Antigua 31st Classics 2018

Hi Everyone,
Well here I am in Falmouth Harbour for the classics this year, This will be the 8th time since arriving in the Caribbean.
Boat is at anchour right now and I go along side tomorrow for the free dockage.
Don't think there will be time to do a post during the event, there are just to many parties to attend, all of which I am looking fwd too !!!!!!!
Will post afterwards when I have recovered.
Roy

Now in Antigua

Hi All,
Well got the sail on ok and left for Antigua on Monday afternoon 1500 hrs 12th March arriving there on Wednesday morning at 11-15 hrs, had a good wind and direction so was able to actually steer the right course for a change, 45 hours isn't a bad crossing time either.
Sail was still not right so will have to use my very very old sail from 1955 ! it is still ok and was made by Ratseys in New York USA. it is stained though, but looks definitely in character. have now sorted all the photos into there right folders,  so next blog should have some pics as well.
Only other news is I've gone stark staring bonkers and bought another Yacht.....I know...I am mad.
So I will post something about that after the Classics is over, will try and put a pic as well.

As always I am looking forward to the racing and meeting all I know there, trying to put a bit of training in ! er not for racing silly, for the PARTIES 
Roy

St Lucia update

Hi everyone,
Doesn't time fly, its now half past March already.
I have registered in the Antigua Classics again this year, and hopefully get the new main up again today, so I will be able to sail fast again. Boat looks very tired and weather worn, shes been through 'hell and High Water' these last few months, and I've had no time to make her look nice.
All issues have been done, new stays have been made, both the bumpkin and bowsprit! as they were both the same age. Spares for engine were ordered and received, and also the spare for the Generator which has been out of service for quite some time. They will be fitted soon. Issue with the bilges also sorted and after a trial sail Jerry has adjusted the main.
So just about ready to go up to Antigua, if I go early enough I might be able to tidy her up to look at least halfway decent (as though the owner takes some care).
That's me up to date then.
Wish I had time to upload some more pics, but the sail is calling me to get it up.

Roy

Clarks Court Bay Grenada to Rodney Bay St Lucia-- and now Part 3

Hi everyone,
I had arrived back in time for Grenada sailing week with only no real problem, except my new mainsail was not quite right, and it was not driving the boat very well in any wind direction due to how much shape Jerry had given it. I had anchored in St Georges first to get a new steering compass, this is to replace my broken original one. I have tried now for over 8 years to find a replacement, second hand as they are not manufactured any more. The reason for that was simple, my chart plotter would not display any information and I had to go back to using my paper charts on the way down island. (at some point I will try and get it fixed) While I was choosing a new compass I saw another plotter in 'Island Water World', Its a Garman of similar type but 10 years ahead of my old one with all the latest Tech improvements, couldn't stop myself from getting hold of it. I then left and went round the south coast to 'Secret Harbour' where sailing week was due to start, bit scary going through the reef  without any Nav info and also all the channel marks leading through were missing. Got in OK and had arranged to pick up a mooring ball, local guy came out and helped me with that.
I got to work right away on taking the new main off and putting my old repaired sail back on for the racing, then I installed the new plotter and steering compass. Plotter is magic and since putting into service I am getting up to date with the latest innovations that have been thought up, also how to use the thing. Computer technology as moved forward by leaps and bounds were Navigation is concerned. Sailing week started and we all had a great time, I had 2 crew for all races and a third and forth crew for the first three, I had made friends with Wolfgang and Mathey before and a young sailor Micheal who was gasping to crew on a classic yacht, Emma was there too for the first three. Being the smallest boat there and having a mainsail with no battens in it, I didn't do very well, There were 7 boats in our class and I came 6: 6: 7: 7: 7: in the 5 races. My friends Jud and Chrissy on 'Galatea' (1899) won the lot, and was the overall winner in our class, and Gerry on Free Spirit was Third.

