGiM1HGYeQXY7NcIziZ3tuvThVsqxiDK7YFLsb7N9xLkaP9Y8BLq67K_kuUaQ20x1mcGtdbQKOoG0Opzi3dgqNTGDm6fIiM298sC_Yv-t8Z/s1600/DSC_0023+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6KHqxJZG2tMHNxDyAQdpPkZ-rIv_k7zZ56xGiM1HGYeQXY7NcIziZ3tuvThVsqxiDK7YFLsb7N9xLkaP9Y8BLq67K_kuUaQ20x1mcGtdbQKOoG0Opzi3dgqNTGDm6fIiM298sC_Yv-t8Z/s320/DSC_0023+2.jpg" width="320" /></a>Our short trip was uneventful and we were
safely tied up in the marina by 10:00.
The first thing we had to do is check in
with customs and immigration which was on the opposite side of the bay from
Frenchmans Cay in West End. Butch, our very helpful dock boy, took me across in
the marinas dinghy. The check-in procedure was easy and cost $22.50 which
included a one year BVI cruising permit. I could have checked us out at the
same time for a small extra cost if I had known when we would be leaving but
could not due to us needing the repair, I had no idea how long it would take. Butch
picked me up from the Customs and Immigration dock and took me back to Soper’s
Hole Marina where I checked in to the marina office to complete their
formalities. By this time it was lunch time so we sat on our back deck surveying
the area and enjoying the activity. Butch told us that the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">marina had
a general technician who could look at our problem later in the day, as it
turned out he was held up with another job and couldn’t make it. I re thought
the situation and called around; it appeared the company to employ was Cay
Electronics (pronounced Key) who were in Road Town, the capital of Tortola. I
spoke to Butch and thanked him for the help he had offered with their
technician; he endorsed the credentials of ‘Cay’. The problem was when they
could come! Peter, the gentleman I talked to, could not schedule the inverter
guy until Friday 17<sup>th</sup> May, so here we were stuck in this great place
for at least two days. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Soper’s Hole is a complex and
contains a great grocery store, various boutiques’ and several restaurants.
There is also a full service boatyard with travel lift. At night the place was
just plain picturesque; the centre piece of the marina is ‘Pussers’, famous in
the BVI’s for their stores and, of course, their rum! Nearly every day a new
super yacht would stop in at the marina; their outer dock, right next to us, could
accommodate up to at least 161’ as that was the length of ‘Te Manu’, a
beautiful Codecasa built yacht. The approach channel is deep and it is very
easy for these large yachts to come in and leave, not to mention that the
grocery store is at the head of the walkway from the docks to the marina, no
more than 100 ft away which makes provisioning easy and quick. I think also
that they pick up and disembark charter guests here too. The most memorable
part of her visit was her underwater lights which attracted many fish, mainly
tarpon and small sharks. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM0d132dyqZ0qx7IljK5FG3IP4YMw6qsH0WIrr7p9BJwWjxhllISK4gU85H5K-3QiQ7YxNdX6srFGlZLslMeuMYAAdz3aVC5sJcWxBzIPAlC_k3yQEIcuEXByWDCB9vXhs8piDNuVyro-/s1600/DSC_0004+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM0d132dyqZ0qx7IljK5FG3IP4YMw6qsH0WIrr7p9BJwWjxhllISK4gU85H5K-3QiQ7YxNdX6srFGlZLslMeuMYAAdz3aVC5sJcWxBzIPAlC_k3yQEIcuEXByWDCB9vXhs8piDNuVyro-/s200/DSC_0004+2.jpg" width="200" /></a>‘Te Manu’ stayed two days and over the next three
consecutive days there was a different super yacht in the outside slip next to
us!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During the two days waiting for
Friday to come and the technician to fix our inverter/ charger was difficult as
the only way we could keep our batteries charged was to run our main engine
‘Stonewall Jackson’. After two days of running 12 hours per day an old problem
reared its ugly head, air in our fuel system! Yes, ‘Stonewall Jackson’ quit, he
just died! I had a feeling that the small ‘O’ rings that seal the main engine
mounted fuel filters was the problem. The last time I had changed them the ‘O’
ring, on one of the two filters, looked a little warn but the Fram filters that
I stock have all the replacement gaskets in the box with the exception of the
main bolt ‘O’ ring. I ordered a dozen of them from American Marine, the Lehman
dealer, which had been sent to our mail service in Florida, but because of the
uncertainty of how long we would be spending in any port, have not been scheduled
for a delivery to us at this point. We were expecting to ‘order’ our mail when
we arrived in Sint Maarten as we knew we would be there a week. Now, because of
our problem, we will have to cut that stay short to keep us on track to be in
Trinidad by July 1<sup>st</sup> so I don’t know when we will get a mail drop,
perhaps Trinidad! We can ‘see’ our mail on line though as our service St.
Brendan’s Isle in Green Cove Springs, FL will scan it which enables us to read
it and decide whether we need it sent, shredded or just downloaded in the form
of a PDF file, pretty cool actually. </span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Friday 17<sup>th </sup>Compton,
inverter guy, from Cay Electronics arrived on time, something unusual in the
Islands, we have found, and immediately went to work. HT and I had already
removed the floorboards in the salon to provide access to the engine room so we
were ready! Quickly Compton diagnosed that the inverter needed a new fan and a
new circuit board. In two hours we were all set and everything was working as
it should. We celebrated with an early ‘Happy Hour’!</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Saturday 18<sup>th</sup> Back to
the air in the fuel and ‘O’ ring problem, HT and I decided to go to Road Town
and specifically a store there called ‘Parts and Power’. Apparently this store
has everything for boats; we walked round from Frenchmans Cay to West End,
about a mile or so, where we knew we could get a taxi, a bus or a ferry which
would get us to Road Town, well, the buses don’t run on weekends we found out,
and the ferry goes to Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas where we would then have
to catch another one back to Road Town so that was out as it could take all
day. The only other option was a taxi. We saw a taxi bus that had a couple of
available seats so asked if we could join the crowd. The fare is a little less
if there are other passengers on board so instead of having to pay the published
fare of $27 we paid $24. Once in Road Town and after a visit to an ATM to be able
to pay the cab driver, we had to find ‘Parts and Power’. It turned out we
needed a bus, they do run in town at the weekends, as ‘Parts and Power’ was at
the far eastern end of town, some two more miles. We arrived and Tony who was
the store manager could not have been more helpful and in no time we had the
‘O’ ring and compression washers we needed. Tony showed us around the store and
his stock rooms, I don’t think that I have been more impressed the shelves and
storage racks went on forever. Apparently the store is one of the main
suppliers throughout the Caribbean.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFvUI-06OC5tDrhSPWral9SmDLewaEM8M0F1z7mpVB9yxcwXsChKmOWnJlxMs3_D18y-Sq5s-QuNQ-Ipq-ZGhRhNdT6Ug9QBOtuxh9wBcAqBThTViBE70Ib8-546_OoHP5vACdkFBQNBJ/s1600/5-27-13+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUFvUI-06OC5tDrhSPWral9SmDLewaEM8M0F1z7mpVB9yxcwXsChKmOWnJlxMs3_D18y-Sq5s-QuNQ-Ipq-ZGhRhNdT6Ug9QBOtuxh9wBcAqBThTViBE70Ib8-546_OoHP5vACdkFBQNBJ/s200/5-27-13+005.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt8GgoG64Gjkf-IdeoV7FdfGXaGf031uDnbWFN4SFcadSyNtf_GxKOii7MUI6kOv47Ciaoxs6P_UMKaBrmvZLIgVAFnoE8-9xG99gsZVH8Y3QFpGgNznt5d5Aqk95g7kb64j_aavlsBGD/s1600/5-27-13+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUt8GgoG64Gjkf-IdeoV7FdfGXaGf031uDnbWFN4SFcadSyNtf_GxKOii7MUI6kOv47Ciaoxs6P_UMKaBrmvZLIgVAFnoE8-9xG99gsZVH8Y3QFpGgNznt5d5Aqk95g7kb64j_aavlsBGD/s200/5-27-13+003.JPG" width="150" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have visited Road Town before
having stopped here while on an Oceania cruise aboard ‘Regatta’ our favourite
ship. We hopped on board another taxi back into town and began a walk around.
Very soon we started to recognise places and areas that we had visited before.
A small cafe we passed which we had stopped at on our last visit had a
chalkboard menu outside advertising a curried chicken sandwich, I love them, so
in we went, and lunch was great. The cafe sold reproductions of old maps and
charts and last time we had bought some. One is on the bulkhead in our guest/den/office cabin. We walked to the waterfront and found a taxi stand, singled
out a driver and negotiated a fare for the return to Soper’s Hole, off we went.
