February 2016 - March 2016 Trinidad
to Bequia
Captain Gordon, Charlie, John and Vicki are
Josie Maria’s intrepid crew for this part of the voyage.
There have been several attacks on yachts
leaving Trinidad going east of the Hibiscus oil platform, so we decide to go west
of the Hibiscus platform, and go "dark ship" until we have passed it – to
minimize any pirates spotting us and coming after us!! Rumours were that the pirates were getting tipped off by folks working on the platform ! We are also heading up to Bequia and then
launching from there to Bonaire – so that we stay away from the Venezuelan
Coast, and potential harm. It does add quite a bit to our trip, but it cannot be helped.
We made it safely to St Georges, Grenada
after an overnight passage – the wind was light 12-17 knots, unfortunately a
head wind and sea – so motor sailing was the go!! We had a full moon so the sky was quite
bright at night and we were able to follow the moonlight highway (that’s what
it looks like to Vicki!)!
There are a few teething problems, the
compass lights don’t work (bulbs have blown) and the Autopilot is not talking
to the Raymarine chart plotter units – a few things to sort in Grenada…..
Josie
Maria arrives in Grenada on at 0445 on the 26th
February – so we anchor in Martins Bay and wait for daylight before heading
into Port Louis Marina.
While in Grenada we also discover a problem
with our 20hp out-board motor, on Josie Maria’s tender. Gordon figures out it’s an issue caused by
the type of fuel used in the Caribbean, which is effecting the needle and seat
of the carburetor, causing bad running at low speed, and fixes it (for the time
being anyway!).
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John and Charlie looking on, as Gordon repairs the outboard motor
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We are fortunate to have
an electrician fix the compass light bulbs and who was also able to give Vicki
a quick tutorial on the operation of the Raymarine chart plotter – all that was
needed to fix it was to find the correct command function and opt in, to enable
the Raymarine to talk to the auto- pilot – so all good for now!!
Grenada
to Union Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines
On 28th February we depart Port
Louis Marina, Grenada at 0755 for a Motor Sail to Clifton Harbour, Union Island
to check in to St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The winds were from the NNE at 15-25knots – so again we had a head wind
and sea!! At 1434 we pick up a mooring, with the friendly help of a local, and
have lunch before Charlie heads to the airport to check us in. In the evening we all have dinner at the
local restaurant! The sharks, that used
to be in the pool, and were quite an attraction – have all escaped! Not sure
what that means for snorkelling!
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Arriving in the Reunion Island
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Charlie tries his hand on a steelpan drum, at the local restaurant in the Reunion Islands
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We never did get to go to this very remote restaurant-bar in the Reunion Island...maybe another year
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Union
Island Tobago Cays
The following day we motor to Tabogo Cays
(29th February) – which only takes 1 and a half hours, and we anchor
in a sheltered spot, while preparing for our lobster lunch (which we had
organized to be prepared by a local chef, while in Clifton Harbour ). John, Charlie and Vicki get the Seabobs out of
the lazerette for a play!! We are all a
bit rusty on the most efficient way to lift them from the lazerette to the deck
and into the water, but eventually manage.
As usual there are teething problems in getting them started, but
eventually Charlie, John and Vicki have some fun with them!
Tobago Cays is a beautiful, an enchanting
place where we swim with turtles, eat delicious lobster and fish cooked by the
locals (this time at a very high price!!) and take the tender ashore to stroll
the beach and look at the local beach stalls.
Tobago
Cays to Bequia
Josie Maria departs Tobago Cays at 1255 on
the 2nd of March, for Port Elisabeth, Bequia in E to ENE winds at 10-15knots.
We are able to sail for a short leg, at a
broadreach, but this is short lived because we need to reduce speed to help
Charlie pull in a barracuda – which is welcomed onboard for a few seconds and
then thrown back into the sea!
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Charlie and the Barracuda. Unfortunately these fish are known for eating other fish contaminated with ciguatera (a poison to humans) , so it had to go back into the ocean and not on our plate !
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Josie
Maria arrives in Port Elisabeth at 1730, where we
are guided to a sheltered mooring, fairly close to the Ferry Dock – that is-
sheltered from the wind, but not from boat wash!! It is very close to lots of
passing traffic from the ferries, and the cruise life-boats ferrying passengers
from the cruise ships anchored at the mouth of the bay!
We decide to stay for 3 nights – so 2 full
days for some sightseeing, maintenance and washing etc!!
While moored, Gordon and Charlie also
complete a full generator service.
Bequia is a lovely island and a must for anyone visiting the Grenadines. The people were lovely and the atmosphere was very laid back. Gordon lived on this island for many years so he knew her well. A favourite of our was a local bar from which the bar and seats where made from whale bone. It had free internet, always a plus.
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Bequia's most uncommon Whaleboner Bar.
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Charlie and John took off one of the mornings do so some diving with the gear on board. They spent more time in the water than they had hoped as Charlie lost his Go-Pro camera in the water at the end of the dive and they spend many hours looking for it.
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A very happy Charlie after the "rescue" of his Go-Pro.
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On the 4th March we are ready to
leave for the next leg….
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These sunsets are truly magnificent with just the sound of water slapping alongside the boat
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Charlie enjoying the sail out for wherever we are going next....
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