Feb. 4, 2009 - Yeeha !!!!!

Headed South yesterday, past St Vincent to Bequia.  Started off flat calm with a pod of Dolphins and ended up Force 7 but gave us a fantastic reach into the Island.  You might wonder who took the photographs!!  Actually there is a local guy who comes out and meets the boats and his dexterity with a camera and  outboard engine is quite awesome to behold.  I've yet to get any shots of the boat under sail and was really pleased with these.  As you can see we caught yet another fishy - just after I decided it was getting too rough.  Mind you, at times the boat was almost a submarine - as can be seen in the last photo.  You might also notice some extra crew.  Apart from our mate Peter, a young couple, Nick and Holly, who are doing a round the world the difficult way tour (apparently involving tandems and banana boats amongst other things) begged a lift from us as well and we dropped then off today.  So we were fully crewed which made a nice change.  Small world though - Pete and I went to School with Nicks dad.  A tad blowy still so we are now going to wait for the promised moderation and set of for the Cays in a couple of days. We hear its been snowing in the UK - its not here - tee hee.

Jan. 29, 2009 - Windy pops

We had a ‘boisterous’ sail up to Martinique the other day in order to do some shopping.  Despite the exchange rates, a bottle of  2006 Appelation Cotes du Rhone for £2 can’t be bad.  The only problem is the weight of the damn things as the supermarket is a distance away from the boat, er and we bought quite a lot – oh the travails of yachting life.  We also bought some great cheeses, one in particular is so smelly its been banished from the fridge and is quietly doing whatever it is that cheeses do to generate such a pong,  in a remote and downwind part of the cockpit.  Still it won’t be a problem for long as it is going to meet its baguette in an hour or so.

We are in Marin marina – the biggest in the Caribbean but managed to snaffle a buoy by dint of low cunning which is only 5 Euros a night and much closer to the shops than if we had anchored.  You can even see the buoy (and how busy the place is) on the photo.  We were going to move on out the anchorage in St Anne this afternoon but its blowing hard at the mo and forecast to do so for another 24 hours. So on the principle of ‘if you’re snug don’t move’ were staying another night.  Depending on the wind tomorrow we will probably nip back to St Lucia as we have visitors arriving on Sunday and then the great ‘Troutbridge reunion’ when hopefully we meet up with our mate Peter who had sailed over from UK.   After that - who knows.

Update – the most sophisticated Caribbean island also has the worst internet  - so the above post never got posted.  We are now back in St Lucia in Marigot bay for the night and the internet works here.  Thought I’d add a photo of the ‘Cheese with no name’  well that’s not true really as you can see it in the photo – but you try getting close enough in real life – tastes good though.

Jan. 21, 2009 - The not rolly Pitons

Been down to the Pitons in the South of the Island.  These are two great big volcanic plugs that rise up to about 1000 feet and are quite spectaclear.  When we came here last year we rolled our guts out - this year we didn't, which was nice.  The photo was actually taken on our drive round the Island previously, from a restaurant called the Mango Tree which overlooks the first main bay.  We were intending to go round the Island to the little port opposite the main airport to save Robbie an expensive taxi ride.  However I have been growing barnacles on my bottom - er well the boats that is and the anti fouling paint company offer a garantee that this won't happen for at least 12 months - not 2, so I sent them an e-mail and some photos and they got straight back to me and asked if they could meet in a marina on Friday - so its back again to Rodney Bay for the weekend.  I really hope the honour their warranty as it costs about £1000 to haul out and repaint.

Nice to see Troutbridge made it over the Atlantic safely - obviously Leslie Philips was not navigating (for those of you old enought to remember the radio series).  He is currently in Barbados and we plan to meet up early Feb, when we also have another visitor, we are in severe danger of having to make some plans!!!

