Slipping Wyuna

We left Clark's Court Bay Marina and headed for St David's Harbour which is about 5 nautical miles away. After negotiating the channel between Hogg Island and Calvigny Island we headed south east in a very confused sea. We put up the head sail and the boat settled for a much gentler ride. On arrival at Grenada Marine the slip was not ready for us as they had to move another cat. We stood off for nearly 2 hours waiting. I got a bit impatient and launched the kayak and paddled ashore. As soon as I got close to the jetty they moved the other boat so I quickly turned around and paddled back to the boat. Then the exciting/nervous bit for Bruce (first time he has done this with such a big boat) was that he had to back the boat in between 2 concrete walls with less than a metre on each side. All went well he did an excellent job, did not touch but we had our moments and the yard's handlers did a great job of securing and keeping the boat safe. They hoisted the boat, Scraped off the barnacles, gave the bottom a high pressure spray then moved it to a location in the yard and set it up on blocks. The boat is now solid but I am still rocking as if I am on the water which is a bit scary. We should be here until the weekend as they will clean and antifoul the hull and replace the anodes on the props. After a long hot and demanding day relaxing with a nice cold beer.

Prep for antifoul

Grenada Marine Bar

Cruisers Trip by bus to Black Bay & Concord Falls

Crowded Bus sooo hot

Well it sounded like a fun day when announced on the Grenada Cruisers facebook page. There were 15 people and the cost was $35 EC for a trip to Black Sand Beach, a look in a bat cave, then lunch (a traditional dish called "Oil-down"), and on to Concord Falls for a swim in a cool pool below the falls.

The main coast road

A small bus turned up (there was to be two), we all crammed in and Bruce and I rushed to the back. There was three of us across and it was ok, but then there was more people, so another person squeezed in to make four (very tight very hot). In the end we were 16 including the driver, I said to Bruce here we go again. We bumped along on the tight winding roads and stopped for drinks. Then we continued and turned off the main road onto a very narrow road. The driver stopped at an intersection and we thought we were going down the road  the way we were pointing. The driver then put it into reverse and we found ourselves going backwards down this hill at a fast rate with a big gutter on my side (being in the back it was frightening). He then stopped outside a small shop which was preparing our lunch.

The stop for lunch

My Oil-Down

We then found out that the beach we were going to was dirty due to the rains overnight, so no black sand beach or bat cave. Up the hill we went on to a better beach, but alas it to had muddy water pouring into the sea and the beach had a lot of rubbish washed up. We walked a little way down the beach and had a swim. Then back to the little shop and careering backwards again. We then partook of the "Oil-down" which was quiet good, it is a combination of breadfruit, coconut milk, turmeric, dumplings, taro leaves and salted meat (we had chicken but could be beef or fish).

A cute little poppet at the falls

After lunch we headed to Concord falls which was a short distance from our lunch spot. The drive and the falls was spectacular. The pool at the bottom of the falls was great fun as the water created a whirlpool that you could not swim against. Bruce and I was first in and found we were hanging on to the side so we did not get swept under the falls which were huge. We then found if we swam across the centre the current sent us around and to safe ground. An American tried to do the same and went around another time as he could not get back to the start. Bruce and I had to rescue him as he started to panic a bit. We became the masters of the whirlpool and others did not dare unless they asked us what to do and to watch out for them. It was so refreshing and fun it made up for the crowded bus and the crummy beach.

The day of problems

We decided yesterday was the day to take the boat out for a spin. We started the starboard engine, then tried to start the port engine and found we had no charge in the battery, which was strange as we have started the port engine every day first shot, which we use to cool the fridge and freezer. So after much investigation trying to see if we could get power from the house batteries we rang Joe the previous owner who gave us a complex method of connecting the house batteries. This worked, we then realised that there was no charging taking place on the port engine amp meter. So now we are waiting to make contact with a marine electrician to fix the problem.

So as we had the two engines running and decided to take her out. As the boat has been in the marina for 4 months we thought we should check if  the props were working ok as they are auto feathering type props. We left the boat tied up and tried forward and reverse with not much reaction. That ended our trip out. We then donned flippers, goggles and scraper and spent the rest of the day scraping the props to remove the barnacles until the blades would change angle when the shaft was rotated. We have to get it all going by Tuesday as we are slipping the boat for an antifoul and other underwater maintenance tasks.

Just another day

Nothing to report other than adding one of Bruce's pictures with the new boat name. Tomorrow may be the big day when we take the boat out for a spin. Watch this space. If you would like to comment/ask a question  email me at suemalcom@bigpond.com as I can access my emails on my phone or computer. Malcolm

Well did we have some excitement today. We decided to go into town to register for a cruising permit. As per instruction from another Aussie we scooted across the bay in the dingy to the bus stop. We found the bus stop and before to long a bus arrived. It was like a mini van and quite new and comfortable.  We took off like a missile and careered along narrow winding roads tooting to let others know of our approach.We stopped numerous times thinking that we were full but oh no the more that could fit the better, I counted 21 persons, some school children, but one row had 4 equivalent sumo in it which looked quiet uncomfortable. The buses have a person who collects the money ($2.50 EC) and tells the driver  when to stop ( the driver goes flat chat unless told otherwise). The picture is when most of the passegers have departed. The guy straight ahead is the money colector and passenger spotter.

