Credit Cards

Well, it's happened again.

Two years ago, just before Christmas while we were in St Lucia, we got an email from our Credit Union stating

"Visa Fraud Control has notified us that your XXXX YYYY Credit Union credit card may have been compromised in a security breach at a 3rd party company" 

Yesterday morning just before we left the Saintes for Dominica we got the message again.  So as soon as we were anchored in Dominica I started trying to resolve the issue.   I tried calling the Credit Union but my connection to the internet was not good.  I replaced our omni antenna with a directional antenna cranked up the power on the Bullet and tried again.

I was able to get through and in a lengthy conversation with the CS rep found out that only 2 of our 3 cards from this institution were affected!  The Credit Union was very sympathetic and understanding stating that replacement cards had already been mailed (our mail goes to a UPS Store in Punta Gorda).  So rather than try to have replacement cards sent to us in the Caribbean we are hoping to get through the rest of the season on  one VISA and one Mastercard.  

Up until now I thought that 4 credit cards would be fine for our time out here - guess I need to go with 6 next year!  Wish IP Sponsored a credit card!

In the meantime I hit the local ATM's for some cash.

Terre de Haute

We walked into town today to drop off some trash and then took a walk over to the East side of the Island.  Got a few nice pictures of the various things we saw on the walk.

There is an area where there are always lots of big Iguanas – these things are really big and look like they could put a hurt on you.  They mainly eat veggies though not people.

After we arrived at the beach we saw this really high tech beach sweeper.  Pretty pricey toy for the beach that is only about 200 yards long!

We’ve had a small pod of Dolphins around the boat for the last few days.  Last night it was really cool listening to them blow as they circled the boat.  We were able to see them off the bow of the boat in the light of a full moon as they moved away. Then later today they were cruising through the mooring field.  We normally do not see dolphins this close to moored or anchored boats.

Finally, a day out here is not complete without the evening entertainment.  Today’s was a See & Sea charter boat with 6 people aboard picking up a mooring.

First 4 people come up on the bow to help spot the mooring.

Then as the designated snagger picks it up the line handler gets the line on it the others cheer him on.  The helmsman continues to apply power in reverse and the tug of war is on.

 

Bourg des Saintes

We arrived here early afternoon yesterday and took a mooring right off the town dock.  Rolly but not much choice as you have to take a mooring or anchor out in really deep water.  The town is very scenic and colorful.

Then after we were moored we noticed that the athletes were out practicing a new local sport - lay down paddle boarding!

Coaches to the rescue, this athlete had trained to hard I'm afraid.  Oh well, rest and relaxation are a sure cure.  There is always tomorrow.

Itsy bitsy teenie weenie rubber dinghy!

While we were anchored in Deshaies we saw what had to be one of the smallest dinghies we've ever seen.  I caught a picture of it after it had passed going ashore.

 Room for the oars but the oar locks are back on the big boat!

All in one boat!

Boat gone walkin!

Spider Man and the Three Stooges were not aboard this afternoon when their boat went adrift.  We had forecast and saw winds gusting to over 30 knots and about 5:00 this afternoon the boat broke loose.  It bounced off several other boats on the way to the rocks when several boater out in the anchorage were able to get aboard, get the engines started and move the boat out and get it anchored. 

Good thing to remember - leave the windlass breaker on and the keys in the ignition.

Can't wait to see the expressions when they come back and the boat is not there!

Spiderman and the 3 Stooges!

Just before dark last night a charter cat came in and sampled the bottom all over the bay.  They probably tried to anchor 10 - 12 times before ending up way out in the Bay.  While I was having my second cup of coffee this morning I noticed the same charter cat moving up and then the next time I looked they were picking up a mooring used by a day boat here.  Will be quite a surprise when the day boat returns this afternoon!

In the meantime - Cartoons:

Deshaies, Guadeloupe

I went ashore this morning to clear in.  The town dock at the foot of the town, access to main street and the Catholic church which still chimes the bells in the morning and evening with special efforts on Sunday morning.

 The town dock was reconstructed several years ago with a nice new dinghy friendly version.  It was damaged some time over the past two summers when storm surge ruptured the deck planking which is now scattered around the dock area.

The buildings in town are uniquely painted - looking like I would imagine buildings along the coast in France might look.

This picture is for you Greg!

Earlier in the day this small booth is a fresh fruit/veggie vendors area.  In the early afternoon it is turned into a local delicacy shop.

I went back in to town several times in an attempt to get some cash out of the Bank Postale machine which had been out of order.  Saw an IP-380 come in and anchor so stopped by to say hello - nice folks from the Land Down Under.  They are awaiting a weather window and are planning their next stop in Falmouth, Antigua

And a picture of Gra'inne at anchor.

Conch

We've enjoyed cracked conch since our first trip to the Bahamas in 96.  After meeting Pam and Glen on Blue Pearl we were talking about conch and I mentioned that we did not care for the Caribbean cooked conch "Lambi" or conch fritters. 

Night before last we got together with Pam and Glen for happy hour and Pam made some wonderful cracked conch.  Thanks for the conch - it was superb.

Good Deed Dude

Started out yesterday helping Glen with a leaky dinghy valve and then on the way back to Grai'nne we came to the rescue of  Horizon Yacht CHarter anchored behind us with a monstrous lower half jib wrap/snarl.

Then I went to clear out at Jolly Harbor and a very nice fellow stranded at the Customs dock (OB would not start) so I towed he and his daughter back to their boat.

