Hi Everyone,
Well at last I have managed to sort out the comms on Sat. message below was received nearly instantly to the blog via Sat. I have no excuse now about not having internet to post, yippee, that means no photos though, but at least I don't have to pack the laptop in a plastic bag and brave the dingy journey hoping the laptop survives, then trying to get the local wi fi to work.
Roy

SMS from 881632655768@msg.iridium.com

Test Msg From Sat Comms

Hi Everyone,

So here is the log of my journey to Turks & Caicos Islands.

1400hrs 12 January 2016.

Position sailing through the anchourage at Water island blowing my conch horn in farewell.

496.5 Nm to Destination which was Blue Haven Marina, Leeward going through, Providenciales, Caicos Islands.

Weather Balmy sunshine, Wind very light from the E ..NE...E... 0-3 Knots 5-10 Knots 0-8 Knots. Speed 2.0 – 6.5 Knots.

1400hrs 13 January 2016

Position 19°09.5' N 066°50.0' W

373.5 Nm to destination first 24hrs 123.0 Nm wind E..ESE.. 0-8 Knots Speed 4=5 Knots Calm seas

1400hrs 14 January 2016

Position 20°05.18' N 068°18.19' W

268.0 Nm to Destination second 24 hrs 105.0 Nm wind East 0-8 Knots Calm seas

1400hrs 15 January 2016

Position 21°05.87' N 069°35.59' W

162.5 Nm to Destination third 24hrs 105.0 Nm winds still ESE 8-12 Knots speed above 5 Knots today sea still calm although long North Atlantic swell running still wall to wall sunshine.

0930hrs Saturday 16 January 2016

Position 21°26.10' N 071°09.04' W

80 .0 NM to Destination forth only 17.5hrs. 70.5 Nm. Arrived at Sub Base anchourage Grand Turk Island, Turks & Caicos Islands, This was to clear Customs.

Spent all the rest of the day trying to find a Customs officer without success.

Sunday 17^th January 2016

@ anchourage Early morning a cruise liner docked, so walked to the cruise ship dock and found a customs officer and managed to clear into the Islands. They gave only a 7 day short stay stamp.

Found a very nice Beach Bar (Jack's Shack), and spent a few bob on a few beers before turning in.

Monday 18^th January 2016

Moved the boat to the anchourage at Cockburn Town Capital City of the Turks & Caicos.

Position 21°28.0' N 071°08.88' W

Went shopping for essentials like cigarettes as I had only 1 packet left! On my walk about through the old town, full of history and HM Prison! To find Joey's Liquor store I found another nice Beach Bar (The Beach Bar) went there in the dingy after the shopping trip, the swell came up and I got very wet trying to launch the dingy into the waves crashing on the beach.

Tuesday 19^th January 2016

During the night the swell had backed all the way round to the North increasing in violence, and in the small pool outside the town, the anchourage was becoming a dangerous place to be in only 2 mtrs of water. I had already decided to carry on to my final destination (Blue Haven) so I put the dingy back on the cabin roof and made ready for sea again. I left at 0945hrs with 80.5 Nm to Destination. Wind was very light from the SSE as before.

Wednesday 20^th January 2016

During the yesterday a massive cold front bore down on me from the North, NNE by N as the wind then went round it increased to about 25-30 Knots and with two swells coming at me it became very rough indeed, so much so that at 0200hrs I had to heave to in Position 21°28.0' N 071°08.88' W

and spent all night doing about 2.5 knots in very rough conditions, it didn't get any better till about 1100hrs in the morning. I put the boat back on course under full sail, I still had over 60 Nm to Destination and didn't think I could make it.

The pilot book had also warned that any wind from the north made the gap in the reef impassable to enter! So I was worried about that as well!

As the day progressed however I had begun to sail very fast and was now surfing down the swell doing over 9 Knots! With the wind behind me.

I was in contact with Provo Radio asking them for info about the entrance conditions, but they didn't know, I kept calling Blue Haven and when only 1 hour to my arrival at the reef they answered, in fact the very man I had come to see, Adam Foster! He told me they shut a 1700hrs the reef could be entered and he had a boat that would guide me in waiting for me! I arrived at 1715hrs took down the mainsail (I had already taken the jibs off) and went through the gap! Pretty spectacular to say the least, So final Destination was reached at 1730hrs tied up alongside @ Blue Haven Marina in Position 21°49.20' N 072°08.88' W and went straight to the bar to say hello to everyone!

Roy

Hi Everyone,
Well today I have finally got internet again, I'm very disappointed however. because there are no posts displayed that were sent from my Sat. phone. I have been sending them via the email option on the phone, but they have not arrived and been posted. The phone had said msg sent ok, so I have been sending lots of them to the blog.  My blog has only the 18 Dec one I sent from ashore at Water Island.
So will have to try and bring everyone up to date.
I had a great Xmas and New Year, at Water Island, with my feet in the sand and my bum in the water! met everyone I had made friends with during GL refit year, so a very successful visit to St Thomas.
Then keeping an eye on the weather the opportunity weather window occurred to make a go for the Turks and Caicos Islands. This happened on Tuesday 12th Jan 2016 when I left St Thomas for the voyage, finished fueling at 1300hrs and after hoisting sail did a farewell sail through  the anchorage  and at 1400hrs then off towards my waypoint (Blue Haven Marina at Providenciales Island)
I sent a post to the blog every day but they did not get posted.
More coming later.