After all the racing parties were over I wanted to get back to St Lucia ASAP to fix my new sail and attend to the engine as I have found the blocked filter had damaged the fuel lift pump diaphragm. All the forecasts were dire, so from 4th of Feb I have been waiting for the winds to go down, there was no sign this was going to happen any time soon.
On Friday 16th a forecast gave the winds going down that weekend, just for a couple of days then back up again on the Monday 19th of this week. So took a chance and left on Saturday 20th at 0700hrs. This journey is about 135 NM from Bay to Bay and normally takes me 2 days and one night to get there, Not This Time, it took me 3 days and 2 nights in the biggest seas and highest winds I have ever seen in the Caribbean !!! I was going to call in on Carriacou on my way up to clear customs, I got to within 3 miles and then tacked, I was blown out to sea with wind and current taking me away and couldn't get there, unbelievable. I was in over 10 foot waves on the nose with 25 knts of wind blasting the boat, lee rail was more under water than above, this carried on hour after hour for the whole trip! sometimes more and not often less.
I was now approaching St Vincent with Mustique and Bequia on the Starboard side, I could see the loom of their lights in the clouds above them as it got dark on Saturday night, I was about 20 miles to the west of them. This is were the waves got even higher and wind much stronger. Its my habit to stick my head by the hatch to light a cigarette out of the wind, I had just come out of the cabin after a quick snooze for 10 mins. After a good look around I poked my head in to light a fag...I was hearing water sloshing around without really understanding what I was hearing, after all I had only just come into the cockpit. Cabin was in total darkness so slid the hatch back and shone the torch in there. Holy ***""*** Bilge floorboard was floating on top of the waves down there, what the ??????? poor old hart started to go into top gear, what could it be???? plank come off somewhere??????? that was a lot of water very quick?????? I had only just come out of there??????  ??????  ???????
I shot down there power switch first, had something hit it and turned it off? no it was on. hand down into the water to feel the pumps were running or not, engine bilge yes, emergency 3000 gall an hour yes, cabin sort of, 2 big towels were wrapped round it so running but not pumping any water, removed towels pump ok, check water is going out, all three overboards were discharging water, big EM pump didn't seem to be pumping a lot? down again water was very slowly going down?????
put all on to manual running, waited for a bit, water was definitely going down, when the level passed the overflow from engine to cabin there was a waterfall of water coming through, have I sprung a plank down there somewhere????? I then thought why is the cabin bilge taking so long to empty???? because that's were the big pump suction is and should already be dry????? I turned the big pump off and the engine bilge pump emptied the bilge!  ah ahha  put the big pump back on bilge filled up again, shit there is a split in the hose, so a combination had happened, towels down bilge 1 pump nobbled, engine bilge fills up overflows into cabin, cabin bilge fill up starts big pump, big pump is just circulating bilge water from cabin to engine bilge, engine pump can not keep up complete bilge fills with water. With both bilges now back to normal no planks have fallen off the boat!! That was a bit of a scare, poor old hart took an hour to calm down after that! Back in the cockpit I finally got to light that FAG.

As I started to pass St Vincent it became even nastier, I kept hearing a bang that night, I couldn't find out where it was coming from, at 0300hrs with the wind about 30 odd knts and seas way over 12 feet, I had 3 bangs one after the other then a big bang happened, I then got the torch and noticed the wind vane frame was moving, a closer look showed me not the frame but the Bumpkin was lifting up alarmingly, it was starting to pull out the 4" coach screws, I looked over the stern and the wire stay holding the backstay in tension had completely shredded, the mast was now pumping back and forward with the jib stay slack but under serious loading from the wind, if I didn't do something quick I would be losing the mast top! a quick think then, I, quick as I could, tacked the boat and heaved too, pulled the main in hard to help the mast and bring the boom end reachable, took off the topping lift shackle and rigged it around the wind steering rudder post, (sounds easy, this whole frame was going under the sea 2 feet every second with me trying to hang on to it and tie the topping lift to it!) once done back to the mast get the haliyard run that back to the frame end then off with the main sheet and on with the haliyard on the winch, with both ropes now in as much tension as I had the strength to muster on the winch I monitored the mast top for a while getting my breath back (and had a fag or 2) Back stay was now loose and the frame was holding steady, I tacked back on course watching everything like a hawk, all was good. Jib stay was taught again, I got away with that one whew! was doing 6+knts into this wind and sea, hard on the starboard tack, boat loving every minute of it, it amazes me this boat.
The rest of that Sunday night I battled into this weather, I couldn't make the course to St Lucia and was going further away from the island mile by mile.
Finally I got far enough north to make the coast a good deal higher than the Pitons, this about 0600hrs Monday 19th morning over 35 miles from St Lucia to the West. going fast as off the wind a bit, think the very strong current was helping this time as I made the coast close in quickly.
I knew next problem would be getting the sails down in such high wind, there is not any shelter in Rodney Bay, I had blown out this sail last year trying to do just this sail down pain here! came as close as I dared to a hotel beach North end of Cuti Cove just before Rodney Bay, still have to fit the new transducer for the new plotter so no depth sounder as yet.
Began just after 12 noon, order is 1st little jib, second is big jib then the main sail. again sounds easy but keeping the boat into the strong wind is the problem. 1 hour later I have not managed to drop the big jib yet, so down wind I go, Gusts are coming at me 25 deg. either side, have to let the boom out a lot to keep the wind up my backside, Da Ja Vue while half way getting Jib down a 30 degree gust slaps the boat hard....boat gybes...main goes round top spreaders....... I do one quick tie on jib....... then I try and gybe back...... before I get to rudder another gust...........as now getting a long way from beach..... this gust is full strength.......mainsail rips itself free...... turn into wind sail is slapping and tearing itself to pieces...... motor back to beach takes another hour! even closer this time..........
engine just ticking over in gear and into the fluctuating wind, wait for the right moment, it takes 20 seconds to drop, wait for it, wait for it, NOW let go haliyard, nothing, sail doesn't move??????
I am on the boom jumping off holding on to the sail, manage it down to the top spreaders, it will not come down any further?????? sail is now going berserk and making so much noise shaking the boat like a dog shakes a rag, I now have the whole beach full of hotel Guests watching this performance. Well what the hell, I tied as much of the sail to the boom, it now looks like a parachute and is having a similar effect on the boat! I go full throttle into the wind and round the corner into Rodney Bay, Full wind in my makeshift parachute allows me nearly 2 knts forward motion, quite good thinks me. Carried on to the channel then stopped to call the marina and arrange a berth, I sorely need one now.
While stopped 2 friends have spotted me and came over in their dinghies to give me some help, John who I met in Antigua Classics last year was a volunteer boat herder, very fit, and Robin whose classic boat was damaged just after I was hit, we decided to anchor get sail down then go into marina. After anchor was down John swarmed up the mast undid the sail and it dropped down no problem. Block however would not move and is even now waiting for me to fix. We then lifted anchor again and I am now in the Marina D22 berth. Got the ships papers and went to clear customs, very very knackered, customs had gone home, went to nearest bar and bought a bucket of beer (5 Bottles) when gone got another one, then up to Bosuns bar ordered a beefburger and fries and another beer, back to the boat at 8pm eat burger and fries and crashed out doing a deck head survey!
Roy

