July 2020 and Onwards

 

11^th July The first proper supermarket since St Barths in Early March, what joy! We even got freshly baked croissants!

12^th July A fresh Sunday shower. Soooo refreshing. However a rare clap of thunder was heard too, I hope there is no lightning or the phones may have to go in the oven !

13^th July 2020 Something Special for our first dive of the new season sufficient air to get over to the wreck and pass by a field of brown garden eels waveing in the current.

23^rd July Diving again!

25^th July 2020.Finally snagged a mooring’ . Seven dives and things are looking up, generally 80 to 100 minutes for a dive.

View to Shore and neighbours

These old favourites from Something Special.

30^th July 2020

Since Gonzales passed through (with almost no wind but plenty of rain and thunder), we’ve had incredibly light and variable winds, which had the yachtys pointing in all directions. In the calm you didn’t need to go into the water to photograph the underwater scene.

August 2020

6^th August 2020 diving Petries Pillar Meet a Soapfish.

12 dives in August interspersed with a little sailing on the weekend of 14^th -15^th

This was the annual Kanti-Awa Race around Klein Bonaire. Our new friends Roberta and Michael were available to crew for us.

  

The first race started at 09.35 during which Michael helmed, Roberta spotted and Malcolm trimmed, while I took care of refreshments and snacks. Full sails all the way. Much the same on the Sunday starting at 10.15 and crossing the finish at 12.16. Our entry fee included lunch and beer vouchers on both days. We won 2^nd place overall and quite a nice plack.

PIANO hits the headlines. This photo, was taken moments after the start of the Sunday cruiser race in the recent Kanti-Awa regatta. The Sunfish in the foreground was part of a previous fleet, just finishing in the immediate vicinity of our start line, making for a stressful couple of minutes. We started in second place in this race and held that position for much of the time, only losing it to local boat Papyro at the last mark and finally finishing third, just a few seconds behind Taimaa, who had lead most of the way round. With our first place in the Saturday race, we were joint first overall on the water but second to Taimaa on handicap. A great weekends sailing with Michael and Roberta Hilbruner on board , with Michael helming, while I trimmed and sorted out the tactics, as well as fixing the occasional problem!

18^th August 2020.Diving at Bonaventure, my ankle weights went missing, effect on buoyancy is that I float head down and expelled air fill my BCD and to compensate I have to ditch air!

Malcolm had the camera:

23^rd August 2020 Diving today at Ebo’s Special – not particularly special apart from the end at which we saw a Green Moray who was good enough to pose for snaps.

There was also a drift and drink with dinghys from the yachts.

Customs smooched by looking for illegal aliens but they scattered when approached so were difficult to round up. Fortunately no one was harmed in the water which was the only place to cool off.

September 2020

10^th September 2020. The most interesting dive to date. We tied up behind S/Y Tegan and went on a sea horse hunt.

Janet had already shown us what to look for so we were able to go straight there and begin photographing them. One brown and the other paler cream coloured. Also seen were a smooth trunkfish and an unopened bottle of Heineken!

Hippocampus erectus

2^nd October 2020 For the last week or so there’s been lots of thundery activity. Mainly over Venezuela but a few storms have come right over us, bringing wind reversals, which are very exciting given how close to shore we are. The first day of the week that we could eat out following the relaxation of Bonaires mild lockdown.

Evening of 6th-7th October our first taste of a wind reversal in the anchorage. There was lots of rain, lightning and big swells. Malcolm had the engine running for a couple of hours in case we got too near a mooring block which was now behind us as we were now facing out to sea.

^th October 2020 It just happens to be Octopus day today and it wasn’t Facebook who reminded me. So we posted snaps of those we had seen previously.

13^th October a snap of the evening before the latest storm reversal

Another thunderstorm reversal. This time less rain and lightning, winds reaching 20-25 occasionally 30 knots. The main problem was the huge swell, with shortened lines which kept snatching to keep us clear if the mooring block. I must say that other boats took respite both in the marina and out at sea for the duration.

15th-16th October had a trip into the marina to fill up with water and diesel. While there we were given new lines for our mooring since the old ones had much chaffing caused by the reversals.