You can see that being a cruiser is time consuming and the convenience of a car
being parked outside and always being available and taken for granted, I might
add, is quickly forgotten. A trip to a grocery store in some places is an all
day affair. Our journey into Road Town was only 7 miles, admittedly the road
was windy and bumpy, but would have taken only 20 minutes in one’s own car and
the whole outing probably would be over in a couple of hours. What with the
waiting for taxi’s buses and the walking in between our trip took 6 hours! We
have adjusted and find that this pace is just fine; we do ‘smell the roses’ and
the walking, there’s lots of it, is good for us. We see much more and it amazes
us what one misses while driving, both in the rural areas as well as in town. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XYW9xvofbioLbM0eqR5X5Bq0Ih-aagLTxS6VX96nqqn5EwzQCTD84Om9marrN4gdpzsvlTc3_sBRZlm8bKxlDeJ2Wat9G4rH_u7W5ty14jsm-_BgJ-Y20JQbbBXirgAq5g-zXSDjVUGB/s1600/DSC_0024+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XYW9xvofbioLbM0eqR5X5Bq0Ih-aagLTxS6VX96nqqn5EwzQCTD84Om9marrN4gdpzsvlTc3_sBRZlm8bKxlDeJ2Wat9G4rH_u7W5ty14jsm-_BgJ-Y20JQbbBXirgAq5g-zXSDjVUGB/s320/DSC_0024+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marina Cay - notice the UK style red phone box!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I quickly reassembled the engine
filters and we set sail from Soper’ Hole on Sunday 19<sup>th</sup>. I had
planned a cruise around the north coast of Tortola so we could see all the
super bays and sights. We passed by Trellis Bay, Marina Cay and Scrub Island,
again I must say that the cruising around these spectacular islands provides
scenery and jaw dropping views continuously. Travelling at 6 knots all the time
means that we don’t have to pay attention to driving all the time we can walk
out to the bow or aft deck to absorb the sights, snap some pictures and
generally be aghast at where we are and what we are seeing. The boat was
performing perfectly by the way! Soon we were clear of Scrub Island and on our
way to the ‘Dogs’, literally! There are seven islands, the three Seal Dogs, West
Dog, George Dog and Great Dog and also don’t let us forget Cockroach Island,
they are in St. Francis Drake Channel and are mid way from Tortola to Virgin
Gorda. We cruised straight through the middle of the island cluster and
continued on toward Necker Island in the distance, owned by Sir Richard
Branson, towards the entrance to North Sound, Virgin Gorda. The whole cruise
from Soper’s Hole to Bitter End Yacht Club in North Sound is approximately 25
nm. The close proximity of all the islands and bays is what make the Virgins
such a popular and perfect cruising area. Yes, there are a lot of boats and many
are charters; cruising is a little different when you are mixed in with
charters as, with no disrespect, they are on vacation and are not on the same
‘mission’ as we are. Cruisers are a breed and want to make friends and expect
to mingle and congregate with other cruisers, we feel lonely here as we are
‘late’. What I mean is that most other cruisers are now way south of us on
their way to Grenada or Trinidad for the hurricane season; we have some
catching up to do; there is still time but we will need good weather windows
and no more mechanical problems! Don’t get me wrong the charter companies do a
great job of providing the opportunity for so many ‘wannabe’ cruisers to get
their feet wet. We have talked to so many cruisers who have at some point
‘tried it out’ with a charter. We just miss the crowd and in particular ‘Ann
Louise’ with our friends Bill & Ann on board. They will be in Dominica
today some 250 nm miles ahead of use. In reality that distance is no more than
48 hours cruising. I am jumping the gun a little here so let me catch up: We stayed
on a mooring ball at Bitter End Yacht Club waiting for a weather window to
cross to St. Martin for about a week. Bitter End and Saba Rock are the two most
popular and comprehensive destinations in North Sound the others are YCCS
(Yacht Club Costa Smeralda) the very grand super yacht marina which is just
magnificent and Leverick Bay. There is no doubt that this is a great spot to be
waiting for a weather window! We have lots to do to pass the time, there are
movies, bars, restaurants and hiking trails, photo opportunities and constant
movement of boats in and out; just sitting on our aft deck gazing is
interesting! Chris Parker our weather guru was sadly forecasting that the
recent streak of high winds and sea would continue with no end in sight. He
explained that any vessels wanting to move and head east and south would have
to pick the best day out of a bunch of bad ones. Well, we picked yesterday the
25<sup>th</sup> May. A good day or at least it started that way, we had checked
out from the BVI’s the previous day at the Customs and Immigration office in
Gun Creek, VG we were all set to cross the Anagada Passage with 8’ seas and a
6’ wind chop on top! Remember this is the best day for the foreseeable future,
ugh! Off we went, we didn’t get more than 3 nm and ‘Stonewall Jackson’ quit! Oh
no, not again the air in the fuel problem returned. I managed to bleed the
system enough, several times, to enable us to limp back to the mooring field at
BEYC. In the process of bleeding the engine filters so often I also managed to strip
the filter housing threads for one of the bleed screws! HT and I lowered our
dinghy again and set off towards the registration at BEYC. We made a phone call
to our parts supplier American Diesel in Virginia, US but they were closed, it
was Saturday, and as it is Memorial Day on Monday will not re-open until
Tuesday so we are here for at least another 7 – 10 days I figure as it will
take a week to ship in some parts. Problems always seem to come at weekends!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Having an engine that is
unreliable is consuming, preoccupying and a nagging thought in one’s mind that
won’t go away. It is not fun going to sea wondering if the engine will remain
running or not...depressed about our lot HT was doing her best to lift my
spirits and reminded me of the beauty of our local and that in spite of the
engine problems we were fortunate people...she succeeded ‘snapping me out of it’
and did manage to lift my spirits; we pledged to each other that we would enjoy
our extended stay in North Sound. One big event that takes place here every
year is the annual Leverick Bay Poker Run, an event which is big with 180 boats
participating. Early on Sunday morning we boarded the dinghy and set off for
Leverick Bay and the festivities. Here are some pictures of the event...lots of
fun!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73M4h1ovFtI5v0AFna0pfvGpAaIdvlpxIhgtzzBzsM-VWE6NrUaGYph736JQffn6rRPcdcHw6d8pLNcIMf63HTRwyqMUFsBZ_HWKOv8fbDr8XB3ZbKnvUrRDI3ZGBpZCrk3414WDRB7lN/s1600/Walking+up+the+steep+hills+VG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj73M4h1ovFtI5v0AFna0pfvGpAaIdvlpxIhgtzzBzsM-VWE6NrUaGYph736JQffn6rRPcdcHw6d8pLNcIMf63HTRwyqMUFsBZ_HWKOv8fbDr8XB3ZbKnvUrRDI3ZGBpZCrk3414WDRB7lN/s200/Walking+up+the+steep+hills+VG.jpg" width="150" /></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We will be remaining in North
Sound to repair our fuel delivery system and do some extensive sea trials
before setting off once more to head down the island chain towards our
destination of Crews Inn, Chaguaramas, and Trinidad.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There are a couple of lighter subjects to share, Lavinia loves to walk, me not so much but we are 'Partners' right? One day we walked, mostly uphill or so it seemed, as we were walking we passed a tree with very long seed pods that, to me anyway, looked like tongue...a photo op was born.</span><br />
<br />
The other is that my last haircut, not that I have much on top, was back in January before we left Sarasota. For some reason a chance to visit a barber just didn't present itself then I became superstitious about cutting it thinking it might be bad luck, in other words I kept finding excuses not to cut my hair. Eventually we decided that HT could do it and I didn't much care if the result was not 'Vidal Sassoon' like. Soooo, the day arrived see the before and after pictures below! Not bad don't you think?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxC4SZst9F_2j2VkUAtO72t9B_oz4_nnrv16Wwjn5E7Fn9DGsDfXMv8UWWkzfKDVn5tUd7k9nd_GTt6lkEUafhvZn0lXl-8r8YSVQrTno_D5wQ7LGOtgwK50ovhBcy24RIcsDvb7WCwg2/s1600/DSC_0068+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMxC4SZst9F_2j2VkUAtO72t9B_oz4_nnrv16Wwjn5E7Fn9DGsDfXMv8UWWkzfKDVn5tUd7k9nd_GTt6lkEUafhvZn0lXl-8r8YSVQrTno_D5wQ7LGOtgwK50ovhBcy24RIcsDvb7WCwg2/s200/DSC_0068+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoTnN3sthHKiTDVe-qjXddPS5eryfC98lzh-LavGPP87ox8yG-qPCKo0tgZ6SeYDu6srANj0RNxBj3aEW490xT_o5q4MSa9scVg64Rae5LYnaA2uttRFTsPA9zomgMipcIZw9xGzyX1S6/s1600/DSC_0071+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjoTnN3sthHKiTDVe-qjXddPS5eryfC98lzh-LavGPP87ox8yG-qPCKo0tgZ6SeYDu6srANj0RNxBj3aEW490xT_o5q4MSa9scVg64Rae5LYnaA2uttRFTsPA9zomgMipcIZw9xGzyX1S6/s200/DSC_0071+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP86lXECNUtbsHwX9WfciXycwbEoTX8fj44ypj0sgZG0sNgp98TAlLQv_XI0m-RPAiZlOe5azJgtZN0b-0zyVnkd8QjLn1YQIHI14kZyeKSyFMX2kBFJMdRkU07fA6Wt2hFTwElnEG_1A/s1600/DSC_0075+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP86lXECNUtbsHwX9WfciXycwbEoTX8fj44ypj0sgZG0sNgp98TAlLQv_XI0m-RPAiZlOe5azJgtZN0b-0zyVnkd8QjLn1YQIHI14kZyeKSyFMX2kBFJMdRkU07fA6Wt2hFTwElnEG_1A/s200/DSC_0075+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here are some more bonus pictures that we took along the way...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhazQyjTxT2jrok7_kyJi_XoyPswRoJjIKvW_YqfPLVW3hFBtyU4gHAPS3Q1b__WFy691EoQHzhyXFPf0ukJsGzDIqgH6F9RO3BSPOHUkSC18892wtYN-QiyYTGTOi_UgZhJjoXdlXRb4/s1600/DSC_0059+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhazQyjTxT2jrok7_kyJi_XoyPswRoJjIKvW_YqfPLVW3hFBtyU4gHAPS3Q1b__WFy691EoQHzhyXFPf0ukJsGzDIqgH6F9RO3BSPOHUkSC18892wtYN-QiyYTGTOi_UgZhJjoXdlXRb4/s200/DSC_0059+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bitter End Yacht Club</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaROgAnX1WpnGa6CqUkR-JalHpaGO_pTzPNIehMFHWI9USqm7TiN9-r0n7o1zXyo0vVw1HSpZZqEHE1OqZP7iorSnwzp0RZDKooO73POWFoBkc3zKigUS7MYgsvNOuqsqFREjGJkaVkAnQ/s1600/DSC_0060+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaROgAnX1WpnGa6CqUkR-JalHpaGO_pTzPNIehMFHWI9USqm7TiN9-r0n7o1zXyo0vVw1HSpZZqEHE1OqZP7iorSnwzp0RZDKooO73POWFoBkc3zKigUS7MYgsvNOuqsqFREjGJkaVkAnQ/s200/DSC_0060+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saba Rock</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLTGWzEKdP2IS795H6hZmXn9xv1Uy2xpuiVSgsrUfv6sKBRJr_ypyGRHsbqVfht8nEBV6hVXV8TfIQcq4qL-ww5J_U1Eoq9-Vu4nHccEKBQIgqXWxeK0lHIOiCTuvEOmoIcRmiJUA3byN/s1600/DSC_0058+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLTGWzEKdP2IS795H6hZmXn9xv1Uy2xpuiVSgsrUfv6sKBRJr_ypyGRHsbqVfht8nEBV6hVXV8TfIQcq4qL-ww5J_U1Eoq9-Vu4nHccEKBQIgqXWxeK0lHIOiCTuvEOmoIcRmiJUA3byN/s200/DSC_0058+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfv1_xcepn8uFkCZsuyXD-BINZrup96_P6O9RgP_fI94rltDxMJtCr602a6wvaNF_V_Fo_wTRHplAD-wupJ0GT4c-ihcEyH6hRNkI9aXCSnJgCV7KfFme9l5ssLdmntYwDgqhlxJND4dw/s1600/DSC_0047+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfv1_xcepn8uFkCZsuyXD-BINZrup96_P6O9RgP_fI94rltDxMJtCr602a6wvaNF_V_Fo_wTRHplAD-wupJ0GT4c-ihcEyH6hRNkI9aXCSnJgCV7KfFme9l5ssLdmntYwDgqhlxJND4dw/s320/DSC_0047+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Necker Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIpvmeOCKZ6D0BqtmTkArOaB2Qs3qZLaeeHAUf6tT3lG2O2CaTsnytxz9-9JLaI6XwkXNhhYnzPVKyIc5enoOPUrbKnrXuGXwOQMtJZVCUC2Dk7TrI6BfReciIKV_Z8sjto039D8rtXo1/s1600/DSC_0078+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIpvmeOCKZ6D0BqtmTkArOaB2Qs3qZLaeeHAUf6tT3lG2O2CaTsnytxz9-9JLaI6XwkXNhhYnzPVKyIc5enoOPUrbKnrXuGXwOQMtJZVCUC2Dk7TrI6BfReciIKV_Z8sjto039D8rtXo1/s200/DSC_0078+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtvDBHqRQognQH1Q5283yTeqd4v2uJDwY9JxcwgdkjirajcXa6dNpD4gnp6OFCgZkEMW26mMOfXQCpk9ITfl9bwNA0s5nXoWHG4w2ExFzUCnTWnDiDsvqcCW7XLLckqGThHJEnxDIRiYK/s1600/DSC_0116+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixtvDBHqRQognQH1Q5283yTeqd4v2uJDwY9JxcwgdkjirajcXa6dNpD4gnp6OFCgZkEMW26mMOfXQCpk9ITfl9bwNA0s5nXoWHG4w2ExFzUCnTWnDiDsvqcCW7XLLckqGThHJEnxDIRiYK/s200/DSC_0116+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our anchorage view North Sound, VG</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqf0_FBGpAm0Kq0ZmOgrE4ZJhf3b0U0nA9Nm8yNxzi15eaPGy3676wCdDDQVSb8k0ksOko_rz_S-EnXGfo-qJ9nDV289CzxcDrW-j2bsPIWfPc-IVyntzdkAwNvcNs_S904g4_srofmu_/s1600/DSC_0126+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqf0_FBGpAm0Kq0ZmOgrE4ZJhf3b0U0nA9Nm8yNxzi15eaPGy3676wCdDDQVSb8k0ksOko_rz_S-EnXGfo-qJ9nDV289CzxcDrW-j2bsPIWfPc-IVyntzdkAwNvcNs_S904g4_srofmu_/s200/DSC_0126+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our slip at BEYC</td></tr>
