Catch up and New Year

Sorry it has been such a long time since our last update but we have been busy with visitors and have had limited access to wifi.

Kay and Linda arrive Thursday and we had a good sail to Grenada on Saturday. We were all feeling a bit queezy with the swell but most of us were OK! Arrive in Prickly Bay in the dark which was fun anchoring. We visited a number of bays in Grenada and the capital St George where we did a walk into the rain forest. Unfortunately this was very muddy and we all had completely inappropriate shoes on. We chose to go round the east coats of the Island which few people do and we were the only bot in Grenville which made us all feel quite nervous.

Next it was on to Carriacou which had lots of flies and we got ripped off by a taxi driver so we won't be going back there!

It was another long overnight sail to Tobago but we made such good speed that we arrived in the dark again! Tobago is a very quiet unspoilt Island and the people were very friendly. We visited Charlotteville on the west coast before heading around the east coast to Scarborough and Pigeon Point where we were hoping to drop Kay and Linda and pick up Jeff. We tried to go ashore onto the beach and all got drenched, looked around and did our impression of Hawaii Five O to get back to the boat. Decision was taken to move so it was back to Scarborough.

After Kay and Linda left we headed north and back to Charlotteville before a lively overnight sail to Becquia. The wind blew up to 30 knots as we arrived but the boat handled it well. The boat sails well and has no problem with the big Atlantic swells, we just wish things would stop breaking (boring and long list!!).

The last week has been spent chilling in Becquia, getting the fridge repaired and having a new dinghy outboard mounting plate made! We spent Christmas day on the beach drinking rum punch before cooking a lovely roast beef dinner complete with Christmas pudding (thanks Alice!).

Tonight is New Year and we are going out for a meal before the local fireworks start. Tomorrow, hangovers permitting we are heading south down the Grenadines. We are hoping to be back in Trinidad for 9 January to collect our generator which is fixed but could not be re-installed before Christmas.

Happy New year to you all!

Still working!

Well, we have been on the water for a while and it's lots better than sitting on the hard. We are still working hard trying to get the boat ready to sail. Only the mainsail is on so far and we are still finding new problems - generator is not working this morning! We keep eliminating things and the list is going down slowly but it's often hard to get bits and there is a lot of work arounds needed. As noted previously, getting people in to sort things is a long process and even longer to get things done.

All our stuff arrived from the UK OK and thanks to the nice lady at Chaguramas customs, NO duty. This is such a relief as we had worries that it was going to be expensive. Just about found room for it all but boat is definitely sitting lower in the water!!

Friends arrive here on Thursday and we hope to have a usable boat by then. Aim is to leave for Grenada on Saturday. That will be around 80 / 90 miles and will be a long first sail but that is the nearest point to the north. Tobago is unfortunately straight in to the wind so we can only visit there coming back to drop our friends off.

More later.

It's been a while since I could report. Lot's of work and long days but the boat is now in the water!!

Lot's of things still to do but it looks like the end is in sight. Still waiting to get our shipment from UK with all our personal possessions and stuff but looks like we will receive this tomorrow subject to getting through customs.

Looking to get all the remaining things sorted this week and then to start the relaxation that we promised ourselves!!

Will do a bigger update later subject to Internet access and time!!!!!!!!!!

Still not sorted!

Let's see?? What's happened since the last post?

Lot's of itchy mosquito bites, the riggers have started, the engine guy didn't turn up, we still haven't got a local mobile - promised but not delivered - and there has been a power cut most of the day with absolutely torrential rain this afternoon. Began to wonder if the boat would float as there was so much water!!!

Tomorrow, we will try to get the phone and decide whether or not to have a watermaker. With the pound so low against the dollar it's a lot more expensive than when we first looked at the idea. So is everything else and this may mean some difficult choices. Oh! and we will try to get the engine guy on the boat tomorrow as promised but who knows!!

One plus is that they have fixed the air conditioning in the room so that should be a lot more comfortable as long as the compound generator holds out. Hope mains power resumes soon!!

Boat is scheduled to be launched on 24/11 and can only hope we get things sorted before then.

Keep watching for our next update. Who knows maybe I can persuade Karen to do it!!!!

In the Caribbean

Well!! Here we are in Trinidad at last but it's been a while since my last entry. So what's happened since the last input??

Let's see - we have completed the preparation of the new house and found tenants who moved in last week. All the stuff going to Trinidad was shipped although it will be 2 weeks before it gets here (customs! - ugh!!). Karen finished her job on 31/10 and handed all her outstanding stuff over (not much). Plus packing for the trip here, buying last minute stuff, sorting out problems of all sorts and generally getting very, very stressed. And most importantly, saying goodbye to all our family and friends.

Karen has been a martyr to my mood swings and it will be some time before I feel comfortable about that. Lots of TLC required to make up for it - not that she has complained at all!!

Actually, when you look at it, it does not sound like much but I think the last 4 weeks have been the second worst time of my life.

Having arrived here on the Friday - long flight with connection - very tired we have a weekend which is reasonably free as most things here are shut. Have checked the boat out and the new anti-fouling looks good but the rest of her is filthy and in need of a good clean. There's also a lot of wood that now needs repainting and lots of chrome that needs polishing to remove rust and stuff. Lots of things to fix on the boat too and lots of things to get people to do. Sounds a lot like we have just replaced one set of issues with another!

However, it's sunny, hot (35 C) and the work is only for 2 weeks. Then it's relaxation time!!!!

A bit more effort!!

Well, we've bought the house and now just have to organise the decorating and the numerous other things that need to be done before it can be let. Looks like it will be around 23/10 before we can get it on the market so not likely to be let before we go. Still lots of other loose ends too but they are beginning to get sorted.

Still trying to organise the shipment to Trinidad and unfortunately, missing a few of the packing crates we ordered. Then just have to pack, agree the insurance inventory and arrange pick up!

In Trinidad, still trying to sort out the changes to the rigging needed on the boat. Complication is the need to import various things from the US. As the $/£ rate continues to worsen cost of everying is also going up. Hoping it will not mean that we can't get some of the changes we need.

Overall, lots of progress since the last post but still intimidated by the amount we have to do in just 4 weeks!!

Pre-departure grind

Loads of problems this week as we try to sort out the UK end and all the arrangements we need to make before we go plus trying to get things organised for our arrival in Trinidad. Nothing seems to be straight forward and even with the help of the net it seems to take so much time to find out where to go for something (usually three or four attempts to get to the right company or person) and then to arrange it. Main issues have been sorting out the shipping of an ever increasing amount of stuff to Trinidad and last minute problems with the purchase of the house we are buying to let in the UK whilst we are away.

I suppose it will get sorted eventually but it just seems like a treadmill at the moment and I really want to get off!!!! I never thought it would be this difficult but I suppose that with placing one life on pause whilst we fast forward to another, I should have expected it. Oh well, just 5 weeks to go!!!!

Before we go

This is my first entry in what I hope will be an ongoing record and conversation about our planned sailing trip. We start in the Caribbean in November and we will be entering stuff from there whenever I can get internet access.

More Later!!!