With all this excitement we only managed 6 dives this month. One was a major expedition out to Karpata to which we sailed in style. After slipping at 10.07 we sailed under Yankee only, out round Klein Bonaire to the dive site had lunch and then dived sailed back to pick up the mooring by 17.55. Maybe we ate out that night?

20^th October 2020 The latest storm- this one came from the west, propergating straight upwind. At least it wasn’t the middle of the night-and the local children thought it was great fun- not realising just how dangerous it was.

21^st October 2020 diving Honeycombed Cowfish.

24^th October diving

29^th October 2020 Malcolm noticed a Spotted Eagle Ray feeding under Piano. He also saw a Hairy Blenny right by the shore wall.

4^th November at last our first frogfish of the season. Plus an Octopus pretending to be a coral which was only noticed because of the behaviour of the other fish around it.

8^th November Diving at Something Special a good collection of big fish including Spotted Scorpion, Green Moray and a Barracuda.

9^th November 2020 snaps from the deck of crystal clear water in the anchorage

11^th November 2020 A nice sail with Roberta and Michael (S/Y Celilo) 3 reefs in the main, Yankee and staysail used. Moored at Alice in Wonderland dive post, snaps in the diving folder, and on my dive programme. Lunch aboard, back to the mooring by 16.00. Tea and cake.

12^th November 2020 Yet another wind reversal 30-35 knots wind from the SW and big seas with torrential rain. All this while rolling from gunnel to gunnel what fun…

8 dives this month.

22^nd November 2020 S close encounter with a Tarpon, I didn’t even notice he was there!

November 27^th 2020 A tasty lunch at La Terrazza with fellow lady cruisers, thanks Brenda (S/C Lille Venn) for sharing.

December 2020.

9 Dives this month.

5^th December Another great dive at Something Special during which our total time underwater went over 200 hours! Followed by great company and food at Breezes and Bites burgers night, so it must be a Thursday. In the snap are Kari-Anne and Per Arne (S/Y Blue) Roberta and Michael (S/Y Celilo).

13^th December an accidentally arty snap taken at the marina wall while Malcolm was snorkeling.

18^th December my facebook update was deleted! I wonder what it was ???

23^rd December I had just posted an Xmas greeting on Facebook when the generator failed making us dependent on the engine for power.

24^th December The engine heat exchanger sprang a serious leak and started flooding the bilge! We called for assistance and were tow ed into the marina by STINAPA Thanks guys

31^st December New Years Eve, Happy New Year, it doesn’t feel any different being British again now that we have left the European Community. The snap here is a different one to last year, no yachts were harmed making our video ( not available in this book/blog. Thanks to Roberta and Michael for hosting wall to wall visions.

January 2021

3^rd January 2021 Coral Wo/man at Andrea 2 dive post. With a singing parrotfish. When not cleaning dead coral with their powerful teeth they smile and sing La La La

9^th January 2021 Malcolm chose new dive boots since there was more naked foot than rubber in his fins!

23^rd January 2021 I received the Coral Identification book of the series, different format and is harder to use than either the Fish or the Creatures !

24^th January 2021 Dived Small Wall and saw the underwater mushroom.

14^th February Sunday Pizza at Diver Diner, we just missed the sunset and there was no one to play Mexican Train tonight.

Also I completely forgot that since the washing machine has had a serious illness I have been going to the laundrette with Roberta and Janet, with side trips and multi-tasking to the dump for recycling and Van Den Tweels shopping every Monday

February 20^th Flamingo Evening. Windy and cool with friends watching the flamingos leave to roost. Some fly to their bedrooms in Venezuela others decide to wait for the next flight. Luckily my camera was accidentally on burst so I did get one or two shots. We ended the evening with Arepas at a local eatery with many new ex pat friends.

March 2021

Thursday 11^th March Dancing fish and shrimps

Friday 12^th March a day sail out from the mooring and back just because we can. Slipped at 09.23 winds light 10-15 knots . The Raymarine helm display is very odd maybe a new/ second hand one is needed?

13^th March A day at the beach! Well diving at Angels City and we didn’t get lost this year! Tasty lunch aboard S/Y Piano and a fast sail home in comfort for a change. Perfect for a Saturday afternoon. Great day out sailing, 32 nm, that’s easily across from Dover to Dunkirk! If only the pond were as perfect.