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This will be the last entry for the Virgins my next entry will be from somewhere south of here, I hope! I just don’t know where yet!Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-72555573209187234892013-05-19T07:29:00.000-04:002013-05-19T09:27:22.614-04:00The Virgin Islands II<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May 9<sup>th</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 18° 19.123’ N <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>64° 52.036’ W <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Benner Bay, St. Thomas, United
States Virgin Islands.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.318662,-64.867315&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=18.318861,-64.867122&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=18.318662,-64.867315&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=18.318861,-64.867122&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNsligXO5UgfZ3oPc-GHfgnnGWVvAxWAKQ8UTjj3H1g0ce5tt3PLSw3pyI7CXlWvhjk4o7tUT46QtHHre6-O7amPi0W_DGWNg0iARVlq9TQZzJBTqhfVonDOqfbihLlJ_aCyRjFouegWu/s1600/5-12-13+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimNsligXO5UgfZ3oPc-GHfgnnGWVvAxWAKQ8UTjj3H1g0ce5tt3PLSw3pyI7CXlWvhjk4o7tUT46QtHHre6-O7amPi0W_DGWNg0iARVlq9TQZzJBTqhfVonDOqfbihLlJ_aCyRjFouegWu/s320/5-12-13+001.JPG" width="240" /></a><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">An interesting little titbit for all of you reading this and contemplating a cruise to and around the Caribbean (or anywhere else for that matter), the position above, according to Nobeltec’s chart of the area, puts us on dry land! The motto here is Radar is invaluable and so are your own eyes! The paper chart and the electronic Raster chart, by the way, are spot on! <br /><br />May 2</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">nd</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> Tracy, owner of the local Westerbeke Dealership, came on board and quickly diagnosed that the generators electrical generating coils were burned and needed to be rewound! Expensive, of course! Our boating adventure has mixed emotions, the happy times seem to be extreme but so are the disappointments. This swing really takes some getting used to. I was finding myself so happy after an idyllic day and then so severely depressed when the idyllic life suddenly came to an abrupt (sometimes grinding) halt. I am trying to talk myself through the tougher times by telling myself that these (the tough times) will be over and that the elation of the great experiences during the good days is just around the corner again. This Cruising life is real and on our little white ship the ups and downs cannot be hidden from, you can’t get away from them, they are around us, under our feet and really in our faces! No burying your head in the sand here! There is a blatant reality to every day and some despair but in spite of this neither one of us would exchange our lives aboard now; it is all absolutely worth it.</span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">After disassembling ‘Faraday’(see Glossary) the diagnosis, as I thought, was bad and the generating part has‘fried’ and needs replacing. The cause was a leaking hose, the one bringing the sea water to the raw water pump. A lesson to learn here, at least for me, the hose clamp was tight but with continual checks and further routine tightening had caused the back of the hose (where I couldn't see) to be perforated. Water from the leaking hose collected in the none drained pan area and the rotating generator had picked it up and spun it everywhere inside the electrical coils and windings, 'poof' no more electricity! It is Saturday May 4</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> and on Monday we will be exploring the alternatives of rewinding our existing part or buying a rebuilt unit from Westerbeke and having it flown in from the distributor in Ft. Lauderdale. Tracy, our technician here in St. Thomas, has his business and workshop ‘All Points Marine’ at Compass Point Marina, so with his help getting us a slip, we decided to leave Yacht Haven Grande and move a little east around the south coast to Benner Bay and Compass Point. Benner Bay is a very well protected hurricane hole and receives no surge, which will be a welcome change as Yacht Haven Grande does and we have become tired of it. Compass Point is also a lot less expensive. YHG, at the time of writing, is $2.75 per foot per day and CP is $1.00, the difference is it is not convenient to Charlotte Amalie and will require a taxi or Safari (bus) ride to town. We cast off and in 90 minutes were at CP, safely through the protecting reef and shallow 6’–7’ deep channel. CP is not fancy but has solid docks, good power and water; they have their own RO plant. The big advantage here is all the services that are nearby, almost all ones boating needs are covered. We need canvas work done too, a new bag for the additional hoist we had fitted to our boom back in PR, we are in need of a new membrane for our Watermaker, and it is all right here on our doorstep. Budget Marine, the equivalent to West Marine, is also located in the bay. So you can see that everything is a trade off, instead of, as we were in YHG, being surrounded by the Louis Vuitton’s, Coach’s and all the high end stores in the world we are now surrounded with what we really need! We are finding that every bay has its own infrastructure of grocery stores, bars and small shops.</span></span></span></span></small><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iduccbK8SlLJH0ZgHfkBIlnCJzKupS3KV_HMV1zHL8fRwXxEV4hKaK28pieeCD3ReCW9tvJa6DP-oiHD0mixerNdzVZbmK0oXil09891di4WDvVrKtbvAampoBhSxWhgJBLpLPgt2xYM/s1600/5-12-13+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5iduccbK8SlLJH0ZgHfkBIlnCJzKupS3KV_HMV1zHL8fRwXxEV4hKaK28pieeCD3ReCW9tvJa6DP-oiHD0mixerNdzVZbmK0oXil09891di4WDvVrKtbvAampoBhSxWhgJBLpLPgt2xYM/s200/5-12-13+011.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our new friend (the dog)</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm9ibXEFqLNamNi9xaXBskPfVPHY-RpvE21DM4HIJJ4a-zW_NQq_kbom6EkayChpvkQoelNf2EggBvNOeo2-HDTd-umtRnh36ai8YpAQRI5HRX9ckaMDOoUqx_LOhopDo6gFSLcgJ1g0X/s1600/5-12-13+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdm9ibXEFqLNamNi9xaXBskPfVPHY-RpvE21DM4HIJJ4a-zW_NQq_kbom6EkayChpvkQoelNf2EggBvNOeo2-HDTd-umtRnh36ai8YpAQRI5HRX9ckaMDOoUqx_LOhopDo6gFSLcgJ1g0X/s200/5-12-13+013.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm5CpU-UxEdrplN4tZxhXgZ4bCbol8ylbTuY0o4NVSJsFv4G4K-HN36E3GuEdEBw6XPM2C8BYowjrPuqhriFuQj3AHtWCMjupQQB11mV2LG7gE_73DvZckOZOUs4GfXPrMzWL4aw-H1LD/s1600/5-12-13+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwm5CpU-UxEdrplN4tZxhXgZ4bCbol8ylbTuY0o4NVSJsFv4G4K-HN36E3GuEdEBw6XPM2C8BYowjrPuqhriFuQj3AHtWCMjupQQB11mV2LG7gE_73DvZckOZOUs4GfXPrMzWL4aw-H1LD/s200/5-12-13+012.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RmKCOHdxJFipdg7JuZM5UVpUPK21ZlPCqq0KON6xUVIhCBIYv-4e3T-ZXCncRskvBzU8J9-6hhlp9y12D-mAPdHmc0brQ8Htz-1DcM3uVmDeP2bJjmXlR1R2iykYjU8qlMkMuu14KVWm/s1600/5-12-13+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RmKCOHdxJFipdg7JuZM5UVpUPK21ZlPCqq0KON6xUVIhCBIYv-4e3T-ZXCncRskvBzU8J9-6hhlp9y12D-mAPdHmc0brQ8Htz-1DcM3uVmDeP2bJjmXlR1R2iykYjU8qlMkMuu14KVWm/s200/5-12-13+015.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pork tenderloin sandwich</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtTwEzUl_E68f9VLoSSnJi8cpckN_4ObAkXSbEMC28FN6Y2Xrcdh8rIrt9CvGdnQagSbk36w5s3PQSQaQ80CVM-CGdYPtx4Ht7gI7LzazGjuPCTnCixZF_ioGs_sicjpf9DUH86sVfhBk/s1600/5-12-13+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqtTwEzUl_E68f9VLoSSnJi8cpckN_4ObAkXSbEMC28FN6Y2Xrcdh8rIrt9CvGdnQagSbk36w5s3PQSQaQ80CVM-CGdYPtx4Ht7gI7LzazGjuPCTnCixZF_ioGs_sicjpf9DUH86sVfhBk/s200/5-12-13+014.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pork Brisket</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> These pictures are of the small bar and restuarant 'MooMoos' which was on premises at Compass Point...a really good time! There was also 'Patsy's, a breakfast place, coffee shop and book exchange, also a beauty salon, and many other services.</span></o:p></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">We spent our first night in CP on board and had an al fresco dinner followed by some fresh strawberries, coffee and liquors plus I smoked the one Cuban cigar I bought in Georgetown! We are glad that Faraday is on the way to a new life…</span></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 5</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> today is our wedding anniversary so I am up early with the intention of cooking a special English breakfast (see glossary) for the newly <i>demoted</i> First Mate. After that we will be washing the boat and lowering our dinghy ready for some exploration of the area this afternoon. According to Tracy everything is much easier to reach and access by dinghy rather than walking around the bay. (Later) Well, the day more or less went according to plan and we did do some exploring in the dinghy, Benner Bay is an interesting place, it is obviously one of the places the locals keep their boats and what a mixture there is! The sad part is it is also the dumping ground for all the derelict boats on St. Thomas. The whole bay is lined with mangroves and makes a perfect hurricane hole, as we drove around in our dinghy exploring we saw not one but lots of abandoned boats that were secured in the mangroves for various storms past but have been forgotten and never retrieved.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, as our trip continued along the labyrinth of mangrove lined creeks we saw dozens of these sad ‘replicas of their former selves’ just gradually ‘dying’ and being consumed by the mangroves. Part of our dinghy ride of exploration took us out toward the sea and back through the Benner Bay entrance channel. We saw to the east a small beach that looked approachable and we motored over to check it out. The water was clear and the water temperature was 87°F, I think that this could be our swimming beach while we are staying here waiting to complete our generator repair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></span></span></span></small><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">With time passing and our date with Trinidad creeping ever closer I am already thinking of having to modify our itinerary/route down islands to make up some time. I am hoping that as summer approaches that the more settled trade winds will give us more frequent weather windows to make passages. A good weather window of say two days enables us to travel 260 – 290 miles so you can see we can make some distance given good opportunities. We have approximately 700 NM to go before arriving at Chaguaramas Bay in Trinidad, our home for the hurricane season.</span></span></span></span></small><small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></small><br />
<small><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Next, let me tell you about our excursion into Charlotte Amalie from Benner Bay. We decided to walk to the main road which was a mile up a steep hill! Phew, definitely got rid of the cobwebs! We were nearly at the top when a kind young lady, driving a Jeep, stopped and offered us a lift. She was going to Budget Marine so we hopped aboard and took the opportunity to browse the store. It is very similar to West Marine, probably a little better stocked than the average West Marine though. We saw several items we needed and planned to return to the dinghy beach which we found out is adjacent. After our visit here we walked the 50 yards back to highway 32 and found the safari stop. Within minutes the safari arrived, we hopped aboard and off we went towards Tutu farther inland, known for its Mall and traffic jams. It didn’t take long and we were entering Charlotte Amalie and began to see familiar stores and the marina we had stayed in. We got off at the marina and went to our favourite coffee shop ‘Bad Ass Coffee’ for a morning cup of real Kona java. After using the free internet there and walking to the marina office to return our two security gate keys, (we forgot to do this when we left; they carry a $50 deposit each!) we struck out for a walk into the middle of town. It is a 1¼ mile walk to the centre which takes one all along the waterfront with views of the boats anchored in the harbour and Water Island as the backdrop; it is a worthwhile pleasant walk. When in town it seemed nearly every store was a jewellery store; I guess St. Thomas, being a duty free port, enables the shops here to sell items at a very attractive price. We were not in need of any trinkets today so simply browsed and then sought out Coconuts Bar and Grill <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9I9tN6gVBDYoizU2pcnSC4Qb1Zy1Ke_F4hjUUqJiTDmdVz-oAPmx5a33I75IAvN5m6NqjBh9690jGIVLrL_ZcAKB3-vk4oSXNS9DPxIyTZABnEOxhOe0BvjF9ozp64tI4uIhCjVcZEbk/s1600/5-10-13+at+Benner+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9I9tN6gVBDYoizU2pcnSC4Qb1Zy1Ke_F4hjUUqJiTDmdVz-oAPmx5a33I75IAvN5m6NqjBh9690jGIVLrL_ZcAKB3-vk4oSXNS9DPxIyTZABnEOxhOe0BvjF9ozp64tI4uIhCjVcZEbk/s200/5-10-13+at+Benner+003.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmUqxmgYTyyjQ_bJR4H2W4wRGoN69lts5Sgs-DPzB1Q5v72A0_hKy74dPZlAPHZZOEng1abLKwvt4QMG7LBGXibpThTTigc6u2tNYc3HyfjJMp3XUwL2pfbdeZwLRyPaV9t5QXyhCNxEp/s1600/5-10-13+at+Benner+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmUqxmgYTyyjQ_bJR4H2W4wRGoN69lts5Sgs-DPzB1Q5v72A0_hKy74dPZlAPHZZOEng1abLKwvt4QMG7LBGXibpThTTigc6u2tNYc3HyfjJMp3XUwL2pfbdeZwLRyPaV9t5QXyhCNxEp/s200/5-10-13+at+Benner+004.JPG" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="150" /></a><br />