Finally, we headed over to Blue Pearl for CRACKED CONCH - YES.....  It was great but before it was ready we watched a large Junneau (Wicked Good) try to anchor amongst the moorings.  He tried and tried but didn't have a clue so I hopped in the dink and rode oer and asked the 4 people aboard if they might need help picking up a mooring.  Everyone but the skipper said yes.  So after 5 tries with me holding the mooring, him hitting my dink, my cutting my hand on some barnacles, etc we finally got the damn boat on the mooring. 

A little while later the skipper and his wife drove by Blue Pearl and not so much as a wave or a thanks.  This was probably the worst show of boating skills I have ever seen!

Chainplate Maintenance

Glen and I worked on the chain plates on his IP-38 today.  We had already re tensioned  the rigging so we loosened an upper shroud, removed the cover plate and with a knife, Dremel and a host of other small tools cleaned out what appeared to be 5200 and opened the area around the chain plate tang.  There was no evidence of rust or any moisture in or around the tang so we cleaned and then rebedded the chain plate, reinstalled the cover plate and reattached/re tightened the shroud.  I came back to our boat for lunch and then did some computer stuff.

I went back over to Blue Pearl just a little while ago to return a DVD and drop off a movie and Glen had already done two more!  Almost 1/2 done.

Back to Davis Bay

We left Rabbit Island this morning after we had good light so that the reefs were visible.  The trip from Great Bird Island to Rabbit Island and back to Davis Bay was mostly eyeball navigation.  The actual track is shown on the attached image.

As we went in and anchored, IP370 Honah Lee was picking up anchor and moving to Barbuda.

 Don't trust your echarts or chartplotter!

Great Bird & Rabbit Islands

We took moorings yesterday mooring off the West side of Great Bird Island.  Went ashore and walked around and saw some nesting birds (White-tailed Tropicbird).

This morning while I was enjoying my coffee I watched a small sea turtle in and around the boat.  I managed to get one picture of him as he surfaced.

About 9:30 we decided to take advantage of the light conditions and we moved over off Rabbit Island and anchored.  We've seen several stingrays in the water so plan to snorkel around later and see if we can find them.

Glen and I checked the rig tension on Blue Pearl.  While we were looking out over the bow of the boat we saw a large whale (2?) broach twice out off Hell's gate! Really cool.............  Pam invited us over for dinner so Lesley whipped up some chocolate mousse for desert.

Lesley and I took the dinghy out to explore some of the area.  We had noticed some of the birds in the water so we wanted to see if we could get some good close shots - we did!

We then took the dinghy outside the reef and got this picture of Hell's Gate.

 

On the way back to the boat we took a picture of Blue Pearl and Gra'inne anchored off Rabbit Island.

Deep Bay

We left Mosquito Cove yesterday morning and moved to Deep Bay.  We ran the water maker for several hours and washed the boat down with some of it once we anchored.

Glen and Pam went ashore for a hike and I got a picture up them looking off the top of the fort.

We got together with Glen and Pam for snacks and beverages yesterday afternoon and had a great time.

We talked about about sailing, wine, the green flash and also the white flash on the boat BEHIND us!


We were well positioned for a possible green flash and watched intently as the sun dropped below the horizon.  We saw a nice flash but not sure that Glen or Pam did.


A Norwegian boat came in and anchored very close to Blue Pearl.  To close but not close enough to try and run them off, then the fellow decided to drop a second anchor and insure that he was going to be a problem later.  I whistled at him and surprisingly he pulled up the anchors and moved up out of the way!

We plan to move around into North sound later this morning and explore some of the anchorages in that area.

Notary

Think of how easy it is to get a document notarized in the US and how cheap it is!  Then think about getting a document notrized "out here".  It started with a search on the Internet for US Consulates in the Caribbean.  Found a Consular Service Office (think about contracted services) and called the number listed.  Found that the office is open 4 hours 3 days per week and you need an appointment.

I called the number listed and spoke with a nice lady and asked what was required for a notarized Power of Attorney.  Bank Draft for $50.00 per signature (ouch) and passport or other Government ID.  So I started checking local banks and the 4th one I checked said that they would do a bank draft for a non account holder.  $50.00 USD paid, $25.00 ECD paid for the draft, come back on Monday to pick it up.

Went ashore yesterday morning and the draft was ready so we hopped a bus for St John's.  Got to the West Bus Terminal and then walked out past the Woods Center to the Consular Services Office.  Quick and easy notary then headed back to town so that I could send the POA.  Found the FedEx Office and for only $57.00 USD the POA is on it's way to Colorado.

Amphibious Dinghy?

On the way in to the store today I saw the most unusual boat.  When I first went by the wheels were down and the boat was on a pad next to a villa.  I ran a few errands in town and when I came back the boat was in the water with the wheels up!

I'm getting ready for lunch now but plan to go back in to town later today and hope to take a few photos of the boat.  Very unusual - I had fold down wheels on my 14ft Zodiac when we lived in Okinawa but this boat appears to have hydraulically controlled wheel lifts and perhaps an electric motor on the bow wheel!

Makers name on the boat is SeaLegs. 

Looking closer at the boat it appears that there is a drive motor on each wheel.

IPs Jolly Harbor

There are 4 IP's on moorings now with another possibly due to arrive tomorrow.

350 Grainne, 35 Seabbatical, 370 Honah Lee, and 40 Kewaydin.

We know all of the owners and have spent time with them at one time or another.  Glen & Pam on Blue Pearl sould be over from St Kitts early in the week so depending on the timing we could have the inner basin full of Ivory.  Even the Dock Master has commented on the number of IP's here.