19^th March 2021 *** back into the marina slip A20 the generator is loosing coolant.

Patrick the mechanic came round and agrees with Malcolm so it too is asking for a new heat inverter. Not to be outsmarted the engine said OK I need a new set of bearings in my alternator… but Patrick warned them of asking for too many spare parts and suggested that the alternator would run happily until after we get to Curaçao

March 2021

Bad news and good news. Nice sunset from the marina this evening, the bad news being that we're back here (In the marina) as now our generator needs a new heat exchanger. Other good news is that we should be able to dive again, as the dive shop has decided that it will be able to fill tanks.

30^th March 2020 A pleasant downwind sail during which we saw some flamingoes travelling to Bonaire. The waves were quite large and the only objection to the rolling was the cooker who decided “This is just too much!” and sheared off one of its gimbels, mmmm that looks different I muttered as I put the croissants in to warm…

As we arrived off the coast we radioed the harbourmaster to prepare him for the bridge we needed to pass through. Happily he told us to stand off ¼ of a mile so that a large freighter could have room to leave the entrance.

Docked 3.30 in the afternoon. Immigration cleared us in which saved a trip out again. Then we waited for the health team to administer our PCR tests These were sent the next day showing a negative result yipee! Customs used sail clear to do their bit. 

All in all this brings us to Easter but more of that when we have finished the chocolates!

June 5th 2020

Good Morning to you all.
I can't believe that this is the first blog of the year, so much has happened and changed.
We began by tearing ourselves away from the outstanding diving in Bonaire. Our three months were up and reluctantly we left the anchorage and sailed for St Martin. With hindsight we should have stayed put! In Marigot we had batteries on order and yippee they had arrived!  with all that followed batteries were a big priority!. They were fitted and we had time for fun, food and croissants and wine as usual. We even made it to Grand Case for the Tuesday street events and stopped for a delicious meal. a bottle of Voss designer water was 6 Euros luckily I was allowed to recycle the bottle!
  Next onto St Barths where our American friends made their usual holiday. even then there was only a glimmer of what was to follow. so normal was life.

 After beaches ( My e reader got swamped by a rogue wave and died completely! woe is me...)

and restaurants and many grills on their deck we said 'Bon Voyage' to them and sailed to Dominica for a final chill before our guests arrived in St Lucia.......
Well the world went into free fall soon after that. We were left reeling with each piece of news. The sudden closing of borders, the high death tolls, shortages of all items in the shops the list was endless.
Our friends from Folkestone had pondered coming to visit for years. They had finally decided yes and booked their flight we had a deadline in St Lucia to meet them.  Of course they held out til flights were cancelled but obviously never made it. Luckily we were in the safest place Prince Ruperts' Bay Dominica while the news hit.
Malcolm always checks the anchor after laying it. In Prince Ruperts' Bay there are many mooring balls but plenty of space to anchor. so imagine his surprise to find that the chain had wrapped itself around the only piece of wreckage for miles around... Luckily we had sufficient air in the dive tanks to allow him to go down detach the anchor unravel the chain from under the wreckage and re attach the anchor. we next moved 50 metres or so away from said wreckage. and rechecked . It's amazing that our chain is sufficiently long enough to bring us within half a metre of a disused mooring ball. We moved again to prevent getting the rudder entangled!
  So back to life aboard 'Piano' luckily we were well stocked with everything as we usually are when coming from a French Island. so I won't bore you with the lists. The 'Boat boys' (as we call them). organised shopping when we needed it and 'Bonito' even brought his wife to help when I asked for baking ingredients which were the first items to run out. She knew what I was talking about with raisins and cherries! I suspect flour and the like are shipped in bulk and repacked here as it all comes in 1 pound bags, bigger if you want them, so bread was not a problem either.
The morning vegetable market was the next to suffer closure, but that was sorted by the PAYS guys who organised a farmer to bring his produce straight to the PAYS building. Apart from the necessary salad stuff  I was also able to procure fresh bay leaves but out here they come in other flavours namely cinnamon and lemon are just a few. Also coffee beans, parsley, ginger, you name it I dried, grated  it and packed it ready for use.  There are no limes on the island (Instead substitute passion-fruit juice)

