Cycling on the road to the golf course
Friday, June 19, 2009
Mila back in the water
It’s been a long 2 years for Mila on the hard at Power Boats but eventually she was launched on the 27th of May and all went well. Nick and Lynette from the yacht Ukulele Lady joined me for a weekend in Scotland Bay. Unfortunately the fan belt broke on the engine with serious repercussions. The cam belt broke causing the timing to go out and this bent an exhaust valve and broke the cam shaft. The spares had to come from Sweden and up to date I am waiting for the mechanic to assemble the head. Promised me to have it ready a week ago, but this is Trinidad. Mila is on a mooring in Chaguaramas Bay. We have 15 South African boats moored around us.
Marinna arrived on the 4th of June after a long flight from South Africa via London and New York. It took a few days to get rid of the jet lag and to get use to the heat. She is coping very well and have already done some changes. I had a haircut, new clothes were bought and she rearranged some things in the boat to her taste. I don’t mind as it is nice to have someone on board again and to cook and care for me. I love her and are looking forward to a long cruising life with her. She has made many friends amongst the cruisers and are coping well with the rubber duck. This gives her a lot of freedom to come and go as she pleases. We have taken the cycles out of the moth balls and enjoy cycling to the golf course and places around Chaguaramas.
Our plans are to sail to Tobago as soon as the engine is fixed and then further north as far as Bequia, depending on the hurricanes
Till later
Marinna arrived on the 4th of June after a long flight from South Africa via London and New York. It took a few days to get rid of the jet lag and to get use to the heat. She is coping very well and have already done some changes. I had a haircut, new clothes were bought and she rearranged some things in the boat to her taste. I don’t mind as it is nice to have someone on board again and to cook and care for me. I love her and are looking forward to a long cruising life with her. She has made many friends amongst the cruisers and are coping well with the rubber duck. This gives her a lot of freedom to come and go as she pleases. We have taken the cycles out of the moth balls and enjoy cycling to the golf course and places around Chaguaramas.
Our plans are to sail to Tobago as soon as the engine is fixed and then further north as far as Bequia, depending on the hurricanes
Till later
Saturday, May 09, 2009
More on the Grenadines
One is inclined to draw comparisons of the lifestyle and general living conditions of the places that one visit. For me the most outstanding, if I have to compere Trinidad to the places that I visited up north would be the weather. Although they have a lot of rain in the Grenadines it is not so humid and in Bequia in the evening it became quit chilly. For the first time in a year I had to put on a T shirt sitting outside on deck. The trades seems to cool it down and make life more comfortable. Trinidad has it downsides, but as far as prices are concern for foodstuff it is still the cheapest place to stock your boat.
Walter and I wanted to buy a watermelon on Union Island but after we heard the price the taste became sour in our mouths. The 14lb watermelon cost R300.00 that's about 35US. In South Africa I could buy 30 watermelons for that price. Beer was R28.00 (3US) per can and a local guy in a fishing boat wanted to sell his lobsters for 100 EC that's about 38 US each.
Eating out in the restaurants can be expensive but if you go and eat with the locals you can still find good food as a reasonable price. You just have to be content with the loud music.
St Vincent like Trinidad has to many cars on the road but the people are friendly and they welcome the yachties
Walter and I wanted to buy a watermelon on Union Island but after we heard the price the taste became sour in our mouths. The 14lb watermelon cost R300.00 that's about 35US. In South Africa I could buy 30 watermelons for that price. Beer was R28.00 (3US) per can and a local guy in a fishing boat wanted to sell his lobsters for 100 EC that's about 38 US each.
Eating out in the restaurants can be expensive but if you go and eat with the locals you can still find good food as a reasonable price. You just have to be content with the loud music.
St Vincent like Trinidad has to many cars on the road but the people are friendly and they welcome the yachties
Friday, May 08, 2009
The pearls in the Caribbean
It was time to leave Trinidad as the extension on my visa expired the end of April. I was fortunate to be invited by Walter and Jacqui on Jean-Marie. They, with Tristan, Walter's son met me in St Vincent and after spending some time in the botanical garden we took the ferry to Bequia where Jean-Marie was anchored. Of all the Islands that we visited my favourite will be Bequia. We took a walk up the hill and had sun downers and happy hours on the beach.
St Vincent and the Grenadines is part of the Windward Islands. Its closest neighbour is Granada, 120 miles to the south and St Lucia 40 miles to the north. St Vincent is the largest of the more than 30 Islands that comprise the nation St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Grenadines themselves extend to the south and among these Islands are Young Island, very close to St Vincent. Bequia about 8 miles from St Vincent and then further south Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Island, Palm Island and Petit St Vincent.
I think the pearl of the Caribbean is Tobago Cays where the water is so clean and clear that you can see the anchor in 40ft water. The Tobago Cays were declared a wildlife preserve by Government in 1998. The huge horseshoe reef that protects these five islets with their dazzling, palm studded shorelines, provides some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to snorkel here amongst the turtles and the beautiful coral reef.
