Hi everyone
You would think the USVI USA islands would have the best internet in the world but not so.
So since last Blog I arrived in Coral Bay, St John USVI on Sat. afternoon in the middle of the thanksgiving regatta, boats everywhere. Found a mooring next morning, and the evening before got my arm twisted to take part in the main race Sunday. I did it with 2 backpacking lads from Lithuania both of whom had never been in any boat in their lives. So good fun ensued. Big party afterwards.
I spent a week there catching up with friends and had a whale of a time. After the week was up I went to Benner Bay in St Thomas USVI to visit all the friends I had made while fixing the boat. I also spent a week there.
I mostly went to get stuff that I have been unable to get anywhere else, also ordered a new part for the Generator. when the week was up I traveled to Water Island and have been here nearly a week now soon to be leaving for the Turks and Caicos Islands, last job is fixing the generator. I have done a mega shopping trip for food and essentials for the trip there and back, so I am all prepared for the coming adventure. It will be a test of my nerve and bottle as there are reefs surrounding everything there, and all shallow water everywhere in between. Its 500 Nm to get there so its the Big Test for GL as well.
So you are all up to date as to where I am up too right now.
In case I don't get another internet connection, I wish everyone all the very best wishes for this Xmas and New Year, hope everyone has a great time, I and Guiding Light are going to push it 100%
More coming when I can.
Roy 

On The Move.

Hi all,

I have done the fiddly bits that required emptying the boat onto the dock, fixed permanently the galley stove after finally finding out the cause of the fire, have only been able to use 1 burner since then, and its been like camping.
Also fixed the water maker after innovating a way to make it work, without having to send it back to Europe for them to do it. Thought I had fixed it last time I had a go at it.
So now I am happy with just about everything that needs to work even the toilet seat has been repaired.
I am leaving Rodney Bay sometime today or early tomorrow, bound for the Virgin Islands, I will miss the ARC boats arriving after the rally, but I need to start early going north.
If all goes well I will try and visit the Turks and Cacos before heading south again for the 2016 classics, if its to tight a time scale Classics will get priority.
More coming
Roy

Better late than never

Yes again at last I have internet,
Hi Every One, @ Tyrell Bay, Carriacou
After the launching I was able to do a couple of jobs because the boat was good, hardly any water coming in. I could even take time to go swimming and enjoying myself! Took her for a test sail and everything was working good.
Towards the end of October 'Susie' aboard 'Spirited Lady' came back from Grenada to celebrate her 60th Birthday. This is what I had been waiting here for, she had had it all arranged for some time and I had an invite which just couldn't missed. Also I was able to leave the boat all day if need be as I had my confidence back at long last.

Susie's party was to last over a week! It all started in the 'Lazy Turtle' Pizzeria Bar Restaurant, with an Evening Party 'Wear a Wig'. Many of her friends had flown out from UK to take part in all the festivities, so all the following pic's were taken during the week.

Susie and guess who, wearing our wigs

party Lazy Turtle

party Lazy Turtle

Next day at Hillsborough, the boat is picking us all up from the beach for a tour of the Tobago Cays and other islands.

 

 

There is a turtle birthing beach at the top end of Carriacou

 

We ended up visiting Palm Island, Mayreau, Jamesby, Baradal, Rameau, and ended up for lunch at Chatham Bay Union Island, where we enjoyed 16 lobster dinners

 ,

Preparing the lobsters for the bar b q

Restaurant at Chatham Bay, Union Island

We went to the Lamby Queen restaurant that night for a live band and snacks and a Bongo Drum Session later.

Next Day it was Sandy Island for Snorkeling in Timo's boat

This cruising Lady,' Son was also having his Tenth Birthday

And Valentines Dad Francis, They have all become good friends since last year.

Then it was the official combined Birthday Party at the Slipway Restaurant, Susie 60 years Valentine 10 years and Susie's yacht 'Spirited Lady' 7 years

Susie and Susie's Party called Posh Frocks and Colorful Shirts

Next Day we went to White Island for an all day BBQ drinks swimming snorkeling walking you name it. (forgot my camera)

Had a party on her boat that night as well.

Next day it was BBQ on the local beach as a separate party just for Valentine, I rigged the dingy into sailing mode, and good fun was had by all, again a booze up at Lamby Queen followed.

As my visa was due on the 2^nd of November I prepared the boat for a trip up to Rodney Bay as I needed a pile of bits and bobs from the hardware store. Susie was again going to Sandy Island for a snorkeling session that day, so after I was happy I left the mooring and motored to the island to join in and say a fond farewell to everyone. When that was over I hoisted sail at 1730hrs and set course for St Lucia, the weather wasn't the best, and the forecast was again wrong,

Extract of Log

M    Monday 2^nd November 2015:

Cleared Customs in Carriacou and went for last breakfast at Gallery Cafe. Returned to boat and weighed anchor, as Susie and her party had gone to Sandy Island I motored there and picked up a mooring. Rowed ashore to say a farewell to everyone, and with that completed I went back to the boat, at 1730hrs with sails hoisted I left the mooring bound for St. Lucia.