which was located in a very narrow street, not wide enough for vehicular transport. It was dark and atmospheric; we found a table and were greeted warmly; this was our kinda place. A long very well stocked bar and just a few tables for eating sandwiches. The speciality was a steak sandwich with grilled onions and cheese on French bread so we ordered two. A beer and the sandwich later we were well satisfied, it was fun too, and we would definitely recommend the establishment to anyone. Our return to ‘Partners’ was interesting, as we walked from the centre of town back to the waterfront, where we could catch a Safari out to the East End and Benner Bay, it began to rain, just a few drops. We were standing near a collection of tents where the merchants were selling souvenirs, a cruise ship was in town, and the elderly lady very kindly offered us shelter under her tarpaulin. By time the Safari came the rain had picked up a bit more. We got on and I noticed that the ‘locals‘who were on board were all sitting in the middle of the bench seats that went the whole width of the Safari, the whole bus is open, before too long we found out why. The rain started to fall in buckets the streets flooded quickly and the rain, of course, started to blow inside on the seats; yes you got it, we quickly shuffled our butts towards the middle of the bench seat trying to stay dry. The bus ride took about 45 minutes and I thought at one point we had passed our stop. So when the next stop came I got off and walked to the cab to ask the driver if we had, in fact, gone by where we should have disembarked, he said no and that he had taken a different route than the one we had taken going to town; apparently this is common? The fare for our adventure on the Safari, a very reasonable $2 a head! Oh! The rain had stopped by time we had arrived at our destination so we were lucky as neither of us had brought any rain gear. We walked back to the boat, a good mile, fortunately downhill, and that was our day, plenty of walking a little refreshment and a tour around the countryside.</span></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">May 8</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> Bill called to say his two children were flying into Culebra on Friday and that they would be cruising ‘Ann Louise’ over to St. Thomas on Saturday. They thought that they would anchor off Honeymoon Beach on Water Island (the 3</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">rd</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> largest of the USVI’s). We are hoping to have our generator fixed by then so we can cruise over to join them and explore what we understand to be a beautiful spot. <br /><br />Boat jobs…We find that the sea strainer supplying the sea water to our A/C system, because of the constant flow of water for hours on end, needs cleaning fairly frequently. Barnacles and other marine ‘things’ seem to collect and flourish here, especially while we are in marinas where the cooling breeze is less and we tend to run the A/C more. When we are anchored we have that wonderful natural A/C known as the Trade Winds and we sit for days comfortably without needing any A/C. The procedure we now have ‘down pat’, I go down to the engine room and disassemble the strainer, pass the basket and clear retaining bowl up to HT and she does the cleaning in the galley sink. Once cleaned back down it comes and I reassemble, open the sea cock again and check for leaks...the whole job is done in 30 minutes. I always inspect the larger main and generator strainers too but they only seem to require a clean every couple of hundred running hours.<br /> </span></span></span></span></small><br />
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Our generator project has reached the reassembly stage now and we are hoping that ‘Faraday’ will be operational again by tomorrow (Saturday May 11</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">) evening. While it is literally in pieces I asked that all the hoses be replaced together with the motor mounts and all hose clamps. We also have had the exhaust manifold cleaned out and the heat exchanger bathed in muriatic acid to give it a fresh start. We are anxious to leave Compass Point and Benner Bay as the marina owners have started an expansion project extending the main dock another 150’. The only problem we anticipate here is that the expansion will force us, and all other boats, to use a newly marked and shallower channel. We watched as a sailing boat, with a draft of 4’ 6”, attempted to leave. She ran aground four times and bumped several more as they tried to transit the newly marked channel. Lavinia and I have a portable depth finder and we took to the dinghy to do our own survey. We followed the same route as the sailing boat some 30 minutes before and concurred with the depth at 4’ 6”. We knew that the sailing boat had a 4’6” draught because a charter captain on board his boat had called out to him to ask what their draught was while he was trying to help guide them out. The same charter captain who was on board his boat gave us a few pointers too and we were able to find water between 5’ and 6’, the problem for us will be navigating around the shallow spots; our draft is 5’ 3”! HT and I have travelled approximately 1,440 miles since leaving Sarasota on February 8</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">and have, thus far, avoided the grounding embarrassment so we would like to avoid it here where we would definitely be a spectacle as there are so many boats lining the route!</span><br />
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Saturday 11</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> Last night we were eating our supper in the pilothouse, due to the salon floor being up for the generator repair, and suddenly we heard the wind rise from total calm to 36 mph! A thunderstorm had quickly formed and for the next half an hour heavy rain, violent thunder and lightning had our attention. This morning it is still raining! Our only concern with this amount of water is the dinghy which we leave in the water tied alongside ‘Partners’. We don’t have a bilge pump in the dinghy so bailing is the way we remove the water and it takes forever! We saw another dinghy that had a solar powered bilge pump installed and we are looking into various solutions to eliminate the concern and the bailing!</span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are finding out that having work done on our boat is a ‘put your life on hold’ situation. It is not like taking your car to the shop being given a loaner and off you go to get on with your day. On a boat, that is your only home, while the work is being done one cannot leave it or move it you just have to find a spot on board, in our case the pilothouse, where you can read, get on a computer or in other words kill time! We have now been immobilized due to our generator repair for 9 days and counting, I can tell you that it’s long enough to be holed up in this small space. Fortunately HT and I are coping well with each other but are just frustrated with being in a marina this long. We prefer to be anchored out in a scenic spot enjoying nature, swimming in crystal clear water, hiking or walking on a pristine beach, ‘Partners’ is set up to be independent and is at home away from the dock! Being stationary in a mangrove lined bay is a recipe for marine growth on the bottom and sure enough only 10 days after we had a diver clean‘Partners’ bottom we have a good layer of slim collecting around the waterline already. If we can leave the marina soon before the growth really gets a hold, some of it, if not all, will wash off due to the motion of the boat passing through the water. We’re hoping to leave here soon... </span></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monday 13</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;"> today is the day we leave Compass Point and Benner Bay...at long last we are ‘fixed’.Faraday is churning out <em>lotsa</em> power and we are happy! Tracy and two friends Garry and James are going to help us leave the marina. Tracy and Garry, who has a nice dinghy with a depth finder, drove along the channel and reported back that if we slowly followed them out we would be okay. It was 18:00, we were on a rising tide this was the moment. Lines off, fenders in, we backed out slowly from our slip and manoeuvred ‘Partner’ so she pointed in the direction of the channel. Garry was leading us and guiding the route. We waved goodbye to the All Points Marine crew who were by now on the dock drinking beer and waving back. They were all probably nervous that they would not be seeing the back of us! Garry did a great job, and although we ‘ploughed’ the soft mud a bit in a few spots, guided us to the deep entrance channel successfully. As he came alongside he asked where we were going, I replied that we would just anchor in the bay and leave for St. John’s in the morning. He suggested Christmas Cove adjacent to Current Cut where there were free mooring balls and good protection. Garry was going that way as his boat was moored there so he said he would lead us over the two miles and would be standing by a ball for us, how kind. Sure enough we followed Garry to the ball he selected for us and he passed up the painter and a few minutes later we were secure. We wanted to ask Garry aboard for a drink or some supper, he had been so kind and helpful and we wanted to get to know him more, after all we had only met for the first time 30 minutes earlier, but he declined and motored off toward his big sailing catamaran anchored in the distance. This is another example of boaters helping other boaters; there is so much camaraderie out here that's all I can say...</span></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">St. John here we come! We can’t wait.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;"></span></small><small><span style="font-size: small;">
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<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-65296761650765696752013-05-10T17:11:00.004-04:002013-05-31T16:23:17.949-04:00The Virgin Islands I<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">April 29<sup>th</sup> 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 18° 17.444’ N </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Culebra, Spanish Virgin Islands</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Culebra on the horizon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Ensenada Honda</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moose & Mofungo my sailing companions!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">After arriving in Culebra we
relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, enjoyed happy hour, ate dinner and had a
good night’s sleep. Bill & Ann on ‘Ann Louise’ had planned to travel overnight
from Salinas to Culebra, I had speculated about the timing of their arrival
thinking that they would cruise in around 11:00. At 08:00 Bill called us on the
cell phone to ask “Where are you anchored?”, after talking for a few minutes HT
and I went outside to look for them and sure enough there they were entering
the main channel. It was good to see them again as it had been two weeks since
we were in Salinas. They were able to pick up the mooring ball next to us and
once again we were companions. We made Bloody Marys on board ‘Partners’ for
all. Bill & Ann needed some sleep and returned to ‘Ann Louise’ we went into
town to buy some groceries at Milka the local store and also try to find a
diver to take care of the barnacles on ‘Partners’ bottom and running gear. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tranquility of Dakity</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJPdwnkYyRpB9hih0c2ceeLw5g8D_cAoIGND2kXIvzUL_hekmJEeKHcpPhvWIg1roiX3-KJCGbnltifvaotHTMD9MQndoo_Q4FsjVq1UnnUO7n3rZU1QFwh_gXRxFJEhG9j71mqYGUJDE/s1600/DSC_0093+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJPdwnkYyRpB9hih0c2ceeLw5g8D_cAoIGND2kXIvzUL_hekmJEeKHcpPhvWIg1roiX3-KJCGbnltifvaotHTMD9MQndoo_Q4FsjVq1UnnUO7n3rZU1QFwh_gXRxFJEhG9j71mqYGUJDE/s200/DSC_0093+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ate dinner while watching this...</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Culebra is part of Puerto Rico
and is small with only a population of 2,000 people, it is relatively unspoiled
and it is known for its diving sites and Flamenco Beach, the worlds #5 best beach.