I go to Union Island- New year 2018----Part two of 3

I go to Union Island- New year 2018

Susie went to Union Island day after boxing day, its only 8 miles away but north east of Carriacou. I was under instructions to get there come what may for New Years Eve celebrations, I left it to the last minute because of wind direction north east. On New Years EVE EVE weather was good to go, its only 8 miles away ! I hoisted the dingy up on the fore deck and lashed it down, I would go with just the mainsail up. I left Carriacou at 1000hrs doing approx 3 knts, I had all day to get there, weather was sunny and a was enjoying the lazy sail. Looking aft about 1400hrs I saw a huge dark black cloud engulfing Carriacou, serous squall, and as it was behind me I would miss it completely in the north east wind.......as I watched this cloud was overtaking me traveling north west opposite wind to what I was in......not forecast at all!.... I watched as it drew closer and closer, I could now not see anything behind it because of the white out rain under the darkest cloud I have ever seen. Wallop it got me.... must have been well over 40 kts of wind with horizontal rain, wind whipped up the sea blowing the tops of the waves off adding to the downpour, the boat was heeled so far over lee rail under water and now going away from Union Island very quickly, I was only 2.5 miles away when this happened. It lasted a good hour and a bit, I was now 3 miles from Union Island in the current and there was no way for me to tack back, I was going to miss the Island completely.....as time went on I knew I would have to start the engine to make it at all. But I couldn't start my lovely very reliable engine at all, even put the electric priming pump on didn't make any difference, I knew I was low on diesel fuel that combined with the tossing about I had just gone through had disturbed all the crud in the tank and the filter had blocked up. I had been telling Susie at anchor what was going on, so she organized a local fishing boat to come out and tow me in this took another hour and it was now going dark! as I was taking the sails down  I noticed bits of broken painted wood scatted on the deck, after a short look round there in the bottom of my dingy was a huge hole, the waves had smashed and stoved in the floor. Fellow cruisers helped me anchor the boat, the wind was still viscous with very strong gusts, and about 2 hours later now pitch dark my anchour dragged and off I went heading for a very big luxury motor yacht! again fellow cruisers came to my rescue and herded me back in and I anchored again, thank the stars I had fitted that electric windless.
I didn't dare leave the boat that night and although there was a party and B-B-Q on the beach I didn't go, one local guy came out and offered to take me to the beach I had to say no, he came back about 15 mins later with a huge plate of BBQ food for me Magic.

New Years Eve 2017

 Susie had organized a powerful local boat to take us all to the town of Clifton  for celebrating New Years, its a long way from Chatham Bay against the big seas and wind, we went very fast into the waves doing I think maybe 20 + knts and arrived at Happy Island about 1600hrs, this island is the Kite Surfing Capital of the Caribbean! I counted about 20 kite surfers doing some amazing stunts, like coming at the dingy dock so fast in the calm shallow water of the reef and launching into the air between the dinghies like 2" away from them going over the bar and our heads turning and landing again in front of the dinghies  shooting off at high speed away from us, wish I was a bit younger to have a go at that.

After all that was over and quite a few beers we were taken to the town for the party time, it was all happening,we Partied Hard went to the town dock before midnight and watched the fireworks, a few more beers and about 0200hrs 1st January 2018 we were taken back to Chatham Bay, I was very drunk at the time!
here ends part 2
Roy

Clarks Court Bay Grenada to Rodney Bay St Lucia-- Part One of 3

Hi All,
Guess what, I have internet on the boat ! and as long as I do it early before it slows down I can do a catch up.
Just so everyone knows, the weather in the Caribbean has been very strange this year, the Xmas winds arrived as normal middle of December but from the North East instead of East, and they have been blowing very strong ever since, the dry season didn't happen and still hasn't happened. This has caused very big swells to keep building bigger and bigger, and this combined with winds over 20 knts from the north east has made it difficult to travel north from the south. Getting to St Lucia last time was a pain, but managed it in a small 2 day window.That was to pick up my new sails from Jerry Bethal in February.

Catch up insert

Xmas 2017- Susie goes missing-I go to Union Island- New year 2018

I did make it to Carriacou for Xmas eve against wind and sea, 26 hr journey, and was invited for a champagne breakfast aboard 'Spirited Lady'  Susie's boat on Xmas morning at 0830 hrs. I tootled over in my dingy at 0815 hrs with my unopened pressy and card from Lynne and Ken (sister & brother in law in UK), and armed with a bottle of wine. There was to be a first footing type celebration called a serenading afterwards were a group of  cruisers and locals travel all over the island visiting many many places and peoples houses were food and drink are offered by locals, singing, dancing, drinking which goes on all day etc. etc. 