After spending some time in the Cays we sailed to Mayreau, but they had a regatta on and the music on the beach was to loud so we decided to sail to Union Island. Anyone that visits this Island must go to Happy Island for Happy hour. It was great to be a quest of Walter, Jacqui and Tristan who really went out of their way to make my stay on board a happy and enjoyable one. I will treasure the memories of the time that we were together. Soon it was time to leave and after saying our fairwells I departed with the ferry to St Vincent to fly from there to Trinidad.
I am counting the days now for Marinna to arrive so that I can launch Mila and go and show her the pearls of the Caribbean.
St Vincent and the Grenadines is part of the Windward Islands. Its closest neighbour is Granada, 120 miles to the south and St Lucia 40 miles to the north. St Vincent is the largest of the more than 30 Islands that comprise the nation St Vincent and the Grenadines. The Grenadines themselves extend to the south and among these Islands are Young Island, very close to St Vincent. Bequia about 8 miles from St Vincent and then further south Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Island, Palm Island and Petit St Vincent.
I think the pearl of the Caribbean is Tobago Cays where the water is so clean and clear that you can see the anchor in 40ft water. The Tobago Cays were declared a wildlife preserve by Government in 1998. The huge horseshoe reef that protects these five islets with their dazzling, palm studded shorelines, provides some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to snorkel here amongst the turtles and the beautiful coral reef.
After spending some time in the Cays we sailed to Mayreau, but they had a regatta on and the music on the beach was to loud so we decided to sail to Union Island. Anyone that visits this Island must go to Happy Island for Happy hour. It was great to be a quest of Walter, Jacqui and Tristan who really went out of their way to make my stay on board a happy and enjoyable one. I will treasure the memories of the time that we were together. Soon it was time to leave and after saying our fairwells I departed with the ferry to St Vincent to fly from there to Trinidad.
I am counting the days now for Marinna to arrive so that I can launch Mila and go and show her the pearls of the Caribbean.
Tobago Cays
Iguana on one of the Islands in Tobago Cays
Walter relaxing with a drink on Jean-Marie
My gift from Tristan
Walter relaxing with a drink on Jean-Marie
My gift from Tristan
Me on Union Island
Union Island
Walter and me at the Anchorage Yacht Club on Union Island
Walter and Jacqui at the hut on the hill overlooking the anchorage on Union Island
Happy Island
Yachts at anchor in Union Island with Happy Island in the background St Vincent and the Grenadines
The anchorage in Port Elizabeth on the Island of Bequia
Walter and me in the botanical garden in St Vincent
Market day in St Vincent
Having lobster on board Jean-Marie. My wellcome gift from Tristan Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Saturday, January 03, 2009
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Sunday, December 07, 2008
Trinidad & Tabago
My Afrikaanse vriende vra altyd hoekom ek nie my blog in Afrikaans skryf nie. Die rede is baie eenvoudig. Die "cruising" gemeenskap is baie internationaal en mens vind dat Engels oor die algemeen meer verstaan en gepraat word. Ek sal wat wou gee om meer Afrikaans sprekende Suid Afrikaners te ontmoet wat om die wereld seil. So as julle my blog in Engels lees wees verseker dat ek my moedertaal, Afrikaans eerste stel meer weens die omstandighede die blog in Engels skryf.
Ek wens my familie en vriende 'n baie geseende Kersfees en gelukkige 2009
2008 has come and gone, the year ending seems to come faster and faster every year. This year started off with the crossing from South Africa and most of the year was spent in Trinidad. I was ask to help with the building of a 55' Catamaran called Spice for an American owner. It was a good experience but time has come to get all the work finished on Mila so that she can go back into the water. Plans are to launch Mila by the 25th February 2009 and then go sailing north to Grenada and the Grenadines. My son Hennie is planning to join me here in Trinidad and then to come sailing with me for a month. Mila has been on the hard now for some time and I am looking forward to be on the water again. I would like to wish my family and all my friends a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2009
Ek wens my familie en vriende 'n baie geseende Kersfees en gelukkige 2009
2008 has come and gone, the year ending seems to come faster and faster every year. This year started off with the crossing from South Africa and most of the year was spent in Trinidad. I was ask to help with the building of a 55' Catamaran called Spice for an American owner. It was a good experience but time has come to get all the work finished on Mila so that she can go back into the water. Plans are to launch Mila by the 25th February 2009 and then go sailing north to Grenada and the Grenadines. My son Hennie is planning to join me here in Trinidad and then to come sailing with me for a month. Mila has been on the hard now for some time and I am looking forward to be on the water again. I would like to wish my family and all my friends a Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2009
Monday, October 20, 2008
Wedding Bells
Alex and Dominique got married in Hout Bay, South Africa on Saturday the 11th October. We wish them a very happy togetherness.
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