 and no vanilla! whole fresh chicken is scarce, and beef is non existent so too milk and cream.
This and baking all takes up a morning each week, then there are the usual checks to be made on systems not being used and subsequent cleaning of each as it is dismantled and checked then put back together.
One of the first casualties was the outboard engine, it would start perfectly but not continue to run. We put out for help wanted on the morning net and S/Y 'Selene' came to our rescue. Martin and Claudia are German and came across the Atlantic earlier this year. They decided to see the world before they settled down to work. They soon realised it would take much longer.  A great plan unless the world goes pear shaped , anyway Martin is a whizz with engines and electronics and had great fun with Malcolm trying to sort the Yamaha out. When it eventually started and continued to run we thought they were finished. A day later they were at it again and luckily we had a spare fuel filter which was fitted and seems to have been the problem. Martin also managed to get my e reader turned on but that seems to be the end as it won't do anything else- not even turn off!
I managed to get another reader from one of their friends and in this age of technology I've downloaded the manual and drivers to allow me to load books onto it.
Once a week or more often if we need it someone passes with fish for sale - to which we usually say yes please. free bananas came round the other day , the mango season started on the 1st of June  and peaks in July. Mango Smoothies are de rigeur.
The washing machine has been playing up and can't really be looked at while floating at anchor so we send ours ashore to Elvises' mother to do. It comes back the next day washed and folded ready to pack away again.
  We have snorkelled many times and in many parts of this bay and the next. Amongst the big stuff a huge Southern Ray

 right by the shore just sitting there basking. Sooo many little black and orange crabs having a public meeting. (Behind the Urchin)

 Also quite a bit of soft coral even after the last hurricane which almost devastated the island.
This brings us onto what are we going to do?????
The best scenario is to go to Trinidad when they open their border, but if the time runs out before that happens we may move to St Lucia which is only a day or so away.
  Here is a Facebook posting which sums it up:-
“Since those of us who sheltered here for the Pandemic started another (private) group for our time here, we’ve been pretty quiet on this group. Denise needed to publicly share how wonderful and welcoming Dominica has been to cruisers during this crazy pandemic. There was some confusion as the lock down began, but the Dominicans have been wonderful hosts. Whether it was Titus making sure we had our needed supplies, Bongo setting up a vegetable market just for cruisers and giving us an amazing island tour, Kenneth befriending us from the beginning and also giving a great tour, Jeff from the PAYs office keeping us informed and allows us to use the pavilion for the market and for cruisers to meet, Spech and Jerome come by with fresh fish, Albert taking people fishing when allowed, Bonto supplying boats with food. It has been an amazing stay and we are grateful for this safe harbour. While the story of the French boat interacting with the Coast Guard continues to be shared, every single interaction we listened to was polite and respectful, though the boats were told you can’t stop here. Thank you Dominica for your beautiful island and welcoming people. We look forward to returning”
My apologies for the dreadful snaps, snorkeling brings up  more sand with waves around than diving but I am learning every day to add aid memoirs for use at a later date.
Meanwhile Malcolm is on the computer asking various places their entry requirements and is sent the paperwork for Bonaire and St Lucia. He then spent a week or so trying to answer questions which would satisfy the forms. Long story short we were given a date and began to prepare for a sail.
We calculated 3 days to sailing would put us in Bonaire for our due to arrive date. After making farewells we left in a strong breeze but once out of the island shadow it dropped and we needed to motor! A couple of hours later the ocean breeze kicked in and we continued gently gybing downwind.
Coffee time with some Piano music on the speakers and what arrive but a pod of Dolphins to cheer us on cavorting under the bow and racing around us in circles. A day later and we find a favourable current which gives us 7 knots to Bonaire. I'd just finished my watch and heard cursing from on deck- the boom brake rope had failed and needed replacing (it had been doing alot of work!!)
  We arrived on the final run in along the coast of our favourite dive sites , this brought us to our destination- the marina where we tied up against the wall for late sundowners very happy bunnies.
  Fast forward now to July. We have only one more week of quarantine yipeee The only people we have talked to are the dockmaster and Barbara (our personal shopper) With what little US dollars we had on board we were able to put milk cream and steak on the list (YES). Conversing with everyone else has been by chatting on messenger or WhatsApp or email.
Yesterday the first flights arrived from Curacao while I was scrubbing the underside of the tender it could be finished by the time we need transport......