Jan. 17, 2009 - The view from the dining room

As hoped, the wind dropped and we were able to move out to the anchorage near Pigeon Island in Rodney Bay yesterday morning.  Didn't get a green flash from the sunset but it was nice to sit and watch the light change as the sun disappeared.  Mind you, I was up at 0200 as the heavens opened and it pelted down for the rest of the night.  Strangely the wind stayed completely calm which made a change.  Gonna stay here today - might just have to get the hammock out this afternoon.  Fi and Robbie have gone ashore to walk up to the old fort at the top of Pigeon Island and take some photos.  Forecast is now good for the rest of the week so we will mosey slowly down Island to drop Robbie off at the airport next Friday.

On a previous entry I posted a photo of the most expensive sailing yacht in the world, the Maltese Falcon.  Below is not the most expensive boat in the world but probably the most fun - imagine a marina getting a call from them asking for a berth or fuel!!!

Jan. 13, 2009 - Shark bait

After losing the 'monster from the deep' the other day as we sailed up from St Lucia to Martinique I have decided to start using live bait.  Fi and her sister Robbie, think they are having a a gentle swim on their 'woggles'  little do they know that in fact I am shark fishing - tee hee!!

We spent a great week in Martinique, firstly in St Pierre which unusually was quite empty, and then down south in Grand and Petit Anse D'Arlet. beautiful clear water, turtles and fish, great beach bars, only marred by the French gits who have no clue how to anchor.  I even had to rescue one guy who's boat was drifting on top of us as he had so little anchor chain out it was barely touching the bottom. 

It may be the Caribbean but its still winter and dire forecasts of a tropical wave, ie nasty weather were made so we had a great sail back down to St Lucia in 25 kots of wind and are now tucked up in Rodney bay marina again.  Quite funny really as the dock staff told us that many boats had left - got out of the bay - and immediately turned back 'because it was so rough' on the day we came over.  They were mostly 'merkins' from the good old USA and are obviously not used to British weather.

Gonna rent a car tomorrow and take Robbie around the Island then probably just mosey around here until she flys out on the 23rd, or something.

Jan. 9, 2009 - Just as quickie

Moved down Island yesterday and now in Anse D'Arlet a very pretty bay on the South West corner.  Gonna stay here for a couple of days and then think about back to St Lucia on the 13th or 14th.  Weather meant to be quite windy next week, but as most forecast are rubbish,  we will wait and see.  Looking forward to seeing Troutbridge at the end of the month.  Mind you if his Blog is correct they are slowly sailing off the planet.

Jan. 7, 2009 - The old and the new.

Moved out of Rodney Bay marina and anchored in the bay for a day and saw this sight.  The ‘new’ is Maltese Falcon, reputedly the most expensive private sailing vessel ever built and the old is the ‘Unicorn’ used for tourist trips and she has working cannon – can scare the whatnots out of you at 8 in the morning when she fires them as part of her routine.  Allegedly she was in Pirates of the Caribbean films.  Nice to see such a variety rather than scores of Scumsail charter boats.  Heard the skipper of Maltese Falcon on the radio the next day complaining to a friend that he had charter people on board and wasn’t allowed to set the sails – tuff life.

Sailed over to Martinique today and had yet another brilliant trip, well off the wind and really flying – well apart from ‘those that got away’.  The first was a lovely 10lb mackerel that managed to leap off the hook just as we got him alongside – shame as he looked great for supper.  Later as we approached Martinique something took my deep lure but was gone by the time I hauled it in.  However as I let it out again something really really big and very close to the boat, grabbed it and made off, taking my line despite the brake being full on.  The 80lb line snapped soon after and we never got a look at what it was, but my guess would be a big Marlin.  Any fish that big is not welcome on my Barbie, so apart from losing a good lure I was not too disappointed.  Consolation was briefly seeing a whale soon after in almost exactly the same place we saw them last year.  The weather then cleared up and we anchored in beautiful Saint Pierre at the top of the island.  As an added bonus it was not full of charter boats as it was last year – maybe the credit crunch/recession/slump thingy has got its good side.

