Days of Our Drearies...

Life on board: 13 Aug 08

On the hard, Tortola British Virgins

As we sit planning the next part of our voyage, it occurred to me that you might like to know something of our daily life on board – nothing personal – this isn’t really “days of our drearies”, you know! 

At 'A' Dock, Nanny Cay BVI

At dock: While this does have its good points – power sometimes (we run on 110v; some islands only offer 220v); real toilets; endless showers; no rocking about in swells, but being at dock can be a bit limiting.  Marinas are often tucked away in mangrove ringed backwaters so it’s often hot and still (especially when you can’t run the aircon/power); mozzies in their millions find you especially attractive and there’s all that land noise – cars, roosters, dogs, flies, boat repairs and so forth.

Refuelling near Pont Levant, St Martin

At sea: Currently because of our rudderless self-steering, shifts at the helm are about 1 to 1½ hours, largely dependent on wind and sea strengths. Both boys fiddle with the sails incessantly; there’s a speed record for each segment to be had! The Cap’n is in charge of the new GPS system which tracks our course, usually hourly, more frequently when we’re near land. We put out a lure, set up the ipods and avoid where possible going below…. The crew prefers to helm and the galley slave clutches a bucket (only if we’re bashing into it). 

Anchoring really can be this good.  Antigua

On arrival at a port, we put up the awning and winch both Bruce and motor off the boat back into the water. Everything that has been stowed away in lockers, can come out again (kettle, buckets, books, computers etc etc). This process takes us about an hour or so either side of departure/arrival.

Happily, BW found surf.  Apple Bay Tortola BVI

At anchor: This is our favourite because we can easily visit harbours, shop, fish, swim or sometimes snorkel - right off the back of the boat. Often, the water is so clear that even in 15 or more feet we can see the bottom.
 

Our day starts with a swim and freshwater shower off the back of the boat. The galley slave might (or might not) cook breakfast. It all depends on wash-up sizze/ hormones/ inspiration/ available foods! The generator runs twice a day for an hour to keep the fridge (food) cool and freezer (beer) cold. While the generator’s on we can power the microwave or toaster and maybe one aircon (but usually only in the evening to keep the cook happy). 

Mooring 'mongst the Cats at Saba Rock, BVI

As the fridge isn’t too efficient, we need to shop daily for our perishables. We try to buy local, fresh foods but as I’ve mentioned, most is flown in from US or for the French islands, from France. So most meats are frozen and I can’t remember the last time I saw a piece of real beef – pre-packaged hamburgers don’t count. Amazingly, Guadeloupe grows sugar (possibly to keep up rum supplies) & bananas commercially with only a few small market gardens here and there. We shop more frequently if there’s a nice patisserie close by. Mangoes are in season now, so we are sampling a few…. Of course, there’s always the Captain’s “Personal Favourite”, a stock of corned beef in the galley locker, if we’re stuck…augggghhhh!

Making new friends

Laundry is also a weekly chore if there’s a laverie automatique nearby. If not, it’s a hand wash in that ever-useful bucket. WJ3 looks like a Chinese laundry at times with sheets and towels flapping from every available line. We’ve only lost one t-shirt overboard so far (and our yellow Q flag – but that’s another story!).

Rainy Season, Guadeloupe

There’s always communications too. Well, mainly posting up this blog, taking photographs during shore visits and keeping the computers up to speed. My preference is passage planning – “I think we should go here next, dear” - so we have a few good cruising guides to read up. Internet access is a must for weather information that we would like to check at least twice daily – if any internet’s to be found.

Any free time (day or night) is otherwise spent closing/opening hatches! Unlike windows, hatches (having been designed by men) naturally attract rain…in volumes! Just don’t get me started.