Arriving at Susie's boat it was deserted, her dingy wasn't there, also no sign of her or her 2 dogs and the cat, they normally bark meow  when they hear my outboard motor. So thinking she was ashore walking the dogs I went looking for her, its a long beach and I couldn't see her dingy on any of the small piers. I then waited for a bit watching her boat from the beach for her to return, nowt. So after 30 mins or so I got a bit concerned. It was now after 0900 hrs ! I Then did a search in my dingy the whole beach looking for hers as it might be pulled up the sand, no sign of it anywhere ! I then thought she might have carried on her Xmas eve party on someone else's boat. So I went all around the boats at anchor looking for her dingy. this took a good 30 minutes, time now was 1000 hrs ! and couldn't find it at all, having not found her dingy anywhere I was now getting very worried ! I then thought I would do one more search of the beach, if I couldn't find it I would call a 'May Day' emergency call on the VHF. for a missing person and dingy, she might have drifted out to sea ! I started at the boat yard end and spotted her dingy pulled out and at the entrance to the yard, I hadn't seen it the first time cause looking for it tied up. She had a friend staying in a cottage so I then assumed she hadn't made it back to her boat and had stayed there for the night, whew! As it was now obvious there was no breakfast  going to happen it being 1015 I went back to my boat, opened my pressy and card and had a couple of slurps of wine to cheer myself up. I have to insert here every time I leave the boat I turn off the VHF radio to save battery power. 

Having had my private Xmas morning party in the cockpit alone, I went down below at approx 1115hrs and switched the radio on to call Susie up as she must be back on board by now...No reply... called again.. the boat next to her answered and the Lady told me she had already gone ashore on the 'Serenading' around the island ! they had forgotten me ! The Lady then told me what had happened, Susie woke up about 1000 hrs and found her dingy gone ! she tried calling me but I was still looking for it, then someone told her it had been found drifting by a local fisherman and he had taken it to the boat yard and pulled it out. The Lady said she was such a lucky woman not to have lost it completely, by the time she got it back she was already late for the serenading and in the rush did call me but I was at that time in my cockpit no radio having a couple of drinky poo's. They then left and left me behind. So I stayed on the boat all day alone on Xmas Day.

Here ends Part one

Roy

Catch up February

Hi all, sorry again for the big gap in my postings, all due by not getting internet.

I went to Union Island for New Year, Chatham Bay, that's another story that will have to wait in the telling,
After that I had some more work to do back in Carriacou, repair a hole in the dinghies bottom.
 I then went to St Lucia to pick up my new sails. I had to then get back to Grenada for Sailing week which I had entered. Nearly didn't make it due to weather, It started on Jan 29 I got there on 27th. Had a great time good fun, it finished on 4th Feb.
At anchor at St Georges was 'Nero' the boat I helped build in China! The Engineer was already here having left it 9 years ago, we quizzed the crew and found out 2 guys from China were still working on board, Electrical guy I handed the  new boat too and the Engineer John handed over too! WoW! We had a reunion party in Port Louis Marina catching up on the last ten years.

I am now waiting for a weather window to go back to St Lucia
Roy

Grenada to Carriacou (the saga of)

Hi all,
Well to make it to Tyrell Bay before Xmas I had to leave on the Thursday before. The weather though was not good. North East wind (on the nose) 15 - 20 knts of wind with a north east swell 6 + feet.

(day one)...I left anyway, bad move as I had a terrid hangover after saying 'ta ra' to everyone the day before !

First thing big jib went up, cleared the reef, then 10 mins later the port sheet fell off ! I can not sail on starb. tack without it ! boat was rolling so bad made it very hard to get it down. This done with fall all over the deck in a mess, went and started to put it back up, well with all the rolling the halyard had gone behind the spreader, the sail  and hoisting block then  went round the stay maybe 6 times while I got the fall back round the spreader !  sail would not now go up or down. It started flogging violently in the high wind and so I rolled and tied it up to the leech and stay. next sail up was little staysail, all lines now completely wrapped up with each other this took a long time. No way was the main going to go up, so motored gently round to St Georges, arriving as it got dark and anchored for the night.

(day two) At approx 02:30 a very strong squall swept across the bay and off I went out to sea dragging the anchor behind me! Boat missed hitting anything and I let it go until no boats behind me then let the chain go until the boat was stopped.

