Updates

Things have been moving along at a slower pace than we might like but moving just the same. We have been here for three weeks now and for the past two weeks we have been on the marina dock. It is a great place to be.....no energy restrictions, no water restrictions, an easy walk to bars and restaurants, a pool and hot showers, wifi connections but not much breeze and no sunsets. But for all that we will have a bill to pay. Anchoring is free. But to get the work done we need to be on the dock. The solar panels still aren't up the wind generator still isn't up. Our cockpit table still isn't done and eating on our laps is tedious. I am working away on the salon cushions and although it is slow work the results are amazing. Each cushion takes about three hours and there are 16 cushions in total. 

The outside cockpit cushions turned out well too. I had taken home the old covers and patterned new ones and made them. The last sewing was too much for my home machine so I had to have the two layers and the piping sewn by an upholstery company in London. After some tight folding they fit into our luggage and arrived in good shape. 

It has been quite rainy since we arrived and very humid. The showers are usually brief but very heavy. But it is a pain to close the hatch over our bed in the middle of the night as the rain hits. We have a cover over the hatch but that rarely keeps all the rain out as the winds whip.

Brian has been working away on his list of projects and as he fixes one thing another opportunity pops up. The dinghy davits are in place but still not working quite as well as hoped. Brian is still working out the bugs on that. 

The bits and pieces for our rigging work on the mast have been ordered and we are awaiting news on that. We don't expect any action there for a few weeks. We have lights, antenaes and gear to attach to the mast ourselves but I since it is not near us we can't attach anything valuable too soon. While it is down we are going to give it a fresh coat of white paint.

People are starting to arrive and it is getting a bit busier around the marina village. So nice to see old friends again. 

Heavy rains

The rains started on Friday on and off throughout the day very heavy at times but short as per usual around here. But on Friday night about 5 it really started in earnest. It rained all night and until about 5 on Sat. It was not fun being trapped inside and not fun chasing leaks. We knew we had a couple problems and they really reared thier ugly heads at that time. One side window leaked into the hanging closet and into the clothes and everything else stored there. Brian emptied the dinghy with the water up to the top of the transom. Behind him is one of cruise ship tenders from out in the bay. Even in the rain the tourists get off the ship to explore. 

We had planned to leave the boat tied to the dock and go off with John and Sue to Martinique but when they called for 40 knot winds we were neither leaving the boat or sailing on Sun. But it turned out to be not much of anything. So we left on Sun am as planned. John and Sue have Pan Oceanic 46 foot and as a boat gets bigger so do all the lines and the work. We had a lovely sail, lots of wind, lots of waves but not much water over the bow which is lovely. We had only one day there because the ferry only returns a couple times a week so we had to grab it. A pleasant ferry trip back in a fast high and dry ferry but sea conditions were quite bad and several people on the ferry were sick. Home Tues before noon and Brian continues to put things together. The propane tanks and the auto pilot to reconnect after the dinghy davits reinforcements were done. Lots more jobs as we sit and wait for the rigging. 

Launch,mast pulling,the barrel arrived.

Been a busy past few days with getting the boat ready to launch. The rudder repair went well but being a last minute thing it puts everyone's schedule behind. At 8:00 Thursday morning we were ready. The launch was smooth as always the boatyard is very good at what they do. The company replacing the rigging was there to help pull the mast. There were four of them, four guys from the yard and Brian on the deck and I was trying to stay out of the way passing tools as needed. It was very stressful as the mast had probably not been pulled in 20 odd years and salt water and corrosion had set in. After considerable banging and prying it released and was lifted. Once we were in the water and they lifted the dinghy off and we were free to go as a motor boat with a sky light. 

Once we were at the dock the settling in started. Trevor made a delivery of frozen food from his place, we filled up the propane tank and ready to relax. The barrel arrived in perfect condition and we have found a home for everything. Amazing how easily we found space. Can I bring more?????

It has been raing most of yesterday,all night and all of today. We have discovered a few more leaks  and are working at stemming them. We are going to help sail Saltscar III to Martinque on Sunday if it stops raining. It will not be pleasant if it keeps up like it is now. This is just outside the Bread Basket where we are having coffee this morning. Of course all the debris is washing down into the lagoon, very remeniscient of Kettle Creek on Lake Erie, colour and all! Forecast humidex of 38C, 100% humidity. Anybody feeling sorry for us yet? 

I cannot seem to be able to place pics in the proper order to make sense with the text. I do apologize.