Holy Yole!

We rebedded a stanchion and I got a coat of Cetol on the caprail before the races began.  First we watched as two smaller Yoles with crew trained in the area where we are anchored.  These narrow boats were out in 25 - 30 knot winds and from all the commotion on board the crew was having a good time.

 Hiking out on a Yole means hanging out!

Later in the day two larger boats came around the corner and sailed up onto shore in Marin.

Hard work and good food

I know I talk about food a lot - it's what keeps me going!

Yesterday I started working on the teak on the caprail.  After about 5 hours of work I was just about finished (Lesley said it's 5 o'clock) so I started cleaning up but noticed a small amount of water at the base of one of the stanchions.  So we pulled it and will save it for tomorrow when we will rebed it.

After having two Hairouns - yes, Hairoun and showering then I started dinner.  Lesley had prepped all the veggies and all I had to do was cut the steak into strips and marinate for 20 minutes before cooking.  Szechuan Beef with stir fried snow peas, onions and carrots over hot buckwheat noodles.  Delicious!

Maintenance time

Our starter battery failed yesterday and I have decided to replaced it with a GRP-24 AGM (only because I cannot get a GRP-22 out here).  Battery is paid for and will pick it up on our way South back thru St Lucia.  In the meantime we use the house bank to start both the generator and Yanmar.  The GRP-24 battery is larger than what we have, so I removed the battery support shelf and modified it.

Also ran the water maker this morning and topped of the tank and Lesley made homemade brownies.   Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) reading was 134ppm - lowest ever with this water maker and far better than we ever got with the old Village Marine System.

Later today we are going to have pop corn and a cribbage tournament.  Then fried chicken, dirty rice, and homemade yeast rolls for dinner.

It's to blustery to go ashore today so we are hanging out enjoying the breeze.  I may even take a nap today!

Martinique

We left St Lucia late this morning and are now anchored in Bay Duquesne, Martinique - withing sight of Marin but we are the only boat here.  Easy dinghy ride in to clear Customs and Immigration and pick up a few boxes of my favorite wine - Goats do Roam - that's English for Cotes du Rhone.

Dinner ashore

We found a new Indian restaurant so went out last night to try it.

The restaurant is "Spice of India" and it was excellent and the service was great.

We started dinner with Onion Bahji, then Samosa Chat as appetizers.  Lesley had Boti Kehbab and I had Chicken Tikka Masala, accompanied by pilau rice and garlic naan. There were assorted accompanyments and sauces and everything was superb.

We now have a best place to eat in the Caribbean!

Moved to St Lucia this morning

We left Bequia for St Lucia at 3:45 am with just a tiny bit of sliver moon to light the anchorage but Lesley moved the boat out and we were under way without incident.  Once we were in the Lee of St Vincent she served breakfast, fresh brewed coffee, deviled eggs, fresh pain au chocolate!  I was in heaven.

Trip up was great - WindGuru was right on with the forecast wind and seas.  We had planned to stop in Marigot Bay but after visiting Mike & Lynne on Seabattical yesterday on their mooring we decided we did not want to deal with a mooring, no boat boys, no charter boats (hopefully).  So we continued on to Rodney Bay and other than a brief  lull and shift in winds as we passed the Pitons, mother nature gave us good wind from the right directions and good beam seas most of the way.

I'm warming leftover homemade spaghetti sauce for dinner and will add pasta and leftover baguette.  Just to tired to do anything else.

Hugo's Fuel Service

In Bequia there are several ways to obtain diesel fuel.

1.  You can go to the local gas station.

2.  You can call the local yacht service company and they will deliver fuel to your boat.

3.  You can call a Venezuelan flagged "Fishing Vessel" and they will help you out too!

While we watched yesterday a Venezuelan flagged fishing vessel came in, with two Customs officials from SVG aboard, and transferred more than 3000 gallons of fuel to two service boats.  Interesting as the service company advertises that they get fuel from some other source!

 

Maybe they were pumping the fuel out to make room for fish that they "intend " to catch?

An Island Packet 485

We went over to Lower Bay for a swim yesterday and noticed a 485 anchored near the beach.  We stopped by and were invited aboard Island Wanderer and had a nice visit with owners Pete and Avril.  Then left the boat and continued on for a swim and a visit to the local ice cream parlor - where we bumped into Pete and Avril again - what a small world! 

Fueling

We carry one 5 gal diesel jug and go ashore to the local gas station making several trips as necessary to obtain fuel.  With only one jug to store in the lazarette we do not take up valuable storage space and we do not use on deck jug storage. We use a jug that we bought in Key Largo, FL in 2004 that has an automatic shutoff nozzle.






To transfer fuel from the jug to the boat I invert the jug and let the weight of it press down on the collar opening the valve and allowing fuel to transfer.

No muss, no fuss, no funnel.

Water Maker

We've been running the new water maker for about a month now and the only thing that we've noticed out of the ordinary is that the "Brine" gauge has discolored.  We took it apart, cleaned everything, except the SS float which is now permanently discolored.  I suspect that the the brass fittings that I used on the gauge reacted with the SS float in the salt brine solution.  Replaced the fittings with plastic ones and will see if the staining reoccurs.