As soon as it was light, about 06:45 I started to get the jib down, that took till 09:00, then after making sure every rope was in the right place put up all sail and off I went again.
After being on the hook since August, I had become so unfit for sailing, things stopped working, the big things took even longer to fix, I got very tied, boat bottom was so dirty boat would only do 5 knots max. I wasn't even heading for Carriacou but going NNE BY NORTH. Took all day and most of the night until level with Union Island, that was approx 03:00 (day three) I was then able to go South East and head Straight to Tyrell Bay. I arrived at 06:00 and on the hook at 07:00 at last.
Made it !!!
Roy

December 2017

Hi Everyone,
well the battery is still ok, but, the computer is getting more and more unreliable, even when battery is full, computer verifies this saying 100% available but it will not use the battery and switches itself off! back to less than square one, cause now I am back to using the on screen keyboard as approx 60% of the keys won't work any more????
No pics today, I am getting the boat ready to start moving about again now that hurricane season is over. Going through my check list as I speak. 1) anchor chain was cleaned it took 5 days! so much marine growth, unbelievable! when above the anchor it took 2 + hours too break it out of the muddy bottom, approx 20 feet of chain and anchor were buried about 10 feet down ! boat never moved 1/2 an inch. 2) have a failed mast head lamp, and my steaming lamp and deck flood don't work they have to be next on list, then all the fiddly jobs, too many to mention here.

Itinerary is Carriacou to clear customs, will prob spend Xmas there, then St Lucia to pick up the new sails I'm having made, once that's done I can then think of computer, doubt very much if I will find the same model. Then back to Grenada for sailing week, we have started a classic class, and as second to commit will be doing that. Jud owner of 'Galatea' (1899) was first to start the ball rolling.
I have a lot of pics to post when next I can.

All the very best for Xmas and New Year 2018 to all who check out and read my blog!
Roy

Serious Update

Hi Everyone,

Well I have been having usual trouble with internet here in Clark Courts Bay, IE:- none! and again its a dingy ride to the nearest place where I can plug in and use the computer.

I have managed to work out how to charge the battery separate from the computer, so now when power goes out I no longer lose everything I have written or used, as the battery takes over again, at long long last! So thanks to Rowan for getting the new batt to me.

Updates follow with I hope pictures.

August 2017

First off 2 0f 52 pictures from a guy named Tim who took them at the regatta in Carriacou, he met me here and gave me all of them. Also 2 I took going round a very scary island reef during the racing.

Carriacou1

Carriacou2

I then moved down to Grenada at St Georges anchourage for a few days, then round to Clark Courts Bay. Where I still am at present.

September 2017

I tried to haul out here for a couple of days but the new shipyard was full with no chance until maybe October or later. 1 pic of early evening.

I then decided I just had to address the fresh water tank bad smell that has returned, even after all the work I did too it in St Martin. I could not check the tank interior as there was no inspection hatch fitted when I had it made, so I am to blame for that. It had to come out then and have an inspection hatch retro fitted, that meant major disruption to my blinking bed! Everything had to come out of the fwd cabin and be put somewhere else! and of course there is nowhere else to put it, so it was put everywhere else at complete random! Leaving me a tiny space to live correction EXIST in!

Following pics of the work which I didn't finish till middle of October! Other reasons applied to that as well which follow after pics

October 2017

So on Sunday morning 1^st October, I got a call from Susie on 'Spirited Lady'. Her crew to help take her boat to Trinidad, for a booked haul out at 'Motor Boats Marina' on Monday morning, had failed to turn up! I had said that if that happened I would go with her instead. She had me signed on her crew list and be her crew by lunch time! We then had a roast Sunday lunch in 'Taffy's Bar' 'Woburn Bay' then back to her boat in 'Port Louie Marina' in St Georges Harbour, to get the boat ready hoping to leave at about 6 pm. We left closer to 7pm put the sails up and went to Trinidad!

We arrived approx 0930hrs Monday morning, the yard had the travel lift ready and straight in, done and dusted on the hard by 1030hrs. I spent a week there, and as Susie had hired a car she took the dogs and me on a tour of the Islands North Coast and the beaches, Wow! Following the pics of that.

following pics from the Cathedral of Bamboo 

More later

Roy

Hurricane Irma and Jose ( in Spanish)

Hi Everyone,
Well this is just to let everyone know that the 2 hurricanes are far away from Grenada where I am at the moment, at the beginning of this season all the bad weather was down here in this area, the boats that came this way early had some bad tropical storms to deal with, so everyone planning had a decision to make...go south or north..it took me awhile to make that decision, but knowing the history of these hurricanes I decided  to leave it for a bit then come down at the end of July, I am now patting myself on the back for that decision. BUT !! the season doesn't end till end of November, so I am keeping a wary eye on the weather, this link is the site I follow, I choose WIDE View and can watch with only an hour delay of present storms approaching and there forecast tracks. >http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/trop-atl.html<
So keep a watch and feel very sorry for anyone in their path. I've been in quite a few during my travels and know just how frightening these storm winds can be when they hit you, imagine sitting on the wing of a jet air-plane taking off !! its even worse that that !!
Roy
 

August 1st post

Hi all,
been about 12 days so here is my update, I left Rodney bay 6pm Saturday for Carriacou had a nice evening sail and day sailing during the Sunday passing Union Island as the sun went down. Decided to down sails there as don't like entering an anchorage with sails up in the dark, motored across to Carriacou and dropped anchor with lovely electric Windlass in deep water for the first time in a long time at about 2230hrs and Susie from s/y Spirited Lady came over with a few beers and wine for herself, we drank and swapped stories till about 0100hrs and then I went to bed whilst Susie had to find her boat again.
Left all awnings off as the Regatta was at the weekend so just moved the boat in closer to the beach, anchor came up effortlessly! what a magic thing an electric windlass is! love it to bits.
couple of drink sessions and the regatta was upon us. Friday was the race around the Island, Saturday was the South coast race, Sunday was a day off on the Rum Runner to watch the Carriacou Sloops racing, this is a booze cruise and I am only going to post 1 UNO one picture some one took of me letting my hair down !!! there were lots of them.