Forecast Winds East 10 to 15kts , Seas 4 to Six feet

Engine Hours 48.6 at start

approx 130 Nm to Rodney Bay.

Wind East at 10 knts.

Half way to St. Vincent the wind started to back into the North East and I couldn't keep my course, decided not to try and see what happens. Wind kept on backing until it was in the NNE by N. I eventually had to motor and by 0500hrs Tuesday having had many thunder heads pass by I was halfway past St. Vincent.

As I approached the north of the island the seas became very rough and confused, the wind was continuously shifting in direction and strength, I kept the engine running and made good my course for St Lucia. I was well offshore and gradually the swell calmed down. My ETA for arrival was now over 12 hours in an NE wind, and it was already 1200hrs. Kept the engine on and motor sailed the whole way up the coast of St Lucia, and arrived in Rodney Bay at 1600hrs. I dropped sail and motored into the marina, docking at 1730hrs Tuesday 3^rd November 2015, exactly 24hrs from Sandy Island.

Engine Hours 54.4 at finish. 5.8hrs in total

Weather experienced on journey, Winds NNE to NE, 10 to 25knts, Seas 4 to 20 feet

Went to the bar for a well earned beer and something to eat.

WWednesday 4^th November 2015:

Cleared Customs into St Lucia and registered the boat with Marina office.

Rigged dingy and boat for lifting up, outboard fitted.

Sourced Speedy Stitcher.

Removed Mainsail for repair and lost batten renewal.

Fitted awnings.

Connected to shore power and water.

Weather sunny getting cloudy in afternoon, Rain in the evening.

Continued.

TThursday 5 November 2015, Gunpowder Treason and Plot.

Alongside D10

Raining this morning

FFriday 6^th November

Raining this Morning. And then the heavens opened and torrential rain fell all day, I have never experience rain like that in my life, they had many floods ashore and a few deaths as well!!! 

Saturday wasn't quite as bad but we had a lot of rain just the same, I made it and got internet but as I was writing this blog it failed so couldn't send it

Sunday today and I am still on line pressing the post button Now 

More coming 

OUT at Last !!!

Hi everyone,
Well my shipyard stay is over, ended on Monday afternoon 28th. I did have a false start on the Friday before, found another leak when put in the water and had to be put back ashore. Managed a proper repair over the weekend, worked very hard in this 32 deg C too hot no wind summer.
The remaining pictures then follow as have come ashore to get this done after being in the water nearly a week. I am very glad to say no more leaks now that the planks have expanded again, Great!!

primed the bottom first

then the new type Hard antifouling

Han looking on, another single hander

Me with work in progress

you might remember this boat in 2010 Antigua classics

decision time do I paint the hull as well

some views of the boat yard

Yard office and exit

Its a nice place to do a boat up, quiet and with the beach lapping the shore
So Second launch into the unknown

And now not sinking but waiting the night on the fuel dock just in case

So a long few days of tidying the boat up has been getting done. I slept in my own bunk last night, first time since Antigua!
Where do I go from here!!! I'll let you all know when I find out !!!!
Roy

Update at last

Hi all, I know its been awhile since last blog, but thats the way it goes out on a small Caribbean Island!
Pics with a bit of text follows
Pic 1 + 2 view of the deck support beams

Bow with Knight head removed and support knee

starb side toe rail sticking out

making new bolt for stem head knee 1

and 2

After the stem head was re-secured I then made a pile of bolts to bolt all the support beams together, this out of the bronze rods I received in Rodney Bay

pic of bolts

bolts in position ready before hardening up

 everything was then tightened up, its now even stronger than 'as built' as these frames were never screwed together when built.

fitting the new knight head

The new knight head was made from Mahogany as I couldn't find any teak big enough, so used what I could find.

view 2

Then came refitting and bolting the planks through the now bolted up knight head.

once refitted planks were re-caulked

caulking finished

Then came re planking the deck, The wood I bought last year arrived only 3/4" thick! when I left it was 1:1/8" thick, somewere between then and now someone took a slice off the plank! this meant it wasn't thick enough to do the job. I complained to the wood yard and he sent a very bad piece an inch thick, still not good enough to fix the deck. So had to improvise as was not going to get it replaced. the board is now made of three pieces, and will not be that obvious when finished.

making the covering board

putting the toe rail back

capping rail and deck fittings

Then the last part of this job was the cracked frame. Before leaving St Lucia I acquired a couple of stainless shroud plates of a yacht. After cutting to size I bolted the frame together with them, they are highly polished and look a bit out of place in the chain locker, but they will do the job fine.

shroud plates fitted

That was all done 2weeks ago, since then I have found the underwater leaks re-caulked all the bad seams and done a bottom antifoul paint job and this morning finished the boot top. I have now to do a hull touch up job and caulk the deck, I have been waiting for the seam compound to arrive from Grenada for 3 weeks now and its still not here today.

Well Guys and Gals its taken me since 10:30am till now 13:20pm to do this post, so all that time lost in the yard, only 5 mins at home.

More coming eventually.

Roy