After a relaxing time in Bequia, our watermaker packed up despite being brand new. Rather than deal with dismantling, shipping and customs, we decided to sail back to Trinidad (AGAIN!!!!!). Generator packed up again as we were getting ready to go, too.
Got back to Trinidad after 24 hour sail. Watermaker people fixed it promptly and reinstalled the next day and generator fixed too. Nice meal with friends on the day before we left so not all wasted time. Then 2 days sail to Martinique!
Weather, sea and winds not good. 30+ knots lots of the time and never much below 25. Heavy seas and lots of rain too. Boat stood up to it all brilliantly and crew coped. It's amazing what you can get used too!!
Arrived Martinique and dropped anchor at Fort de France. Looked pretty and as too late to clear customs, went to bed with expectations of wine and cheese tomorrow. Ah! tomorrow is Sunday so most things shut. Never mind - time to relax and recover. Ah! Monday everything closed as a general civil strike is going on. Can't clear customs and can't find any open shops to buy anything!!
Tuesday - Generator breaks down again!!!! Everything still closed and no liklihood of any change soon so decided to leave south for St Lucia to get generator fixed plus only short sail so should be easy.
Leave Martinique with regret for lost opportunities and having been able to see nothing of the island (transport shut too). Short damp sail to St Lucia.
Generator fixed by Sean - knew what he was doing and took 20 minutes!!
Now planning to spend some days here and explore the island a bit before heading to Dominica. Will post promised photos next time.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Escape from Trinidad!
We have finally left Trinidad!
After getting the davits fitted and the other work finished, we left for Union Island. We had a long but interesting night sail having left about 1 pm. It was a very warm and pleasant afternoon but the weather got a bit worse as the evening came on. It never got above force 6 and the sea was relatively calm. The night was a bit odd as the wind went from 25 knots to nothing and then back to 20 or so knots not once but several times, especially up the coast of Grenada. It was nice to arrive at Clifton Harbour in the early morning and after anchoring and eating, we grabbed some sleep before going ashore to clear customs and immigration.
We had a quiet couple of days with just one visit ashore and one visit to Happy Island (see earlier blog) for a sun down drink.
We are now in Bequia again after a day sail which was hard work as we were beating to windward (sailing as close to the wind direction as we could) all the time and, for the first time in the Caribbean, we had to put a few tacks in to make port. This adds to distance and time so we were glad to arrive and get the anchor down.
We have been for a walk around part of the island (shoes really pinch after so long not wearing them) and it's all really pretty with lots of lovely beaches and blue sea everywhere. Essentially though, we are just relaxing and plan to spend a few more days here doing just that before we move on to St Lucia.
We will put some new photos on from here at our next post. Keep reading and we'll keep writing!
After getting the davits fitted and the other work finished, we left for Union Island. We had a long but interesting night sail having left about 1 pm. It was a very warm and pleasant afternoon but the weather got a bit worse as the evening came on. It never got above force 6 and the sea was relatively calm. The night was a bit odd as the wind went from 25 knots to nothing and then back to 20 or so knots not once but several times, especially up the coast of Grenada. It was nice to arrive at Clifton Harbour in the early morning and after anchoring and eating, we grabbed some sleep before going ashore to clear customs and immigration.
We had a quiet couple of days with just one visit ashore and one visit to Happy Island (see earlier blog) for a sun down drink.
We are now in Bequia again after a day sail which was hard work as we were beating to windward (sailing as close to the wind direction as we could) all the time and, for the first time in the Caribbean, we had to put a few tacks in to make port. This adds to distance and time so we were glad to arrive and get the anchor down.
We have been for a walk around part of the island (shoes really pinch after so long not wearing them) and it's all really pretty with lots of lovely beaches and blue sea everywhere. Essentially though, we are just relaxing and plan to spend a few more days here doing just that before we move on to St Lucia.
We will put some new photos on from here at our next post. Keep reading and we'll keep writing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