Intend to spend a couple of lazy days here – go and visit the museum and do some walking, I’ve also got a water filter leak to fix – then down Island to go back to St Lucia on the 14^th ish.  Internet is more iffy here so if anyone is e-mailing please give me a few days to reply.

Jan. 4, 2009 - and back again

Arrived back in Rodney Bay marina two days ago, along with Robbie, Fis sister, after a great Christmas - only 14 of us for Christmas lunch, so not too busy then.  Nearly didn't get here as Virgin didn't want us to fly on a one way ticket with no proof of boat ownership.  I discovered afterwards that I could have written and signed my own letter as master of the vessel.  What planet are we on???

Anyway nice and warm again, we are off to Martinique on Tuesday, weather permitting 'cos it s a bit blowy at the moment.  We will do a mega shop tomorrow to avoid having to  buy food (or anything else for that matter) in a French/Euro Island and hopefully catch loads of fishies on the way - last time we did this particular trip we saw 5 Sperm whales, a pod of Dolphins and a Blue Marlin - and didn't catch any of them!!

Will post a longer dit once I we are out of this sweaty marina.

If Trouters is reading this - enjoying the entries, see you soon,  whats wrong with Swarfega?

Dec. 17, 2008 - Orf home

We are sitting sweating in Rodney Bay marina at the mo, getting ready to shut up and go home for a couple of weeks.  You know you are in the Caribbean when after confirming your reservation at 6 months, 1 month and one week, they deny all knowledge of your booking.  Still they found us space despite the ARC boats all piling in (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers for those who didn't know).  There are 205 boats in this years rally which is pretty impressive.  So is the new marina with lots of space and much tidier, shame they haven't built a new shower block!  We had a great night out before we came in with 8 of us on board finishing up the fish, which we would otherwise have had to throw away when we turn the fridge off. 

Now looking forward to coming home and seeing the whole family.  As well as Christmas, we have to celebrate the engagement of Neil, our son to his gilfriend Aimee - more sore heads I suspect.  We are also going to try to fit in various visits to friends in quite a short space.  Not looking forward to the weather though!  wonder what else we'll find out like VAT being reduced - which I only discovered by accident on the internet the other day.  More palm tree and fish photos in the New Year.

Dec. 13, 2008 - Pretty on top - decidedly odd below

Having reluctantly departed the Tobago Cays we set off for Canouan for the night which was probably a mistake as we rolled all night.  Consequently it was off to Bequia at first light, were we stayed for the week.  The photo shows the anchorage in Admiralty Bay.  In the end we took up a mooring as all the areas we hooked easily into last year were completely bare of sand – just hard ‘anchor dragging’ coral.  It seems that Hurricane Omar which missed the Island still produced a massive ground swell which has redistributed the sea bottom – apparently a lot of it ended up in the shore side bars!!  However what a great week, the weather was perfect, with a cooling breeze which kept the wind generator going, bright blue skies and a really clear sea.  We met up with several friends and in the process made several more.  In the end most of us all went diving, hence the rather surreal photo of a large sponge impersonating the ‘scream’ (if you didn’t get it when you saw it!!).

More fish were captured on the way up, in this case a 10Lb Wahoo which is now filling the freezer despite giving some away and eating loads already. 

As of writing we have now sailed up to St Lucia and are currently in Marigot bay for the weekend.  We had a really great sail up in company with an American friend and as soon as we got in saw more acquaintances which resulted in a convivial evening in ‘Chateau Mygo’ the bar with the permanent happy hour.  After our week in Bequia and last night we are going to hide and try to have a ‘quiet night on board’ after all we brought all these videos out with us and have hardly watched any. However if the past few weeks are any judge we will probably end up in our or someone else’s cockpit drinking rum and watching the sun go down. 

Off to Rodney Bay just up the coast on Monday to get ready for coming home on the 19^th.  I will try to update the blog before then but if not happy Christmas to everyone if we don’t get to see you whilst we are back.