 

After taking the Brine flow meter apart and cleaning the sight tube things are a bit clearer - float is permanently stained.

Fuel time in Bequia

We carry one empty 5 gallon jug that we use to schlep diesel back to the boat as needed.  Today I am going to get the first of several jugs of fuel and begin to fuel up.  So that I don't "over exert" my self, I have a self limit of one 5 gallon jug per day. 

Then we plan to take the dink and go ashore and try Mango's for lunch.  The place is off the lower bay and getting the dink ashore and staying dry can be a challenge.

The Feast

Ground lamb with oregano, fresh ground pepper, chopped garlic, chopped onion, lime juice and panko crumbs made into oblong patties grilled till done.  Greek salad - chopped tomato, cucumber, onions, green pepper, with feta cheese and Calamata olives with a home vinegar, oil, spice dressing.  Basmati Rice, stuffed grape leaves and warmed pita bread.  For desert we had a few squares of Perugina chocolate.

Nice walk and picnic

We went ashore yesterday with a couple from SV Mary Ann II and walked to the Eastern side of the island to visit the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary.  Nice walk with nice people and as always a great visit with the Turtles.

We stopped on the way back and had a nice picnic lunch on a grassy knoll overlooking the Atlantic.

We were both hot and tired so we came back to the boat and had a nice swim and then warm showers.  The folks from Mary Ann II came over for sundowners and we had Lesley's amazing salmon spread on fresh baguette and witnessed yet another amazing Caribbean Green Flash.  Was especially nice as Julia had never seen one before!

We are headed ashore later this morning, after I finish making water, and will pick up some fresh veggies for tonight's Mediterranean feast.

MV Nahlin

We were just back from lunch ashore and we saw a really large Motor Vessel come around the corner from the South.  I shot a few long distance pictures then after they were anchored and my curiosity could stand it no longer I hopped in the dinghy and went to investigate.

The ship is the MV Nahlin, a 1930's vintage steamer that was recently refitted and is reportedly owned by James Dyson, hailing port Glasgow..

Link to an article that I found here:    http://yachts.monacoeye.com/files/category-rebuild.php

Chicken Kabobs & Mole' sauce

We worked on the boat some yesterday and also took our staysail in for modification.  We are pretty sure that the sail was originally made for an older series of the Island Packet - the ones that use a straight boom.  Since our boat has a Hoyt "curved" boom  the foot of the sail would hang up on the boom when tacking.  So in to the shop for some choppin.

Lesley made chicken kabobs marinated in a Caribbean style mix of things and then we grilled them and served with a side of mole' sauce, Basmati rice and fresh bread that we got from Daffodils.  Superb meal.

One end of our dinghy lifting bridle broke last evening as we were bringing the dinghy up.  In to town later this morning to try and find some replacement wire and crimp terminals.

Now I'm going to finish my coffee and pain au chocolat.

Anchored in Bequia

We had a great trip up from Carriacou today and anchored in our favorite spot on the NE side of the Harbor in Bequia.  We washed down the boat and I went ashore and cleared in - picked up some potatoes, green peppers, and cukes - fajitas for dinner tomorrow.

I'm tired.....

Happy Holidays - Rasta Style!

While we were out walking around in the town of Harvey Vale we came upon this nicely painted and decorated tree. 

Images from our Hike to Chapeau Carre

Traffic Circle

Sandy Island

Local fellow!

Tyrrel Bay

Hillsborough

Chapeau Carre

We took off this morning to find the trail and climb the mountain.  We took a fairly long route around but were able to follow some painted red turtles to get us started.  About half way along the red marks ended and we blazed a trail that took us to the top.  Nice walk but a little hazy out this morning so view was not as good as it could have been to the South toward Grenada.

We took a different route back and this turned out to be the best, shortest route, so next time we know the way to go.

Everything is shut down here today as it is a special holiday.  Shortly after starting out though a man in a van stopped and asked us if we wanted to buy a baguette - what a coincidence - our plan was to have Weisswurst tonight for dinner!

We were both whipped after we got back to town after the hike so stopped in at a local bar and had a cool drink then back to the boat for a nice dip in the pool.  Now I have assumed the back leaning rest position I may stay this way for the rest of the afternoon!

I'm to lazy to do anything with the pictures I took today so once I find some energy will download and post them. 

Happy New Year from Carriacou

We had a nice dinner of spiral sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, Brussel sprouts in browned butter and spices, Champagne, two kinds of desert, Champagne, and Rum. Everything was superb and there were no left overs!

The anchorage and surrounding town were both very quiet last night and then just after midnight folks on several boats shot off some red parachute flares.

I'm starting this morning with a cup of coffee and now heating water for showers.  As soon as that is finished I will start the water maker and make water for an hour.  We are starting to watch the weather for a potential departure to Bequia over the next several days.  I plan to have a sail maker there modify the stay sail.