Grenada next guys, for 'Carnival' what happens then on Monday is anyone guess

Roy

Info on POST

Hi everyone again
As I was posting my update this morning I found the post email to Susie hadn't been posted at all This was supposed  to have been posted on Tuesday 18th just after I arrived in the morning from St Maarten !!!

ROY

Julysecond post "email to Susie" sent today"

Instead of wring all this again please read on, St Maarten to St Lucia arrived yesterday morning.

Hi Susie,

I left St Maarten 4pm bridge Saturday afternoon 15th and headed on down Island with a clear 5 day Atlantic forecast for the next 5 days! Had a really nice evening sail, but the wind started to go into the SE and I had a problem getting to windward of St Kits and Nevis. After achieving that I didn't have a problem till clearing the bottom of Nevis. As that happened I was going to clear Redonda and Montserrat to windward with plenty of room steering 130 deg. but the wind veered back to the SSW by S giving me a course of max 225 deg going SW !!! I thought I dont't care about that as St Vincent is that way and could give you a nice surprise ! during the day (Sunday) the wind gradually backed round to the East and I was then going in the Lee of Montserrat, that continued to Guadalupe and then the wind increased to over 22knts and the seas became very rough and confused, I was onty doing 3.5 knts instead of about 8, so went up foreward and found my big jib ( which I hadn't put up yet) had untied itself gone over the side and had become a rather large drogue parachute !!! bugger, Took half an hour to sort that, found the clew reinforcement patch on starboard side had torn off but said I don't care and I put it up as well, boat don't like 22 knts without everything up!. continued then past Guadalupe doing 7.5 to 8.8 knots until I arrived next morning (Monday) at Dominica. That was when I noticed the Main Sail had torn on the leech in the middle of the panel, and only reason it hadn't gone and torn right to the mast was the No1 batten pocket which was sewn across that panel II

Just then I was doing 8 knts so started to slow the boat down a bit, THEN the wind just died completely! the waves disappeared and I was becalmed!! I had to motor the whole way past Dominica!!!! took all day, at the bottom again the wind was from the south and again I was going 225 deg and aimed directly to St Vincent !! so as it went dark Monday night t set Fred up and went to bed. When I woke up 3am the boat was again doing 7 to 8 knots and now doing 116 deg. the wind having backed round to the North East!!! I was now heading for the coast of Martinique and had to bear away back to my course which I was very high on. Rest of the night was a very gentle sail until about midnight when the thunder heads with lightening white out rain thunder the works, passed the bottom of Martinique at approx 2am into another storm, I was now very worried about the two sails both having damaged leeches and how I was going to get the main itself off without tearing the sail into rags, again I was having trouble with the wind as it had again gone into the South East, I was babying the boat towards St Lucia Tuesday morning and thankfully the wind went back to the East halfway across. I made Rodney Bay at about 8 am and then tried to down all sail !! only one more problem had come up wich again was the wind ! 24 knts in the Bay ! did the little Jib first no problem, tried to do the big jib and it just wasn't happening, I had to go down wind, the only direction I didn;t want to go. nearly got it down when the No.1 batten pocket failed, the Main gradually tore itself in half with me helpless to stop it. Managed to get the big jib off but by the time I went back round into the wind the main had taken 2 turns right round the mast, I had to go within 20 feet of the rocks out of the wind at Pigeon Island and turn the boat round twice with the engine to unravel it !! (during all this I was being watched by a young cruising couple on a boat, they waved, I waved back ! what else could I do?) I finally wrapped the errant sail around the boom, looked as if nothing was wrong with it. Called Rodney Bay and booked J13 for repairs and it was 1130am when I cleared customs ! Completely Knackered then went to Bosun's Bar until I was drunk.

you know Susie people shouldn't ask me how I'm doing if they don't want to read another novelette !!!

Love you but stuck here for a bit I think !!

Roy xx

PS in Bosun's bar last night they showed me the named storm Don. No wonder then I had all that crazy weather! on my trip !!!

Update

Hi Everyone
Just to say I found a sailmaker and he has repaired the sails, hoping to get them back today, I am outside at anchor in Rodney Bay St Lucia, sort of where I was this time last year, soon as I have the sails Ill be off to Carriacou only a year late! looking fwd to seeing all my friends again.
Hoping my next post will be at breakfast on the beach at Gallery Cafe Carriacou!!!
Roy

