Tues 1st
Ocho Rios towards Port Antonio
Caught a fish trap so sent Trudy into the water to clear it off the prop. 15 minutes work and we are motoring again. On arrival in Port Antonio my alternator had arrived and been collected by Paul the Harbour master. Unfortunately a regulator and a pulley had gone missing in transit luckily it is still functional. We shopped and got diesel, waited for a weather window and left.
Thur 3rd
Port Antonio to Ile a Vache Haiti was a rough crossing not helped by our poor tactics, we went too far North to avoid shallow banks and took an extra day or two get South of Haiti. We had not meant to stop but needed a rest and our wind generator had pulled out of the deck fitting. As a result of poor engineering one leg was only held by a single grub screw which wore loose in the large waves. A bit of lashing down was required and an urgent stop for repairs.
Sun 6th
Ile a Vache is a basic place with three hotels and locals living on home grown produce and fish. I managed to drill out the generator leg and left the drill bit in as a retaining pin. We had nothing else on the boat that fitted.
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| Car Park |
The market on Mondays and Thursdays was from the 15th century apart from the 125cc taxis. The car park was full of horses!
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| Cattle Market |
The livestock section was horse pigs, goats and sheep all tied up around some trees outside the village. We took a lift back on a local boat.
We had to wade out to get on and balance among the sacks and chickens for two hours. A young local had the skipper carry him ashore so he did not get his trainers wet!
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| Bus depot |
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| Gettin on the Bus |
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| Passenger helps with parking |
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| Riggin on top shopin |
The local boat boys were a drag as they started knocking on the boat at dawn and did not stop until well after dusk. Our neighbour David had a crowd al day long and got sick of it. We had Wildo clean our boat including stainless for $30. He worked very hard all day and came highly recommended by Dan and Rose from "Exit Strategy". The local hotel would only give us Wifi if we each had a meal. At $36 each we declined and instead visited the internet cafe. (a guy with a dongle) and had 2 beers and an hour wifi for $6! Locals are very welcoming but do not like their photo taken.
Tue 8th
Ile a Vache towards Boca Chica Dominican Republic two hours out and we catch another fish trap. Don't leave from the East of the island as the bay is full of traps. David on Eileen of Avocca caught two!
Sat 12th
It was the start of the Easter week when we got to the Zarpar marina in Boca Chica Dominican Republic. Check in cost $200 including all necessary tips and check out when required.
The vast beach was the most active we have ever seen, serious partying going on and heavily policed.
Wed 16th
Santo Domingo
Is the oldest town in the Caribbean. Lots of Spanish style buildings, run down in places. On the way there we pass lots on grilled up shops and bars and a very flash Ferrari and Lamborghini garage. Very us and them.
We walked around the old town for a couple of hours then took the tourist train. For an hour it drove us around the same streets with a recorded explanation. We were with David from Eileen of Avocca who is an Italian fluent in many languages so he found us the best pizza place in the town. Then back on the bus to Bocca Chica.
Mon 21st
We had our engine mountings replaced with a big help from Juan Carlos. When I first met him I was wearing my Guns and Roses T Shirt, he asked if I was a fan and promptly lifted his sleeves to show his G&R tattoos! He gave us a quote for the work and we started the next day. He finished early so serviced both our racors (diesel filters) in for the price. We paid him and gave him my G&R Tshirt. Now I need a new one!
Boca Chica towards where? Good question.
On leaving Zarpar marina I had trouble with the gear selector on the starboard engine. We were planing to go to Salinas Puerto Rico but needed to check in at Ponce (ponsay) first. However there are no Yanmar dealers there and both entrances needed motors working. Plus we have no holding tank (required for US waters) and Cuban cigars on board. (do not want confiscating) We had been to St Croix before and know them to have a yanmar mechanic. He couldn't fit us in last time we were there and St Lucia is hopefully less than a five day sail beyond St Croix, with an easy entrance by sail and reliable engineers. So at the time of writing we are headed there. Probably a ten day sail and our longest yet.
Later...
Guess what! One of the cars on the mast broke loose, probably because she has been over pressed for 5 days with full main up. So sail comes down and the cars are moved around until we can sail, but with a minimum of two reefs. Track on the main looks a bit worn in the spot where the car came off so we need to take it steady. Another problem, the batteries are running low and we need to run the engine! With a gear selector problem! Start up in neutral and climb into the engine bay to engage the gear by hand, not tricky but a pain if you have to engage reverse coming to a stop on a pontoon.
So, dodgy gearbox and limited sail area, We do out best to trim as best we can but eventually we end up in over 100 miles from any land and capable of about 1/2 a mile an hour.
Thinking caps go on and we end up pulling the gear selector apart and semi securing a selector cable with electrical cable ties. We try it and it works, at least for now. Wind comes up a bit and we sail off in the wrong direction and after a night we are 102 miles from land, so motors go on and forward gear is selected (yahoo) and we motor for 33 hours and arrive in Nevis; Sunday afternoon, too late to check in so no beer ashore tonight.
Mon 28th
Ashore to check in. Since the last time we came to Nevis they have moved Immigration and the Port Authority next to the Customs office so it is a very simple operation. Customs XCD45, Immigration free and the Port Authority was XCD157 for up to a week stay. We get "Sarge" to drive us around to buy diesel jerry jugs and get them filled then back to the boat.
Tue 29th
We visit the Botanical gardens which at $12 US each was a big let down.
Charlestown is a quiet place with a slow moving feel to it. Lots of colourful old buildings and mostly smiling faces. Very friendly and all folk are helpful and have time to chat.
Wed 30th
Check out midday collect bread and beef and set off.
Autohelm won't work, looks like we are in for a hard time. Error message is Current limit. When I read up about this it means the main box is taking too much current due to either a terminal break in the gearbox or a short circuit. I try to open the gearbox but it is a non serviceable part, so I go looking for a short circuit with a can of terminal cleaner, shake all the wires, spray contacts and check current draw. Surprises all round it starts working! We had a problem with the Autohelm last time we were in Nevis...
We had downloaded a grib (weather) file on the Ipad, but when we get to sea there is no map behind the file, and Ipad will not allow transfer of the file to any of our other gadgets, so it is impossible to use. Thanks Apple.
....Troubles are not over yet... Next month St Lucia and engine problems get worse...