November 2019 Home to Trinidad

I'm sitting in the foyer of Cruise Inn Marina and Hotel writing this,there is a wedding about to take place and the guests are arriving with presents. Those already checked in are sitting waiting in the cool and the photographer has just arrived to see the location.

We arrived back on the 3rd of November, as usual the heat felt getting off the plane was warm and comforting. Our driver was there ready to take us to Customs in Chaguaramas for a quick stop then on to Power Boats and a bed for the night.
Next day up early and find a ladder to board the old lady, hoist our hold baggage aboard and get unpacked.
First job was to reset the air con, which had been running at 18C to a civilised 25C, then to renew the insulation on the fridge which has been thoroughly dried out by the dry air. That done we realise that it it not freezing so set about finding a repair man. Our regular guy Junior isn't working on Yachts any more so we see a new guy called Keet who is very professional and has a sniffer . He decides that there must be a minute leak which he will check out next year. He assures us that we now have sufficient gas in the system to last us this season.  Now I just need a shopping trip to restock.
Malcolm has an awful cough caught from the passenger next to him on the plane (not me!)
Next are the batteries which have been charging with the Mastervolt charger and that doesn't seem to have been well treated by a power surge, consequently the engine batteries are dead and need to be replaced. Another new face is John who has taken over Dockyard Electrics business and he comes straight round and sorts out all the problems. He takes said charger to be checked and later tells us it needs new circuit boards. It should be back later this week.
We are due to relaunch on the 15th and are ready so book the slot. Not a happy day as our time to be lifted up to have the underside of the keel anti-fouled passes by without anything happening. Just like last year we are boxed in so tightly that the travel lift cannot extracate us from the other boats around us .

 Eventually a smaller boat trolley comes along but needs help from a JCB to give it enough power to pull us out. A quick coat of anti fouling and then to the water to be launched.
Malcolm checks for leaks and that the engine works, then we call ahead to Crews Inn to say sorry we are so late but we are on our way.
The dock crew are on the jetty to catch our lines while I manage to hook the ropes around the mooring piles at the front to hold us central in the birth. Finally sundowners in the cockpit with the water lapping around us we are happy bunnies.
While Malcolm cooks dinner I nip round to check us in and get wifi codes etc Meleen is over the moon to see me 'home' again.
Today we have moved the bicycles to the rack ashore and made a start fitting the mainsail back on hopefully if the wind is from the right direction it will be finished by tomorrow ( fingers crossed)
Maybe I'll add some snaps next time....now to the pool....

22th February 2019

   I’ll begin with the idyllic month of January in Kralendijk, Bonaire. After digging out all the dive gear we began in earnest. Being so close to the Yellow Submarine dive centre was a bonus. We could take the empty tanks in to be filled and gear to be rinsed straight after the dive. We managed 25 dives to sites, some we have visited previously and other which were new. I clocked up 1700 hours underwater!

We also took part in a litter pick along the board walk. Well, the dive was for 45 minutes and was in 3-7m of water and required scuba gear. The briefing advised us not to remove litter encrusted with growth in case there were small creatures living on them. This said it was quite easy (once you get your eye in) to see fine fishing line and various ephemera lost overboard. We talked to other couples who like us were helping out. Jeanette and Michael are from just outside Quebec and spend 6 months instructing here in Bonaire while the Canadian winter does it’s worst. We also accompanied them to the Ribs evening, and they even swam out to Piano to bring us a jar of Mango Chutney.

Here are a few snaps of curious aquatic life, remember please that the water if stuffed full of amazingly coloured fish all claiming our attention.

Calappa flammea

Flame Box Crab

Bothus lunatus 

Peacock Flounder

Chromis multilineata

General view mostly Brown Chromis.

Gymnothorax funebris

Hermodice carunculata

Pomacanthus paru

Scarus coelestinus

This Midnight Blue Parrotfish one needs a dental hygienist!

Synodus foetens

Sand Diver

Bodianus rufus

Spanish Hogfish

Sphyraena barracuda

Stegastes partitus

Bicolour Damselfish - this one wanted my attention and nibbled my bare leg, maybe I was looking at something else. On average it takes far longer to take a snap while underwater!