July first post

Hi Everyone,
Well all done, well when I say all, I mean all I was supposed to do except for the dam computer battery from my sister, Rowan will be pleased (joke) to know that the tech guy at Jolly Harbour took about 20 minutes to ruin the one she had acquired for me ! I only left him to have a fag!
Anyway have removed so many items from top and bottom priority lists waiting for my passport to arrive, a saga in itself.
Don't know if the guys remember at the classics but I had a horrible smell in the sink ! I was blaming bad seawater smell in English Harbour, but eventually found not the reason, it was the fresh water activated carbon filter had failed some how. it took 2 days and 450 ltrs of water + 32 ounces of strange chemicals to get it smelling and tasting sweet water again, first time its ever happened on any boat I have owned. ( I was still drinking it) tasted ok to me!
So I am already to go go go, only the customs to see and put everything, and I do mean everything back were it belongs, as small as I am just getting to the bog is a marathon obstical course! trying to get to bed is even harder, usually asleep before I make that.
So I am off on my travels armed with the new and improved work to do list.
will let you know when I find out
Roy

1st June post 2017

Hi everyone,
First post for June with a couple of pics, since Antigua I went to Nevis and met up with Mark of Double Deuce fame (a beach bar) got invited too his annual staff party at his house 1000ft up the side of the mountain spectacular.
I then went to St Maarten were I have been since. I started the passport renewal here. So while that is ongoing I started the new installation of the electric windlass, I suppose its been on my distant future wish list since I bought the boat, where I have anchored and which anchor I used has always been influenced and coloured on whether I could lift the thing up again, this especially since the original windlass was smashed on the reef in 2011. But over the last 2 years I have gradually been collecting all the bits required to do the job, including the windlass itself here in March this year. So a couple of pics of that as well, I can report it took me 8 days to complete, I tested it of course on the mooring, and practised a routine for deployment when needed, and now I can not wait to anchor willy nilly anywhere I like !!!!! I have now a leaky toilet to fix, and install a new regulator for the wind generator, I blew up the last one in a very strong wind in Nevis, blew it to bits. There is also three deck leaks now really annoying me, this after it rained here 2 days ago for approx 6 hours! a torrential tropical downpour. Then I need to put a bit of Gas into my fridge.
OK pics next

We did have a good time

I only spoil the picture

unusually Nevis without the cloud on top

Took me ages to get the courage to drill the holes in the deck

Fitting the Gearbox 1

you can see how awkward it was with so many beams in the way

After the rain and no leaks inside! job done

Have met quite a few cruising friends who have arrived, some already left for the south, Hurricane season has its official start today. The anchorage here is nearly empty as everyone goes south.
Have also had a visit from friends from my seagoing days, Dave Ward and Rachael, they came out on holiday to see me here. Last time they did that was at St Lucia, when they got there I had already left 2 weeks earlier! so we missed. We have taken quite a few days catching up on where and what we have been doing! A few beers have been disposed of as well!
Roy

May 1st update

Hi all,
I am so early leaving Antigua this year, no sinking monthly visit to the slipway boat yard for repairs this year WoW.
I am now in Nevis, I arrived here last Saturday early evening, and I am leaving on the 15th to St Martin/St Maarten, It will depend on getting the fine tuning done to the boat, couple of items left to do to make life easier. Some cosmetic work as well, the cabin is a tip and I need new cushions in the saloon. This post is coming from the Double Deuce beach bar and restaurant, civilised with good food and Internet !!!! will get in touch when at St Martin, will then know more about what is suposed to happen next. Had a few maintenance  prob's due to lack off on my part, all now done.
more coming
Roy

3rd Post April

Hi All,
Well didn't get to post after all, just too busy having lots of fun and hard racing, Had the best classics since my first one in 2010! an amazing time on the 30th anniversary, my crew consisted of Rowan, Sasha and Rhys all from Beaumaris Anglesey (corrected spelling) Suzie, owner of 'Spirited Lady of Fowey' and Paul her crew. also on the trip round from Falmouth to English Harbour we had Suzie's two dogs as well (Chester a cocker spaniel also did the cannon and parade of sail) ! We had such a good laugh together for the racing and all the parties that followed, I took Rowan as my guest to the Owners Party at the newly restored and opened (By Prince Harry) Clarence House in Nelsons Dockyard, a first time to this party for me as well. we also did the steel band event up at Shirley Heights. I had a new palm tree hat made for me as I lost the last one, plenty of Dark and Stormy Rum drinks later we made it back (just).
I was able this year to beat one of the fast racing boats that beat me last year, I had to work hard for it though, on the Cannon race I actually passed her on the first leg of the cannon race and forced her down to fourth place every race, That gave me a Third place in class and a trip on the stage for the crew as well, I can not get close enough to even see 'Janley' on the race course, there was also another fast boat in my class this year called 'Vagabundo'  didn't see that one either!
My Crew are posting the pics on face-book but have promised to send the photos to me so I can post them, So only one pic of me with a big smile after passing 'Seefalke' and a picture of her behind me

Big smile as I passed Seeflake (looks like i'm on a speedboat judging by the wake)

SeeFalke after I passed her

So with a bit of patience I should have more to post later
Roy

2nd post April

Well  folks that connection didn't last long, 2 days before it failed, never mind I have now moved from Jolly to Falmouth harbour been here a couple of days now, I am presently in Seabreeze Cafe at Antigua Yacht Club Marina plugged into their television socket !
All events this year are going to take place in English Harbour, including all the dockage, so will have to go there tomorrow and register to receive all the info and find out were they have put me. I have already tested the connection over there and its ok, so just maybe I will get time to post a blog inbetween the parties and racing, as its the special 30th anniversary not sure about that !
Boat dragged one anchor last night, put me too close to the shallows so was up trying to sort it on and off all night, it was sorted this morning once it got light, I'm a bit tired though today.
Have not taken many pics since leaving St Lucia so have none to post but if it goes a dolphin movie follows:-