The nice thing we observed was the conductor held the hand of a little school girl across the road. I think on refection Luna park is for kids after this ride.The ride home was a little better even though the bus was chokers at the start, we had a women driver who did not quite max out in the gears, but I thought the rear tyres could have done with a bit more air. After returning it was time to rename the boat, so after removing the old name and scrubbing and polishing we added the new name (Wyuna) and hoisted the Aussie red ensign.

Its all happening I can tell you. Our new Aussie friend David called us up and said we should meet him across the bay and he will introduce us to Nimrod Rum Bar. So to be polite we did and found that we had to do the crossing of the bridge. What is that we asked? The proprietor Sep had a couple of glasses and added white rum and put each at either end of the bridge (a bit like London Bridge), we had to scull the drink then cool water to take the fire away. We then sighed  his book and made a comment to mark the event. After a couple of beers and some very interesting drunken talk we returned back to the boat after a great hamburger at the place next door.

Later in the day.

Around 2:00 pm the rain cleared and we decided on the dingy trip to La Phare Blue marina which is located around the point from Clarks Court Bay. With two of us in the dingy and me up front it goes like a cut cat with Bruce the mad captian on the tiller, we were boucing over the swell with great force. We got there in no time. A beautiful spot with clear water and great bar. We sat and watched the day go by and had a couple of the local beers (our favourite is Stag). We headed off to Wisper Cove which is on the way back. There we found another Shop/Bar that was full of cruising people with 10 of them with either a guitar, banjo, violin or canasters. We found out that it is a Sunday event and they put together some good music. After chatting with a few people and another couple of beers we headed back before it got dark. Darkness comes quickly here and it is dark at 6:00 pm.

Clarks Court Bay Marina Grenada

After the shopping day we stayed on the boat all day yestarday. We did a few jobs, removed the old name (Libertas), which was not an easy task, we got the ice maker going (yipee), we erected a big shade cover which works a treat, commisioned the dingy, went for a paddle in the Kayak, had a sleep and I have found a taste for an almond rum that Bruce bought on his boat buying trip. We are finding out things about the boat all the time and there is still a lot to learn. Today started off fine, but as I'm typing this it is raining (still hot) and our planned dingy drip to another marina might be cancelled. Water temperature is around 29c. I know this is a bit of a boring blog as life has slowed down from the first couple days, we are now in go slow mode and doing what takes our fancy. Some pics of the boat and Clarks Court bay marina.

Shoping Day

Today which is our second day in Grenada we met a fellow Aussie waiting for the Friday bus that picks up the Cruising people for weekly shopping in Saint George ($10 Eastern Caribbean dollars return). Our new Friend David has been here for the last 6 months and is a wealth of knowledge which was fantastic to learn the lay of the land. The people and town of St Georges has a great vibe, they are very happy people and very relaxed. David showed us all the good spots and we had to have a beer at different places along the way. The pictures will tell the story.

Miami to Grenada

Some reflections on Miami South Beach, you would not know you were in America as all the people speaking English have a Spanish accent and speak Spanish between themselves. There is not a lot to do, the beach is like Surface Paradise but with coarse sand, fixed structures and hotel beach umbrellas.

We are now in Grenada, wow what a lovely beach that met us when we walked out of our over night stay after flying from Miami the night before.  Bruce was saying things like "oh my god" and this is what it's all about. The locals are lovely people with beautiful smiles.
We got a taxi and travelled through the peak hour towards Clark Court Bay Marina and the Boat. I think Bruce was a a bit nervous and excited as we approached the marina. It was all there and as big and beautiful as he imagined. We spent the day cleaning the hull as after 4 months of mold and dirt to clean off.and it came up a treat, but there is a lot more to do. The weather is warm around 29c and the humidity is a little high 85% but there is a breeze which balances in out.

The Trip to Miami

Our Hotel

Hotel

It all started with our plane being delayed at Melbourne then did not improve from there. We therefore missed our connection and got on a later flight to Miami.We did arrive eventually and found our room only had one King bed after the booking stated 2 beds (not happy). We won the war and got a room with a sofa bed. We are on Ocean Drive Miami and as we arrived at night the place was alive, bright lights and music and fancy people (much like Lygon st, but happy hour is open ended). Our room faces away from the main street and is relatively quiet. Ten hours of beautiful sleep did the trick and today we got out and about and did some shopping, had a great lunch, nice beer and watched the passing parade (cars Mustangs very common then Ferraris Porshes etc). Tomorrow afternoon we are off to Grenda and the boat.

Getting ready......

Had dinner with Captain Bruce & Gina last night to nut-out the final preparations for the big trip. Monday 14th November the Captain and I fly to LA, then on to Miami where we are staying 2 nights before flying to Grenada to board the big "Cat".