The population, as described in the cruising guide, is made up of dropouts,
eccentrics’ and tourist entrepreneurs’. Being only an hour away from Puerto
Rico, by fast ferry, Culebra is a ‘get away’ destination for many so the
economy revolves around catering to the many visitors that come. The weekends
are big, Latin’s love their weekends; weekends mean party, loud music, food and
are generally lived to the full. We have found out that on Culebra things are,
however, much tamer than on the mainland of Puerto Rico and the weekends,
unlike the mainland, are actually much quieter with the exception of Flamenco
Beach where it is party central. In Ensenada Honda and Dakity where we are
moored, yes there are a few more fast runabouts which come for the weekend but
generally life actually slows down and most of the shops are closed too. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1gB4jSh64FGLPSem8CZHPNm1u9ZzZsy0G3_r0idoiqaqW6qq3Gt3yI3AqzGysla-S25zk_p2IRs4regJQXFIuwJ3_cVDHocVSgAwRT3s_TfpYBRcdH-Won76NkdyiAeqP-XvGfCFJX4B/s1600/Culebra+and+Benner+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1gB4jSh64FGLPSem8CZHPNm1u9ZzZsy0G3_r0idoiqaqW6qq3Gt3yI3AqzGysla-S25zk_p2IRs4regJQXFIuwJ3_cVDHocVSgAwRT3s_TfpYBRcdH-Won76NkdyiAeqP-XvGfCFJX4B/s200/Culebra+and+Benner+003.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Culebra</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsRvCw_RRV2ob3QZPhOJq71OPlKs82T_2pxcsGcOsfuKebwbMh3YljpT9geWqYbqLiULfi7nyTTw0h7ltcvX2aXAU8-cjvDssKpW_RlM0Vk7mqfEV0h3oDR2X9kawVr8Co41qwMieCENl/s1600/Culebra+and+Benner+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsRvCw_RRV2ob3QZPhOJq71OPlKs82T_2pxcsGcOsfuKebwbMh3YljpT9geWqYbqLiULfi7nyTTw0h7ltcvX2aXAU8-cjvDssKpW_RlM0Vk7mqfEV0h3oDR2X9kawVr8Co41qwMieCENl/s200/Culebra+and+Benner+004.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtown Culebra </td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Culebra is a sleepy place where
most of the population doesn’t seem to want to work or for one reason or
another doesn’t have to! We need our bottom and running gear cleaned; the
rudder actually has seaweed growing on it that waives at us as the current
flows past it! I have stopped at three places now to employ a diver and no one
wants the job, it isn’t because of the money as a price was not even discussed
with any of the three, they just didn’t need or want the work! The town of
Dewey has all the staples, three grocery stores and a fresh fruit and vegetable
market, two hardware stores and an abundance of restaurants and bars, oh, and a
baseball stadium, quite a big one. Before the following comment I must say that
we have met some great people here mostly young energetic ones who often have
two jobs and are doing well for themselves enjoying this beautiful island and
its lifestyle. Alternatively, it is easy to see why the lifestyle here appeals
to those with a bent on being lazy and aspiring to having even less accomplishment
in their lives. Life here requires very little, the climate means one needs few
clothes, housing seems basic and affordable; those people who live on their
boats, as we do, don’t even have to pay for the Department of Natural Resources
mooring balls, they are provided free as is the parking in town for ones
dinghy! </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG9bIxx3Iry74UquvODO-CzaU9-HKIEUEdFGRSYieKOfN5xd0U1-8Dj0u1GhCcEaVtoILdSRLbQd9lvntb18vvRiA9wyA9Liuw7BfT4kESJxiB4MNZaIXAdDSw3SNqNL3Wb_P7M6fsomZ/s1600/DSC_0071+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCG9bIxx3Iry74UquvODO-CzaU9-HKIEUEdFGRSYieKOfN5xd0U1-8Dj0u1GhCcEaVtoILdSRLbQd9lvntb18vvRiA9wyA9Liuw7BfT4kESJxiB4MNZaIXAdDSw3SNqNL3Wb_P7M6fsomZ/s200/DSC_0071+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dinghy ride in the Luis Pena channel</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have done plenty of exploring
in our dinghy we have crossed to Luis Pena Island on Culebra’s west side, the
largest of the many surrounding smaller islands, have explored some of the
beaches around the island, most though have live coral reefs guarding them
which make it difficult to land although at many of them moorings are provided
so it is possible to snorkel the reefs and swim ashore. As we approach the reef
protected shorelines we could see the many different coloured fan corals waiving
above the surface of the water as the waves gently pass over them, we get to
see so much and something new almost every day. A large part of the NE side of
Culebra is a nature reserve giving total protection to the native flora and fauna.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The ‘Dinghy Dock’ is the Cruisers
waterfront bar and restaurant also providing free dinghy dockage as an
alternative to the town dock. All four of us soon adopted this venue as ‘home
base’! </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrxFDuHfT-4JeCXnaVw4xVAfweOwUGEUE1ghnWkZSAKqG8wpu3c2lc2tpREseUVfUqvIEoNB_lEc-pWR5qWMbKjLDcCRQS__g2gBAV2-6E2n3WRpXZ2-X3bFASbXZtzMi1N5QD3OV3qb3/s1600/Culebra+and+Benner+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrxFDuHfT-4JeCXnaVw4xVAfweOwUGEUE1ghnWkZSAKqG8wpu3c2lc2tpREseUVfUqvIEoNB_lEc-pWR5qWMbKjLDcCRQS__g2gBAV2-6E2n3WRpXZ2-X3bFASbXZtzMi1N5QD3OV3qb3/s200/Culebra+and+Benner+002.JPG" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon explosion!</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May 1<sup>st</sup> The next ‘episode’
in our lives as cruisers was not good…our generator had been sounding strained
and as I was making my morning cup of tea and charging our batteries, my
morning routine, the electrical panel went ‘dark’ and everything shut down. I
could smell an electrical burning smell, definitely not a good sign and
immediately knew something had suffered a severe problem. Initially I thought
that it was the inverter/charger but before too long diagnosed that it was more
serious and it was the electrical side of the generator. The generator was
running fine but was not transferring any volts! I immediately made the
decision to set sail for St. Thomas; we needed a marina and some skilled help.
With the generator problem we had to have our 110v power cords ‘plugged in’ as
we had no alternative, other than running the main engine, of charging the
batteries. We were cruising in some pretty heavy seas toward St. Thomas but
‘Partners’ was behaving well, I called Yacht Haven Grande Marina to reserve a
berth and asked them for a suggestion of a marine electrician to fix our
problem. Gradually as we approached St. Thomas the seas relented and the lee
protection from the land to our east was welcomed. We entered Yacht Haven
Grande Marina at Midday. As we had arrived from Culebra, another US
protectorate, we did not have to clear in at Charlotte Amalie, the capital of
St. Thomas. YHG is one of, if not, the premier marina facility in the Caribbean
and is adjacent to the cruise ship docks and right by the upscale shopping centre
in Charlotte Amalie, very posh! You may think that I am joking, I’m not, but we
are the smallest boat here, most are mega yachts of between 100’-200’ with
smartly dress crews who are constantly cleaning and polishing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBj06T-igluJURjvih25ebusCMCbqyaT-ryWwIKMvxS_4Eb4Fp6IPR2FUMAoGveFsSJ5Qu6nr-SYKYVr9Fq5_gcU-0t3ofjwyhJx67zQJDw77g2g-kTm6NY6y-VeVMMu3P8YrOS9aTvKp/s1600/DSC_0084+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBj06T-igluJURjvih25ebusCMCbqyaT-ryWwIKMvxS_4Eb4Fp6IPR2FUMAoGveFsSJ5Qu6nr-SYKYVr9Fq5_gcU-0t3ofjwyhJx67zQJDw77g2g-kTm6NY6y-VeVMMu3P8YrOS9aTvKp/s200/DSC_0084+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Ann Louise'</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEIy73DTNzRKCMsK-YrOwmFxnB7OMAMBlNmZKErOipKdAz1b_spmvrNlmabRaOhiNo7MaK6hP5e45bPSUV2XppgZ9fLQ95f2M-MYmz79YJc95OXkU-_TTIUXXzqf9zb2PeT6ieq9FWkTW/s1600/Culebra+and+Benner+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEIy73DTNzRKCMsK-YrOwmFxnB7OMAMBlNmZKErOipKdAz1b_spmvrNlmabRaOhiNo7MaK6hP5e45bPSUV2XppgZ9fLQ95f2M-MYmz79YJc95OXkU-_TTIUXXzqf9zb2PeT6ieq9FWkTW/s200/Culebra+and+Benner+005.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Together in Dakity, Culebra</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">More from St. Thomas and the USVI’s
in the next issue...<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-17389192806390738222013-05-03T05:49:00.003-04:002013-05-03T07:57:27.317-04:00The 51st State?<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">April 27<sup>th</sup>
2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 18°
04.718’ N </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>65° 47.797’ W <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<small></small>
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<small><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </small><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuU5w33Ck1AIWlwdVxlw2KC4_v9R4E-7IGVb_s2CPQ2Fy7uIU3ge4F5Gx3b-ovIDJSbjf1rjogdekI4Xtbny-U51Oyav5-AQnc-AGoivCIAyNtaQK4iQELRkyR60d2_zqe_agblFU03daJ/s1600/DSC_0093+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuU5w33Ck1AIWlwdVxlw2KC4_v9R4E-7IGVb_s2CPQ2Fy7uIU3ge4F5Gx3b-ovIDJSbjf1rjogdekI4Xtbny-U51Oyav5-AQnc-AGoivCIAyNtaQK4iQELRkyR60d2_zqe_agblFU03daJ/s320/DSC_0093+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavinia, Bill & Ann</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6fd7jqodGNsRJTzxw-P6SVo2iLZ-PSpBvSYc1AjoX3pPzwlKq0cpPeqD2jvKVM5fV4hykMrFFvSCiW0G5cNlQnked6P6XT8nMjURK11MRjXRRAYApDjDKTRPi7ahXELN9FIR6Ow8S5kw/s1600/DSC_0087+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6fd7jqodGNsRJTzxw-P6SVo2iLZ-PSpBvSYc1AjoX3pPzwlKq0cpPeqD2jvKVM5fV4hykMrFFvSCiW0G5cNlQnked6P6XT8nMjURK11MRjXRRAYApDjDKTRPi7ahXELN9FIR6Ow8S5kw/s320/DSC_0087+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvCjJhy8OOlpA40dOyIxN_6N3483jhBvBw6sQ4XNcS6yz9lupS84G-dAeqppVtI6tuHi42jmN8FNgi7tXkSL2MdM64S1T1p19fwIBSHUk7boCkSAyirVHpi-qrupCvDB34vxRvNNBHMzu/s1600/CSC_0119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvCjJhy8OOlpA40dOyIxN_6N3483jhBvBw6sQ4XNcS6yz9lupS84G-dAeqppVtI6tuHi42jmN8FNgi7tXkSL2MdM64S1T1p19fwIBSHUk7boCkSAyirVHpi-qrupCvDB34vxRvNNBHMzu/s320/CSC_0119.JPG" width="320" /></a><small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">We agreed to share the cost of a rental car
for a few days with our friends and traveling companions Bill and Ann from
‘Ann Louise’ their 48’ Kadey Krogen. Our first outing was to Old San Juan, we
had decided to see the Spanish built forts that surround the old city as well
as to take in the town and sample some of the local cuisine. From Salinas to
Old San Juan, highway 52 would take us straight there. Immediately we were
outside the small township of Salinas it became apparent that we were in the
United States, all the familiar franchises and stores are present here. The
‘Mall’ concept is also here, and as in the US, every few miles there is another
shopping mall! The main difference in PR is that the first language is Spanish
although most people we encountered spoke very good English and the lifestyle
here is definitely Latin; the culture predominates through the music and
traditions. The wealth of the United States is not here, from the roads and basic infrastructure which
are in need of repair to the more modest homes it is evident that life is
different. As we drove north one could see people sitting in the front of their
homes talking and just congregating, not a sight seen in the US, there is
obviously poverty here. To contradict the last sentence every shopping mall we
stopped at was full! We had the utmost difficulty finding an empty parking space,
so there is obviously enough of the population with disposable incomes to be
able to support the malls. Even so it certainly didn’t look like there was from
what we were seeing along the route. When we arrived in Old San Juan our route
took us past the cruise ship docking area and low and behold ‘Regatta’ the
cruise ship that Lavinia and I had cruised on twice was in port. We both loved
the ship and the cruise line Oceania and would recommend it to anyone. Once in
the city we easily found a central parking area which put us within walking
distance of everything. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The oldest parts of the district of Old San
Juan remain partly enclosed by massive walls. Several defensive structures and
notable </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort" title="Fort"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">forts</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">,</span> such as the emblematic </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_San_Felipe_del_Morro" title="Fort San Felipe del Morro"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Fort San
Felipe del Morro</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_San_Crist%C3%B3bal" title="Fort San Cristóbal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Fort San
Cristóbal</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">, and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Palacio_de_Santa_Catalina" title="El Palacio de Santa Catalina"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">El Palacio
de Santa Catalina</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">, also known
as </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Fortaleza" title="La Fortaleza"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">La Fortaleza</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">, acted as the primary defenses of the