The video was taken somewhere between St Maarten and St Thomas, only a short edit for the blog
Hope there are lots of pics this year, there are a few J class boats here and going to race !
Roy

First update April 2017

Hi Everyone, at last another update !
Well I've been on my travels again, left St Martin French side and went to Water Island St Thomas usvi, stayed there a couple of weeks, met a lot of friends and said hello to a lot of people, had a great time, did all the shopping I needed as well, one item has been on my bucket list since 2011, an electric windless for the anchor! Got a bargain in Island Water World here, and knowing I had the wages in the bank for fixing my own boat I splashed out!, (I am getting old these days and have a problem lifting it up if I anchor more than 10mts deep!) I got some teak wood too, to fix the Windless on a pad on deck, and have sort of worked out how to install it without ruining the look of a classic boat. After 2 weeks I left there and headed for Antigua on Tuesday 28th March and after a quick stop arrived at Jolly Harbour Antigua on the 1st April! I found out yesterday that they opened an internet cafe in the marina here (yippee) so first post this morning in comfort at long long last! will sort out pics cos its a good connection at only 80 EC $ for a week! So more coming soooon
Roy

update March

Hi All,
Well various people have been posting pics of me on Facebook apparently, enjoy cos I can never even open my page and have never seen them!

I left St Lucia as soon as I received the cheque for the damage from 'Moorings' charter comp.
I had a nice girl (Jacks from Berlin) on board for the trip to St Maarten, she has this as her base. broke my record for the journey up island and made it in only 54 hours, this was including a 12hour heaved too stopover behind Montserrat in the lee of the island.
Had a few issues as weather wind and seas were a bit on the rough side, boats first trip after 7 months laid up and no issues of a desperate or dangerous nature experienced. flying along touching 10 knots every now and then. MAGIC
will keep up to date when I can
Roy

Hi Everyone again,
I am in a workshop at Rodney Bay Marina attempting to upload all the pics I took of the boat and the damage. I can't write the story but I will try and put a comment on each pic, this will be a marathon exercise, hears hoping I am successful. They start here with pic No. 1, its starts inside the boat as that is were the camera was at the time.

What a horrifying sight that greeted me

many views

and seeing the work I was going to have to repair was hart breaking

The smashed hull from outside

I just couldn't get my head round the fact I had cleared customs and was leaving that morning

then I started to rip out the wood

The boat that hit me was totaled

centre console ripped out

and the forward storage hatch ripped in half

about to go into the shed

mast in first

then the boat, and I started right away on removing the planks this pic shows finding the fastners by sanding the paint off

both the water tank filler hose and fuel filling hose had to be removed

more wood coming off

and more

The hole gets bigger and bigger

looking out from inside

the corner off my bed now exposed and the porthole which had been missing thought to have fell in the sea was found

nearly all the wood removed

all the bits and pieces

and the hole and what I need to repair exposed

three frames kaput also the forward mast partner

planks assembled to show how much had to be removed

three frames

making the butt blocks for joining the new planks

The wardrobe door, as wardrobe had to be taken to bits

whilst waiting for the wood to arrive all furniture was removed sanded and varnished

the wood ordered got lost in Puerto Rico for five weeks so re-varnishing was started

I took loads of pics usually as I finished work for the day as it went too dark to see

started the sanding and filling of both hull sides were I could

all around the hole

starboard side was completly finished with the first top coat applied

one of three work places

sanding and filling

and first topcoat

and aft view

the port hole was refurbished

then the wood arrived and first job was make new frames

3 x 4 foot lengths of 6" x 3" white oak had been recieved

view of a butt block

2 frames completed

inside veiw

end of mast partner and frame remade

then spieling the new planks after getting them the right size first

The planks 4 x 2 1/2" x 7 foot

first 2 trial fitted

then all 4 and drilling the fastening holes

now fastening all the planks permanantly

inside view of planks and frames

after fitting and fixing into place the forward mast partner with repaired grown oak knee

pics of butt blocks white ones aft

forward ones varnished in cabin

deck after plugging and sanding

caulking and sanding hull planks

inside view of fasteners fitted roved and riveted

some of the local yard workers, all became friends

plugs getting fitted

then the seam sealant put in

then when dry the painting of port side began with the priming coat

undercoats + sanding and filling

this was happening inside too

fitting the wardrobe planks back in place

all painted

and varnished

Hull with first topcoat

bow sprit stem head re-furbished

bow sprit re-fitted with finished stem head

cabin top sanded and repainted

all furniture varnished and re-fitted

planks varnished and painted inside

and hull both sides with final topcoat applied

then the mast job

whilst doing the mast a rotted piece was found so had to be all re-done and new wood scarfed in

re-assembling furniture and rigging

doing the deck

and finally out of the shed

So Guys and Gals you are all up to date at last, 6 months and 4days out of the water

Roy