Hotel Trinidad: 25 May 09
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| Last Supper in Trindad? |
An uneasy feeling hanging over our heads is that it is almost June. Now, how did this happen? We decide that the Motleys live “in reverse”, which comes from existing half a world away and upside down…. You know how it is; it’s summer here and everyone else is laying up for the “season”. Stoically, the Motleys are splashing and plan, against the trend, to actually sail north. It’s the ANTI thing! (Antipodeans are we.) So here we go…
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| Ice Water play steel drums at Sails |
Working on the premise that it’s never, ever too late…we delay our splash scheduled for 20th to 22nd and then again to Monday, 25th. Our plans for a little weekend shakedown cruise down-island disappear in a wisp of breeze. Final boat bits arrived (from the US) in the nick of time – and you guessed it – one was the wrong size and had to be returned!! You remember the refrain from Hotel California? "You can check out any time you like but you can never leave"....
Welcome to Hotel Trinidad.
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| Splashing at Last |
Finally, finally though, it did all happen. We splashed! Cap’n Cool stayed on board whilst hunky Michael took us for our ride out to the dock. Even so, our scheduled uplift had been put back a few hours due to staff shortages. By this, we'd grown to respect Trini time. Eventually WJ3 put her feet in the water. Woohoo!
We anchored in Chaguaramas Bay with sufficient time to clear customs without attracting overtimes fees and, most importantly, just before the duty-free shop closed. Bruce, loaded to the gunnels with cases of beer, bottles of rum and final provisions made quite a picture at Crewes Inn dingy dock!
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| Take me to the River |
All things in T&T move slowly except for clearing the country. WJ3 had to be clear within the hour.… Luckily, we set sail on the day the rule was eased to 4 hours. Would we clear the coast in that time? Given that we set our first leg for Bequia, we needed a good nights sleep.
Darkness was fast approaching and the Bocas can be quite dangerous at night. So, after sneeking into the depths of Scotland Bay, we ate, slept and prepared ourselves mentally for the 152nm 32hr voyage. Was Boy Wonder right? Would we cut the mustard? Two old codgers together sailing off into the sunset….
From: Chaguaramas, Trinidad Lat/Long: 10 41N 61 39W Date/Time: 27/5/09: 1700
To: Scotland Bay,
Trinidad Lat/Long: 10 42N 61 39W Date/Time:
27/5/09: 1800
Time Taken: 5nm (1hrs) Distance
(this year): 5nm (1hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 854nm (179hrs)
Fastest Speed: Trini time**
Weather: Winds E turning NE
0-15kts; 2-4ft waves; E swell;
(** A very calm night with only the hooting & barking of
Howler monkeys to disturb our dreams.
Speed? Well, perhaps not on a
sail boat…)
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