settlement which over time was subjected to numerous attacks. </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Fortaleza" title="La Fortaleza"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">La Fortaleza</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"> continues to serve also as the executive
mansion for the </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governor_of_Puerto_Rico" title="Governor of Puerto Rico"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">Governor of
Puerto Rico</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">. Many of
the historic fortifications are part of </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Juan_National_Historic_Site" title="San Juan National Historic Site"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: small;">San Juan
National Historic Site</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">. The
construction, considering the lack of heavy motorized equipment is literally
awesome. It is hard to imagine the engineering feat of moving the large stones
and building materials the Spaniards used to build these fortifications and the
city walls. Old San Juan is an Island and was completely surrounded by walls
and forts. Much of the fortification has survived and in part has been
renovated. Of particular note to me was that the Spanish realized the
importance of a good and clean water supply so in the bowels of the forts
cisterns were constructed and the whole structure was built in such a way that
rain water was collected and directed to the cisterns. No animals were allowed
in the forts thus ensuring that the water did not become contaminated. The view
from the battlements was incredible and as we all stood there overlooking the
harbour and the Atlantic Ocean one couldn’t help but imagine the days when a
sentry on duty called out that the enemy fleet was sighted approaching the
harbor! The old city itself is abound with cobbled streets and oozes history,
some of the architecture is modern but most of the fascias and facades have
been preserved although behind many of them modernization has taken place. The
city is bustling, alive with restaurants and shops, street vendors are
plentiful and pleasantly were not ‘pushy’. All the local people we asked
directions and advice from were warm, friendly and just plain helpful. We
enjoyed our visit and would recommend Old San Juan as a must see…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupjJ0n0ZLOd8kETMqDFkA2NEQBAVNX4kEOdoOpJu6yO538YkAdqCraqVv7M0A21My3S9hArorprEozgps5hUKgpUGJRaqVaKL5UaFjgWUQQFy2nbs6NqaO7H_rMqqWctFNcDSNnTN-GT3/s1600/DSC_0101+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupjJ0n0ZLOd8kETMqDFkA2NEQBAVNX4kEOdoOpJu6yO538YkAdqCraqVv7M0A21My3S9hArorprEozgps5hUKgpUGJRaqVaKL5UaFjgWUQQFy2nbs6NqaO7H_rMqqWctFNcDSNnTN-GT3/s320/DSC_0101+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Lavinia and my opinion the Puerto Rican
food leaves a little to be desired. We found the taste a little ‘samey’ and
bland. One of the much spoken about dishes ‘Mofungo’, plantains and garlic, we
thought was overrated. We did try it twice in two different places, our opinion
unfortunately didn’t change. We loved the word however. During conversations
the subject of dog ownership had come up, I would love to have a dog although
on board, for us, we think it would be restrictive. I think, prompted by these
conversations, Bill and Ann bought me a small stuffed dog with a collar they
made naming him, yes; you guessed it, ‘Mofungo’. He now sits next to ‘Moose’
(presented to me by my three Norwegian grandchildren) in my pilothouse.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
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</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Qmj7HEanRYz6-KPakiyyuSA6fVG0SgvMYI20mdCla1bAfrTPxaOaL2zubgc5bz562KamHEP0clc_yrlGB4G5HrbpbmRPV-UMLJn1n7rLD9FgDF6hdmX3TFKk-L3_rHVeOUxY84vgiUAI/s1600/DSC_0120+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Qmj7HEanRYz6-KPakiyyuSA6fVG0SgvMYI20mdCla1bAfrTPxaOaL2zubgc5bz562KamHEP0clc_yrlGB4G5HrbpbmRPV-UMLJn1n7rLD9FgDF6hdmX3TFKk-L3_rHVeOUxY84vgiUAI/s200/DSC_0120+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next day we used the car to drive to
Ponce on the South coast and visited the art museum there, we also walked the
central city square to sample the ‘life’ of Ponce. This was another full and
interesting day. When we returned to Salinas we all agreed that a visit to John
Batista’s waterfront cruiser bar, which is the local hangout, was in order. A round
of Medalla’s, the local brew, were quickly downed followed by an encore. We
slept well that night…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Salinas is a well protected anchorage with no
surge and very little wind; the water is typical of a mangrove area and is
cloudy although clean. A word of warning to boaters who follow us here, the barnacles
do grow and a layer of green slim will appear around your waterline! We left
our dinghy in the water for a week and had to scrape the bottom and polish it
to get rid of the tiny barnacles which had adhered themselves to both to the
fiberglass and the </span><strong>Hypalon<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">® </span></strong><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">of our RIB. We had a diver clean ‘Partners’
while we were at our next stop of Palmas del Mar.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">While we were in Salinas ‘Hobo’ another 42’
Kadey Krogen came into the anchorage. Larry and Lena had been in the Caribbean
for several years and were on their way back to the US. They had crossed from
Culebra; we cruised over in our dinghy to say hi and were invited on board for
cocktail hour later. We had a Kadey Krogen convention on ‘Hobo’ that evening.
It was very informative to listen to Larry and Lena’s experiences. They had
spent six months in Trinidad where they had ‘Hobo’s’ hull painted and her
superstructure re-gel coated plus other jobs. Larry was kind enough to share
the names of all his contractors so that if we decided to have some work done
on 'Partners' we would know who we could trust. Isn’t the Krogen family great!</span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">During our stay in Salinas we had the opportunity to met up with some friends of friends of ours back in Sarasota who had lived in Puerto Rico some years ago. Bonny and Roberto who live in Humacao, where great and were kind enough to introduce us to the 'real' Puerto Rico. We travelled all over the eastern end of the island and sampled the local cuisine and saw some 'out of the way' places that we would otherwise have never encountered. One of these places was the mountain top bar which could only be reached using 4 wheel drive. As you can see from the pictures the army where there too teaching there new recruites how to drive up a steep rocky road!</span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small><br />
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<small>
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</span></small><small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Salinas was where we parted company with ‘Ann
Louise’, they were going to stay in Salinas longer and we needed to get to a
marina where we could get some work done. On the evening of April 14</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th </span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">we staged ourselves just outside the harbor area so that we could leave easily
at 01:00 the next day for our 35 nm trip to Palmas del Mar. All started well
until Stonewall Jackson quite again…more air in the engine fuel filters. Where
is it coming from, both of us are really getting fed up with this problem, the
engine runs perfectly in between the periodic stops so we know the problem is
only the ingress of air into the fuel system, but where is the leak? We made it,
in less than ideal conditions, to Palmas and were safely tied up in slip B37 by
09:00.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshp3_ppN4TdxyRn7hLFgxEWG1ZHyBXtaxxyuoVO7-iaFdLZTXLCY8ldoq-uQrGYG0JI47lJ5ACTszdC2sPdlI0jhlpfe1g7EE4YXBGMUeexDtXSSrt3pPP1KpiS1ZanEsMuR4P-fvPo93/s1600/DSC_0118+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshp3_ppN4TdxyRn7hLFgxEWG1ZHyBXtaxxyuoVO7-iaFdLZTXLCY8ldoq-uQrGYG0JI47lJ5ACTszdC2sPdlI0jhlpfe1g7EE4YXBGMUeexDtXSSrt3pPP1KpiS1ZanEsMuR4P-fvPo93/s200/DSC_0118+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our stay in Palmas del Mar was great the
staff and facility were wonderful the only drawback is the remoteness; one does
need a car to go anywhere. We did rent a small car for two days so we could do
some essential shopping and sightseeing. HT lost another pair of glasses to
‘Davey Jones’s locker’ so we had to find an optician where we could get a new
pair made in a day. So, the first day was a shopping day and the second a fun
day which took in a trip to Fajardo which is on the northeast coast of PR and
is a ‘big’ boating area. We stopped at West Marine there to buy one or two
items that we needed and then visited Marina Del Rey which is the biggest
marina in the Caribbean with a 1,000 slips. While we were there the marina
office recommended a ‘rigger’ to me that would be able to install the
additional hoist we had bought to solve the difficulties of lowering and
raising our dinghy. From here we drove to El Yunque which is the only natural
rain forest in the whole of the United States. We drove to the welcome centre
and collected all the information for our visit. We then drove and walked to
waterfalls and lookouts plus climbed the observation tower to experience some
of the most fabulous unspoiled views imaginable, all in all a great and fruitful
day.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Keno the ‘rigger’ came and did the job of
installing the additional hoist to work our boom up and down. We have found
that in Puerto Rico time is not how we tend to view it, an appointment at 13:00
is not an appointment at 13:00 it is ‘code’ for an appointment for 15:00! Anyway
we got used to being told one thing and experiencing another. All was well in
the end and the job was finished, one day late nevertheless which caused us an
extra day in the marina and the charges that go with it! We also had two other
workers on board to replace the piece of rubbing strake that we lost on our
starboard side in Marina Puerto Bahia, in the DR. I supplied all materials and
the labour cost for two men for two hours was $60!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Admiral and I brought two very nice, expensive
bicycles with us on board. We have had them tied to the railing on our boat
deck since we left Sarasota on February 8</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">, they haven’t moved!
Roberto the fabulous dock master at Palmas del Mar was Eddy’s (from Ocean
World) equal, he helped us no end so we felt he was a worthy recipient of our
gift to him of our two bikes. The last that we saw of them was Roberto and one
of his dock hands riding them off the dock to his awaiting truck and the only
reminder of them is the small rust stain on the boat deck which they left
behind. The motto here is experience the lifestyle before buying everything that
you think you might need in order to experience the life style! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Talking of the Admiral (aka HT), she has
requested a demotion and will from now on be known as the First Mate, (FM). She
feels that her lack of practical and academic qualification requires the
demotion from her lofty position of Admiral, (a sinecure position anyway) she
is a humble gal and learning fast!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">After listening to Chris Parker for the last
week the weather window he has been talking about has arrived. Our next passage
is to Culebra in the Spanish Virgin Islands, to me this is a significant change
as we will be leaving the ‘big’ islands now and starting to experience the
smaller Caribbean islands that we all see pictures of in glossy travel brochures;
we’re excited! We set off from Palmas del Mar at 09:00 on Thursday 25</span><sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: small;">,
apprehensively I might add, as we were not sure if all the work I had done in
the engine room had fixed the ‘air in the fuel’ problem. I asked Roberto to
accompany us in the marinas large dinghy as we left the marina just in case we
had a problem and needed assistance, we didn’t! As each hour passed I gained
more faith in Stonewall Jackson not stopping. He didn’t, the whole trip was
great, the weather was as Chris had predicted and the day could not have been
more perfect. We cruised into Ensenada Honda, the large bay on Culebra, at 15:00
and proceeded to the mooring field just behind the reef at Dakity. Due to the
coral reef the Department of Natural Resources has placed mooring balls in this
area so boats can moor and don’t have to anchor which could cause damage to the
coral. In fact most of the anchorages around Culebra have mooring balls which
is very nice. We boaters love mooring balls as they eliminate the worry of
dragging ones anchor and allow us to sleep a little easier. We were in 12’ of
water and could swim off the back of the boat in the beautiful turquoise water.