Larry and Fi

Dec. 7, 2008 - Another tiring day at the office

Finally prized ourselves out of Carriacou and headed North to Union Island to check into the St Vincent area.  One night there and off to the Tobago Cays where this rather ordinary photo was taken.  We also went and snorkelled on the reef and missed seeing all the sharks that everyone else said were around, but as usual saw loads of turtles.  When we arrived there was a consensus amongst the liveaboard boats to meet on one of the beaches for beer and sunset, which was really great.  However it was starting to get rather blowy today so we have nipped around to the Island of Canouan before setting off to Beqia tomorrow.  A few days there and its off to St Lucia in time to get flights home for Christmas.

Dec. 3, 2008 - Whos a pretty boy then?

How did this scally, prickly thing get on  board then  (the lobster that is).  Scoffed him last night and very good he was too.  Spent most of the night two days ago awake as a tropical wave/load of squalls came through, not worried about our anchor more about the moronic charter boats who don't kow how to anchor properly and then show no lights.

Met up with our chums from Blue Sky last evening and attempted to repay last years monster hangover, but I think the were forewarned as none of them fell into the harbour trying to get into their dingy - must try harder in future - which should be the Tobago Cays at the weekend.  

Nov. 30, 2008 - Pretty Rain!!

Well once again Carriacou did not disappoint and even when it rains it can be quite spectacular. I’m gonna dinghy out in a minute and look for that pot of gold.  We left Grenada yesterday with forecasts of squalls and showers and saw none and arrived after a rather lumpy, into wind motor sail, in brilliant sunshine.  We are starting to get into an arrival in harbour routine which now seems to include the obligatory ‘clean the fish on the stern’ – in this case a nice little Tuna.  Overnight it tipped down and now on Sunday morning it clearly hasn’t made its mind up on what to do.  Ho hum – but as its Sunday we’ve decided to have a lazy day, unlike normal ones of course.

Grenada was great – we met a lot of old friends and made new ones – very different from when we started out last year and a good foundation for partying as we head slowly Northward. We’ll probably stay here a couple of days ass forecast to blow up a bit until Wednesday, that’s if you can rely on any weather predictions here.  The Hurricane season officially ends today so we are now insured North of Grenada which is far more important.  Up to the Grenadines next then St Lucia by mid December.

Larry and Fi

Nov. 27, 2008 - Almost time to go

Just a quick update - we are back in Hog Island - managed to miss the reef on the way in thank goodness.  A big shop tomorrow and, all being well, off to Cariacou on Saturday.  Its one of our favorite spots, especially the floating bar.  Weather a bit windy for next week but as just about all forecasts have been wrong so far I dont suppose it will happen - or it will be far windier.  May not have such frequent access to the interweb for the next week or so.  But will try to get a good photo of Tyrell Bay and post it when I can.  Went diving yesterday - the water was warm and I could actually see where I was going - amazing!!

Nov. 25, 2008 - Sunday - Chez Roger

Where’s the best place for Sunday Lunch/Supper?  Answer – Rogers Beach Bar on Hog Island, which as the photo shows consists of a palm tree covered shack on a beach.  What more could one ask, especially as the sun has now decided to come out at last. The bar can only be got to by dinghy and this leads to a certain sort of ‘select’ clientele, ie drunken yachtsmen (and women – see photo).   Roger who runs it is a really nice local chap and even if he’s not there you can help yourself to a beer and pay him later.  His best decoration is a bit an American attack helicopter on the wall, courtesy of the 1983 ‘invasion’.  Mind you the invasion of the sandflies as the sun sets can be pretty irritating and itchy!!