This place is tranquil, beautiful, unspoiled and very calm. The reef obviously
stops all the waves from penetrating the area and the water had barely a
ripple, our kinda place! Almost like an atoll in the Pacific. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small></div>
<br />
<small>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;">Talking of Tranquility, it is something that
most of you back home don’t experience very often. The ‘normal’ lives that we
all, for most of our lives anyway, experience is one of some noise, a lot of
noise sometimes, hustle and bustle, time restraints and schedules. Mine and
Lavinia’s life now, since we have become cruisers, starts with the calm still
serenity which greets the first light of day, progressing to taking in the
beauty that abounds and surrounds us every day and ends with vivid views of the
stars under which we usually eat our dinner. (The lack of light pollution at
night gives the stars an extra brightness). These Caribbean islands are special
and remind me, in many cases, of days gone by. The little shops open five days
a week, the hard part is for us to remember what day of the week it is!
Weekends are sacrosanct and people seem to have a good time, a family time.
It is not difficult to adjust back to these times and begin, once again, to
savour life and the beauty that nature has placed on our doorstep. These
thoughts came to me this morning as I made my first cup of tea of the day and
took it to the aft deck where I sat and admired the unspoiled scenery and the
absolute tranquility that prevailed, special…please strive, sometime in your lives
before it is too late, to </span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></small></span></span></small><br />
<small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><small><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlTpf5-xvsvu6GUNlyPYORC6n-dZXAQvfpSJD_5kJVJRGRGMBqxHUBxlkUdPC1Fh_AbvDVSxaFvSuNYZr3yYr2D0IEvQu6NsnPQx6RGO08eXuJMahl1tAQQD7DtAG49lGzpSDTsC0Nr1W/s1600/DSC_0065+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlTpf5-xvsvu6GUNlyPYORC6n-dZXAQvfpSJD_5kJVJRGRGMBqxHUBxlkUdPC1Fh_AbvDVSxaFvSuNYZr3yYr2D0IEvQu6NsnPQx6RGO08eXuJMahl1tAQQD7DtAG49lGzpSDTsC0Nr1W/s200/DSC_0065+2.jpg" unselectable="on" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tranquil anchorage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span></small>experience something like this, be it on the water in
some beautiful remote anchorage or on a mountain side overlooking nature
without a single blemish provided by man. We are lucky and I know there are
sacrifices and a balance to achieve. The island people we observe and meet do
not have the material ‘wealth’ we westerners have and seem to treasure so much,
they also don’t need to have the daily stress which is required in order to
perpetuate the supply of money to uphold the materialistic lifestyle either. I
am not suggesting chickens in the back yard and growing one’s own vegetables, I
am just suggesting a balance over a lifetime which will allow one to experience
some of both extremes. Both Lavinia and I agree that we truly had forgotten
what ‘life’ could be like. We are more active than we have ever been, we are in
as good shape physically as we were ten to fifteen years ago, and we talk to
each other more and laugh a lot. Everything that we do seems to have a purpose.
I know some of this is a little ‘deep’ but I just want to dangle the carrot, we
are really having the time of our lives, hard yes, fulfilling you bet…what are
you going to do today? Suggestion…why don’t you set a goal of when you will
retire and start living life under your own terms? Oh, and write it down!</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></small><br />
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<img height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6fd7jqodGNsRJTzxw-P6SVo2iLZ-PSpBvSYc1AjoX3pPzwlKq0cpPeqD2jvKVM5fV4hykMrFFvSCiW0G5cNlQnked6P6XT8nMjURK11MRjXRRAYApDjDKTRPi7ahXELN9FIR6Ow8S5kw/s320/DSC_0087+2.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 558px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 810px;" width="96" /><br />
<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5187860013971179414.post-27561760793388974182013-04-17T06:13:00.005-04:002013-05-01T11:58:19.794-04:00Hispaniola<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">March 31<sup>st</sup>
2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Position 19°
19.474’ N </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> 6</span>9° 35.516’ W <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Samaná, Dominican Republic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=19.194743,-69.355166&num=1&t=h&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=19.194409,-69.354511&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We entered Marina Puerto Bahia by
10:00. We were again met by the officials and the dock master with his staff
who helped us to dock and tie up. Our slip was on the main dock right in front
of the marina and hotel building. Marina Puerto Bahia is again, like Ocean
World, a resort, it is either owned or was financed by the Don Q rum distilling
family we aren’t quite sure, either way it is impressive. The complex is
stunning and is run under the Bannister Hotel banner. The Dominican Republic is
an emerging nation and the contrast between the life in the interior and the
small coastal enclaves where development has taken place is dramatic. The
country has obviously recognized the tourist dollar and further development
will continue. Please visit this beautiful country and see it, meet the warm
friendly people and sample their life before it is gone. Hispaniola is big with
one third of the landmass occupied by Haiti to the west with the eastern two
thirds being the Dominican Republic. Everywhere is lush and fertile, the
country produces much of its own food and everything is available at very
affordable prices. We took advantage to do some re-provisioning while there.
The check-in process was a little complicated as we, wrongly, had obtained a
despacho to Puerto Rico when leaving Ocean World on the north coast and
therefore had officially left the Dominican Republic and here we were back
again, actually having never left, The officials were sympathetic when I
explained the shelter we decided to seek due to weather and only charged us the
minimum they could to re-enter. So here we are still in the Dominican Republic,
life is good, we are in a beautiful marina having arrived here without a single
‘cough’ from Stonewall Jackson so we are figuring that the fuel problems that
were so crippling when coming from the Bahamas have finally be resolved. </span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl6FcgRgecOnujZjyxAdKryPwh0ojNWLVN7ttP4KN5d9xxcFJsPu2ujy31q9LsZZ0Thd-zCZYHixeSIX1AvcN4bPFQiyTzvBhKXl9knXiz4zQ85SHZx35kE4WHvuJ5RfRkuDF3MLNsi-z/s1600/IMG_1077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl6FcgRgecOnujZjyxAdKryPwh0ojNWLVN7ttP4KN5d9xxcFJsPu2ujy31q9LsZZ0Thd-zCZYHixeSIX1AvcN4bPFQiyTzvBhKXl9knXiz4zQ85SHZx35kE4WHvuJ5RfRkuDF3MLNsi-z/s320/IMG_1077.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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</v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This five star facility exudes a
relaxing atmosphere, the aura created by the linen drapes is all but
hypnotizing, they hang from the foyer openings throughout the reception area
flowing in the breeze, luxury sofas with their over abundance of cushions
adorned the space and are scattered throughout the area opulently. An
accompanying well stocked cocktail bar provides gourmet coffees and libations.
The whole setup is just plain fabulous. The bonus to this gem is that all the
facilities are available to us as marina guests all for the outrageously low
cost of .90c per foot of boat length, in our case $37.80 per day!</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgC57ZmP59KQOKeMWnD_AGbPymYbCARiOWcwfnfsWb2d2uhTDTC9dzai9OOuonxMbwZFwS7e5TzwJZmhgFpEE_R-DLTL7DAdFPO8jiPInTSragjqx5qMsrvrRx1NPXqdc31UXF-v1VjmT/s1600/DSC_0055+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBgC57ZmP59KQOKeMWnD_AGbPymYbCARiOWcwfnfsWb2d2uhTDTC9dzai9OOuonxMbwZFwS7e5TzwJZmhgFpEE_R-DLTL7DAdFPO8jiPInTSragjqx5qMsrvrRx1NPXqdc31UXF-v1VjmT/s320/DSC_0055+1.jpg" width="320" /></a><v:shape alt="DSC_0055.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_18" o:spid="_x0000_s1034" style="height: 114pt; margin-left: 294.75pt; margin-top: 339.05pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 172.5pt; z-index: -4;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-188 0 -188 21316 21600 21316 21600 0 -188 0">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Another Kadey Krogen trawler, a
48’ model, was in the marina; while I was up in the Pilot house of ‘Partner’ a
lady walking on the dock spotted me and walked to our finger dock. She
introduced herself “Ann Miller from ‘Ann Louise’, she was from the other Kadey
Krogen. Her husband Bill was, not uncommon on boats, in the engine room doing
jobs! Ann invited Lavinia and me to stop by their boat, just a little farther
up the same dock, to meet Bill and see ‘Ann Louise’. When we travel many things
have to be stowed in order that they don’t become missiles or crash and burn in
the pitching and rolling conditions a small boat encounters deep sea; they all
have to be unpacked and made usable again so, we tidied up ‘Partner’ after her
18 hours at sea and later in the day after we had done the chores and explored the
area a bit, we walked over to ‘Ann Louise’ and asked “permission to board”, it
was granted and there began a good friendship. Bill and Ann are mid fifties
retirees who built their boat in 2007 so she is bright white and sparkling new,
beautiful. The 48’ is just like our 42’ to look at just bigger in all areas. We
talked and talked and found that they were heading for Trinidad the same as us.
It didn’t take long for us to agree to buddy up for the crossing of the Mona; a
little company is always comforting on a long passage. We enjoyed a drink with
them and super, Bill cooked up a quick but very tasty bowl of quinoa, a little
hot sauce and vegetables; it was great! When we said “good night” we had
already set up a date for the following evening for us to return the complement
and have them over to ‘Partners’. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The next morning the dock master Pedro asked
if we would mind moving to another slip in the marina, on the same dock but on
the other side, the owner of our slip was returning. By mid morning we were
ready and began the move. Oh no! The engine failed again as we were moving
within the marina, always a scary event, I managed to restart and after two more
failures managed to enter our new slip without hitting anything! The marina
staff gave a sigh of relief, they were running from dock to dock as we were
drifting, in readiness to fend us off and avert the impending collision. The
rest of the day was spent going over and over the fuel system trying to find
the cause of the engine stopping…I couldn’t find anything wrong, this is the
worst scenario as it is always better to find something! I continued to start
and run the engine each day to see if it would stop again, it didn’t!</span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHF3MhqpVgWuWlCmwgnCG1HyrWJazpuTWCJ0TmEQGrQyU5kjuso-xOMty8zRhILOEn13ztDREZpzs-qhWG41OcP8NSHbRErKKlDXGSlZHQlb3cBzlbL5Ks2yHKT0vtQ_NfrplKmt-cHWh/s1600/DSC_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHF3MhqpVgWuWlCmwgnCG1HyrWJazpuTWCJ0TmEQGrQyU5kjuso-xOMty8zRhILOEn13ztDREZpzs-qhWG41OcP8NSHbRErKKlDXGSlZHQlb3cBzlbL5Ks2yHKT0vtQ_NfrplKmt-cHWh/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Las Terrenas, DR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdA2_b1Q8288Kd49mxxOM2wc20UaMfFMF38EJpKkkvn-47pCyrEEp4zOye-LN1SefrJB4RMPQxuabu5vwpSWNnLwYHY3bz8GYAHEXWYOLB4R7Rs14mjgEgnAn3KqHS_x6OCDgEcyk07Ob/s1600/IMG_1093+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdA2_b1Q8288Kd49mxxOM2wc20UaMfFMF38EJpKkkvn-47pCyrEEp4zOye-LN1SefrJB4RMPQxuabu5vwpSWNnLwYHY3bz8GYAHEXWYOLB4R7Rs14mjgEgnAn3KqHS_x6OCDgEcyk07Ob/s200/IMG_1093+2.jpg" width="200" /></a><v:shape alt="DSC_0025.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_20" o:spid="_x0000_s1032" style="height: 112.5pt; margin-left: 290.25pt; margin-top: 278.4pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 170.25pt; z-index: -2;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-190 0 -190 21312 21695 21312 21695 0 -190 0">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">During our stay the four of us
hired a car and one day drove to a small town on the north coast of the Samaná
peninsula which was settle by mainly French and some Italians in the late 70’s
and early 80’s…Las Terrenas developed into a tourist destination for Europeans.
What a great destination, once there one begins to experience a little piece of
Europe in the Caribbean but all at DR prices! We encountered a great French
restaurant where we enjoyed a fabulous, perfectly prepared lunch which cost us
under $4 per head and the restaurant was right on the beach facing a coral reef
protected lagoon with the open Atlantic Ocean beyond…a tough life right? The
town has now become a hotspot for the more affluent people of Santo Domingo,
the Capital, who can drive to the town in 2 hours on the new recently
constructed highway. An international Airport also serves the area now. As I
said before please visit DR soon before everything changes too much. The
scenery on our way was breathtaking, Hispaniola is a mountainous island with
towering peaks and fertile vales and valleys, population is sparse and although
there are cars now there are still many horses and mules used for
transportation…life is slow.</span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We visited the town of Samaná which was about
three kilometers from the marina, we thought it looked a rough town, it bustled
but it was broken down and in need of much infrastructural renovation. The
Dominican Republic is an immerging third world country but the people are among
the happiest, engaging and proud we have encountered so far, we loved them. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h-ZG_9thE17XAV-n8Jpps3nQ7U-jKQ40dRZPPJY5UeWBXQ-7qtKco8YQUsEvXUC-WrsjwJYb9tkmifBtALCCxk8jn6hEL6ZhSfpd6ccgxqQn0Mu9_ikxC-dlST1umex4akxTFHKC6vW7/s1600/DSC_0025+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h-ZG_9thE17XAV-n8Jpps3nQ7U-jKQ40dRZPPJY5UeWBXQ-7qtKco8YQUsEvXUC-WrsjwJYb9tkmifBtALCCxk8jn6hEL6ZhSfpd6ccgxqQn0Mu9_ikxC-dlST1umex4akxTFHKC6vW7/s320/DSC_0025+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Our visit to DR was coming to an end it was
time to prepare to go to sea and cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico. Both
Bill and I use a weather service provided by Chris Parker, as do many other cruisers
in this part of the world. We had been listening to his forecasts and studying
his daily e-mails, we saw a weather widow approaching on the 3<sup>rd</sup> and
4<sup>th</sup> of March which would give us the best shot at a crossing. It
seems there are few if <em><strong><u>no</u></strong></em> smooth crossings of the Mona, even HT remarked “maybe
a 4’- 6’ sea is the best we can expect”. Bill and I made the decision to go but
with a plan to fall off to Punta Cana, another resort marina complex on the
southeast coast of the DR, if the weather window closed on us. The distance to
Punta Cana was approximately 80 nm with another 80 nm from there to PR. We set
off from Marina Puerto Bahia in the late afternoon intending to hug the
coastline of the SE DR over night rounding the infamously notorious Cap Engano
until we were off Punta Cana and then we would make the decision to either
continue to cross Mona or fall off to the marina. The first 80 nm leg started
at 16:00 hours and as the night progressed all went to plan until, yes,
Stonewall Jackson quit again. What could it be…I first went to the fuel filter
on the engine as the Racors all looked perfect, sure enough there was air in
the filter, in its self not a problem as it is easy enough to bleed the air
out, but where was it getting in? I bled the air and tightened all hose clamps
and fittings I could see in the hope I would eliminate the culprit. When we
stop the boat she always lies in the troughs of the seas and we were
experiencing 7’ – 10’ swells with 4’ -6’ seas on top which are fine while
underway but not when one is wallowing at a dead stop in their troughs. It
would be too bravado of me to say it is not frightening, it is! The
intermittent stopping continued about every 10 – 15 minutes and was becoming impossible,
Lavinia was becoming distraught and me just plain tired and whipped. We decided
to abort and go to Cap Cana and like our wounds. Bill came on the radio, all
was well with them, I told him what we had decided, his reply was to reconfirm
his companionship and that he would stay with us if we wanted to try to cross
to Isla de Mona, which is a small island half way across the passage, where we
could anchor in comfort and effect some repairs. After another talk HT and I
decided to go for it…we did have some more stoppages but each time I torqued the
central filter bolt a little more in the hope that was the source of allowing
the air into the filter, it worked! We were able to continue to Isla de Mona
without further stoppage. </span><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfodYELgbsW8l0Ju3k_6jlessG_wfDwd2iy8j2nXRdh1qTsluwgDfxxV5LrLEcfmNmiLkDsXyhTwqqfayONDamFj_WIfWKwPyzRK0eEQaGnvSyBCMVMzZFw_jCFiv0PBNiYlYKV3pupPT8/s1600/DSC_0075+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfodYELgbsW8l0Ju3k_6jlessG_wfDwd2iy8j2nXRdh1qTsluwgDfxxV5LrLEcfmNmiLkDsXyhTwqqfayONDamFj_WIfWKwPyzRK0eEQaGnvSyBCMVMzZFw_jCFiv0PBNiYlYKV3pupPT8/s320/DSC_0075+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the reef</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvc6o3vyq7edcXb3nPCLPgGEYGLoozVgl5TJqk71XpVQwkXJccV5z59VF8Z-ukXQ2ypUzDJ_TDaDF7dtOjCUOuA3-WbREAkDEWtTjRrR7GQ-5pZewJEegZETWomlWJJzM9R4f6AiQqDaN/s1600/DSC_0069+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvc6o3vyq7edcXb3nPCLPgGEYGLoozVgl5TJqk71XpVQwkXJccV5z59VF8Z-ukXQ2ypUzDJ_TDaDF7dtOjCUOuA3-WbREAkDEWtTjRrR7GQ-5pZewJEegZETWomlWJJzM9R4f6AiQqDaN/s320/DSC_0069+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our friend's boat 'Ann Louise' a 48' Kadey Krogen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The approach to the Island is straight
forward but then one must transit a reef entrance to gain access to one of the
prettiest reef protected anchorages we could imagine. The places we are
experiencing are breathtaking and of course can only be accessed, in a lot of
cases, by boat, this is one of them. We feel privileged that we can experience
this place with its gin clear water and spectacular cliffs…enjoy the pictures. </span><v:shape alt="DSC_0073.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_13" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 133.85pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-top: 15.2pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 202.5pt; z-index: -7;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-160 0 -160 21301 21600 21301 21600 0 -160 0">
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<v:shape alt="DSC_0073.JPG" o:spid="_x0000_s1029" style="height: 133.85pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-top: 15.2pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 202.5pt; z-index: -7;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-160 0 -160 21301 21600 21301 21600 0 -160 0"><v:imagedata o:title="DSC_0073" src="file:///C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image009.jpg">
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<v:shape alt="DSC_0069.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_17" o:spid="_x0000_s1028" style="height: 112.6pt; margin-left: -212.25pt; margin-top: 180.95pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 170.25pt; z-index: -5;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-190 0 -190 21293 21695 21293 21695 0 -190 0"><v:imagedata o:title="DSC_0069" src="file:///C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image010.jpg">
</v:imagedata></v:shape><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">There were three mooring buoys in
the small lagoon provided by the Department of Natural Resources who maintain a
base on the island; it is part of Puerto Rico. We rested, ate and took a nap,
after 4 hours in this most idyllic spot it was time to leave. We had timed our
departure so we could arrive in Salinas, our port of choice on the south coast
of PR, in daylight. Good practices always say enter an unfamiliar area in good
light. We are becoming pretty good at reading the water now and know the depths
just by the colour and shades of the water. Our two little </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQkZfMMIgTJ8mCliMYYMkr6AZJCZ1Z2vIyoZ1heVSuK33wi7BtXh9J-Ie1pcDMTN8leHHz3FxMUJBpquOikBfZWX02gC2r1luBozyc-Dy7agCwQ-4tikVGBquPEczgMNlVR310R6i9cAB/s1600/DSC_0073+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQkZfMMIgTJ8mCliMYYMkr6AZJCZ1Z2vIyoZ1heVSuK33wi7BtXh9J-Ie1pcDMTN8leHHz3FxMUJBpquOikBfZWX02gC2r1luBozyc-Dy7agCwQ-4tikVGBquPEczgMNlVR310R6i9cAB/s320/DSC_0073+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
white ships headed
towards the SW tip of PR on a course of 141° M. During overnight runs HT and I
keep watch and it has now become established that she mans the 19:00 – 22:00
and 01:00 – 04:00 and I do the 22:00 – 01:00 and 04:00 – 07:00. Lavinia is
getting the hang of using the radio now and seems much more confident in
effecting a course change. She is also comfortable with using the radar and
depth finders…she’s getting it! She was very worried at the beginning but I
told her it would all unfold and the practicality of actually doing it would
soon give her proficiency. Being only two months into our cruising adventure
she is doing just fine.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6aiki5S14WgtD4ibf0Ekw8ZN8DaW_06qHyBYoEK6ctth39OTScvCOsgdYtg3y1Nb2Trm-NHenFff8S9mQwCMNGVvy4w7faPkrlPQqkSgyY5uvl17DdkOoPKK5H0A8CHCdsHmX0gVo8VK/s1600/DSC_0076+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6aiki5S14WgtD4ibf0Ekw8ZN8DaW_06qHyBYoEK6ctth39OTScvCOsgdYtg3y1Nb2Trm-NHenFff8S9mQwCMNGVvy4w7faPkrlPQqkSgyY5uvl17DdkOoPKK5H0A8CHCdsHmX0gVo8VK/s320/DSC_0076+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Isla de Caja de Muertos</span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<v:shape alt="DSC_0076.JPG" id="Picture_x0020_21" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" style="height: 168.75pt; margin-left: 1.5pt; margin-top: -0.35pt; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 254.25pt; z-index: -1;" type="#_x0000_t75" wrapcoords="-127 0 -127 21504 21664 21504 21664 0 -127 0"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></v:shape><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we approached the Puerto Rican coast we received
protection from the ENE wind and the seas calmed dramatically we also started
to pick up some east flowing current along the south coast of PR which enabled
us to slow the rpm’s a little so as to adjust our arrival time. We rounded the
islands Isla de Caja de Muertos just off the coast of our entrance course to
Salinas right at sunrise. The approach to Salinas was easy and uneventful. Wow!
As we worked our way along the channel towards the anchorage, what a lot of
boats; Salinas is a popular destination for cruisers and has grown to have most
of the facilities we boaters are looking for including an amazing number of restaurants
and ‘watering holes’. It is a small town but is close to the metropolis of
Ponce and only an hour’s drive from San Juan. Once anchored we called the
customs and immigration office to report our arrival, we have what is known as
the Local Boaters Option, theoretically allowing US Citizens and registered
boats a hassle free entry into any US territory; almost right! We found out
that apparently Salinas is not an official port of entry, Ponce is. The
immigration officer, customs and agriculture officials wanted to inspect the
boat. After two phone conversations they agreed to come from Ponce to us and at
13:00 it was agreed they would meet us in the Salinas Marina office. After a
little officialdom everyone relaxed and our entry to PR was completed by the
Immigration official saying “Welcome to Puerto Rico, this is your home”, I said
to Lavinia how nice it was that he said that as it set the scene for us to feel
comfortable in this a separate island but just as American as the US mainland… </span></span> </div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">More to come from Puerto Rico...<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
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<br />Richard Maggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06804750842754028836noreply@blogger.com0