In fact the forecast for the next week or so is fairly good, so it looks like we are off the Cariacou at the weekend and thence slowly up to St Lucia for Christmas. We spent a quiet weekend in the marina waiting for the forecast bad weather which never arrived and are now, once again, swinging around our anchor in Prickly Bay.  Having spent most of the summer diving in a dry suit in freezing water I am treating myself to a couple of dives tomorrow in water at 29 degrees just to remind myself what it can be like.  Apart from that, we are just doing some tinkering with the boat and slowly slipping back into ‘de Caribbean lifestyle’ ie doing ****** all and taking all day to do it.

Laid back Larry

Nov. 21, 2008 - Ooops, blush etc

So there we were coming out behind Hog Island to go to Clarks Court Bay marina for the weekend as the weather forecast was bad and we needed the laundry.  We knew some of the reef buoys had shifted in the bad weather earlier in the week so were being extra careful.  I was following the exact track we had used to come in on previously - so how come Fiona did a slow motion fall off the cockpit table as the boat gently parked herself on the reef!!!  She came off quite easily (the boat that is) - quite lucky as the tide was falling. Anyway I dived her today and apart from my pride and some antifouling on the bottom of the keel - no lasting damage thank goodness.

Still we've made a load of new friends here, 9 of us drinking in the cockpit of a 32 ft boat the other night was cosy. Many, like us are waiting for a weather window to head up Island, which is forecast for later in the week - although relying on Caribbean forecasting is not an exact science to say the least.  Probably go to the pot luck supper in the Marina tomorrow and Rogers beach bar barbecue on Sunday - what a hard life.

Nov. 17, 2008 - Here we go again!!!!!!!!!

So warm sunny Caribbean eh?  Apart from the last few days that is.  On Friday we decided to move to the more protected anchorage behind Hog Island just a few miles away.  Not too crowded and we found a nice spot to anchor, although as the wind swung around a bit we ended up too close to the beach for my liking and so we moved slightly further out.  I am really glad we did as just before sunset, the biggest squall I have experienced decided to appear. Had we not moved I am pretty sure we would have ended up ashore.  I reckon at one point we had 50 Knots of wind and driving torrential rain – not a problem for us as the anchor seemed to be holding pretty well.  Unfortunately that could not be said for a boat ahead of us who was clearly dragging – so much so in fact that I had to start the engine and motor out his way.  Some kind people off other boats got on board (the owner was ashore) and let out more chain and got him under control – and he ended up sat just where we should have been.  With darkness closing in those kind people then took our bow line and we tied up to a spare mooring buoy for the night, well out of the way of everyone else.  As I write this on Monday we are still on the buoy – the owner knows and is quite happy for a few days and WE HAVEN’T SEEN THE BLOODY SUN FOR 3 DAYS!!! – what’s going on then – can we get our money back is what I want to know!!  Still we had the aforementioned new friends over for drinkies the other night and went to the beach Barbie yesterday afternoon, even if its grey and wet – its still warm.

Not sure yet what we are going to do over the next week or two – the forecast is better mid week before more ‘rainy season’ next weekend so we may make a dash for Cariacou, or then again we might just mosey around some more of the Southern inlets of Grenada, who knows.

Soggy Larry

PS -  no photo this time - who wants to see grey skies and soggy palm trees.

Nov. 13, 2008 - Free at last

Bye bye sweaty Trinidad - we slipped quietly out of Scotland Bay,  our overnight anchorage in the north of the Island and despite dire warnings that the trip can be quite uncomfortable, we had a great sail to Grenada.  Some quite impressive tidal rips and confused seas, could have been a problem if there had been any wind. In fact we had to motor most of the way but managed the whole leg in just over 10 hours, despite being offshore it was the hottest I have ever been.

The photos show the new arrangement at the back with the solar panels and davits, and it looks like they are going to save us a load of hassle with the dinghy and generate more amps which is always a good thing.  The new golf cart batteries seem to be performing much better than the old ones (note Troutbridge) . Our new twin fishing rod arrangement worked within an hour as can be seen (an 8Lb Mahi Mahi)  it didn’t help that both rods took a bite at the same time (must have been a flock of them), but luckily only one was hooked.  The ungrateful thing them bled absolutely everywhere all over the cockpit and we were still cleaning the cockpit the next day.  However Fi and I are going to have to have a serious chat, as she then forbade me to catch any more – some sad excuse about making more mess and the fridge being already full.

We are currently in Prickly Bay and it was great to immediately bump into our Canadian drinking buddies from last season who were also meant to be staying away until after Christmas and we have an RNSA boat behind us already threatening us with beer. Its like we were never away!!

Nov. 7, 2008 - It ain't half bloody hot mum!!!!!!!!!!

Well we’re back in the boat yard in Trinidad after a straightforward trip from the UK.  What can I say; the title gives a clue to the temperature.  You can tell it’s really hot in the Caribbean when the locals start complaining – and they were today.  Bearing in mind the UK was about ten degrees when we left, ‘climate shock’ is probably the best phrase.  Still things seem to be going OK.  The boat was in great nick, no mould inside, the hull already sanded and ready for antifouling, the davits all fixed.  We made a little list on the plane of things to do, I spent all day on the boat and it only seems to have grown longer!!  I have invested in 4 new batteries as the last lot were a bit suspect – they are really cheap here and having literally sweated half a stone in the process – they are now snugged down in their storage charging away.  As I write this, Fi is just half way through her first rum and coke and quote ‘it seems like we have never been away’, and that about sums it up.  Where on earth did the last 5 months at home go?  The problem is of course, that we will be saying the same about this trip when we get home.

We aim to be in the water next Tuesday or even earlier all being well.  My last major job is to mount the solar panels over the top of the davits – a far better place for them and it will give the boat a ‘formula one’ type wing at the back, that along with twin fishing rods either side should make us look really cool – hmm maybe some chequered tape down the side and some furry dice from the Spray Hood?  Not photos as of yet I will save them up for out first decent sunset.

For those interested in out plans, and I know some of you are (cos you said so) this is the current ‘plan’:

Leave here and mosey up to St Lucia for Christmas – we are flying home 20^th Dec to 2^nd  Jan  (Fi missed the kiddy widdys lat year).

January – Fis sister is coming back with us and Pete A is threatening to come the next two weeks (make up your mind).

End of  Jan we aim to meet up with our chum Troutbridge who should have sailed across the pond by then (takes all types).  Really not sure after that, I quite fancy a dirty dash up to the Virgin Islands or even Puerto Rico and then a more gentle trip back down.  However we also might look into some charter work in the Grenadines, Oh dear decisions, decisions - when/if we actually make any I’ll let you all know.

The returnees.

Oct. 18, 2008 - Back soon

Just a quick update as the Blog has been idle since June.  We are booked to return on 4 Nov and the boat is due back in the water on the 11th.  The time in UK seems to have flown by although it has not been particularly succesful, our house sale fell through literaly at the last moment and we have ended up squatting with Fis sister the whole time.  She will be joining us for 3 weeks in January by way of recompense.  I did some work with Sunsail but have concentrated on going back to school and am now a PADI Divemaster and RYA Cruising Instructor, which may help abroad and give me more opportunities when/if we come back.

Our plans such as they are, will be to mosey up to St Lucia by Christmas, where we will leave the boat in Rodney Bay and fly home for a couple of weeks (Fi misses the kiddies).  We return on 2 Jan and spend 3 weeks with Robbie, probably going up to Martinique and even Dominica - rather depends on the good old 'Christmas winds'.  Our mate Troutbridge should be over the pond by then and we expect to meet up in St Lucia at the end of Jan.  After that - we haven't realy decided.  I would like to go to the USVIs and even Puerto Rico if there is time also the Monseratt and Nevis chain of Islands.  We are also considering doing some chartering work, at least to see if it suits or not.

Whatever - at least we can turn the news off and ignore the rest of the world for a while !!!!!!