This huge Urchin shell was too delicate to bring up so I let nature take it's course. 

     A pleasant interlude of Mexican train dominoes at the divers diner and sundowners with Charles and Barbara ( M/Y Tusen Tak 2. I even saw my first GREEN FLASH!!! Needless to say I didn’t get a snap – even though it lasted a couple of seconds!

All too soon we had to think about a not so Northerly wind to sail up island. We decided to do a last dive out at Angel City and took Piano for the outing. Which is when we found that the intermittent engine noise was still with us. Malcolm had already decided that the cutlass bearing was the culprit. Great news that he could actually dive down and look at the problem. He removed the rope cutter which quite frankly was a waste of money and has never done any rope cutting. This so that he could see the bearing better and take snaps.

There should be rubber where the arrow is pointing!

   After checking that we could have the work done in Curaçao we topped up with water and diesel and set sail.

All downwind in 20-30 knots so all we needed was the staysail. Even then we had to slow down as Mark was having lunch when we phoned for a tow. The worse part was waiting outside the pedestrian bridge which needed to open to let Mark and his boat out to meet us. As usual the seas were quite big and choppy for this entrance. As soon as we were inside all was calm again, in no time we were tied up and had wifi and electricity. This is when we found that the generator would start but then stop as soon as your finger was off the start button. Jack confirmed our thoughts that it might be the exhaust sensor, but was too busy to have a look at that point.

We were hauled out early the next day and the new cutlass bearing was fitted with no hitches (unheard of) Manuel was pleased to have the propeller information to check that it was rebuilt correctly. Back in the water the following day. It rained for the first time in 8 weeks or so. This gave me the opportunity to sluice down the decks and cockpit (again).

     Malcolm checked the engine and it’s cooling system and then started looking at the exhaust sensor which he found and dismantled then put back together again. Bingo it works! Now the only thing is a leaky hose which may be long enough to shorten rather than to replace. That completed it was decided to return to Bonaire and await the weather window in comfort. Of course this meant checking out and to do that we needed more petrol for the outboard. George next door had a van so took me to the petrol station where I purchased 10 litres.

That done we made haste to Customs and Immigration to clear out. The lady at the desk smiled when we told her we were leaving at 0500!

We treated ourselves to a meal at the Rhodeo Restaurant that evening. Malcolm had Stroganoff and I had a medium fillet with home fries. The mushroom sauce and home fries were barely warm and the steak was 75% blue, I asked for foil to take it home.

Malcolm was up at 0400 the next morning I followed nearer 0530 after Tea to set me up.

By 0600 we had slipped our berth and made our way to the pedestrian bridge to wait with the few other fishing boats going out for the day. By 0630 we motoring along the coast of Curaçao. By 0830 we had 3 reefs in the main and were doing 5 knots. Around 10.30 we had early elevenses and were sailing with ¾ Yankee, full Staysail and 3 reefs in the main. There was rather a lot of tacking but it was all fast sailing. We arrived back in Kralendijk at 1800 in time for sundowners! (the remains of my steak made a very nice Stroganoff for Dinner that night and boy did we sleep well!

It’s the morning after and I have been to check in and had lunch, it rained for a brief while and most of the salt has been washed off so no cleaning required there.

The Childrens' Carnival parade is on Sunday (24^th February) so IF we are here the snaps will be in the next blog but by then we should be much further North to pick up our guests in mid March.

Until then here is ANOTHER sunset snap…

Happy Holidays December 2018

Happy Holidays one and all.

I’m writing this from our first anchorage of the new sailing season. It’s a pleasant 28C with a cool breeze from the land and little puffs of cloud in an otherwise blue sky.

We arrived back aboard S/Y ‘Piano’ mid November with a deadline of a couple of weeks before hitting the water again. As we began putting items back together again and testing them they either needed new batteries or a new switch or a new ….. and the list goes on. The freezer was a rather major item requiring ‘Junior’ ( now into his late 60s) to come and take the compressor away to fix it. Fortunately the mundane life of shopping and washing kept me sane and I have yet to finish sorting out the library.  

Some Blue Fish having a conference...

The yards are evolving all the time and even though Don of Power Boats fame was partially retired earlier in the year he decided to go long term sailing in late November. His yard is still going strong and the workforce are just as helpful and hard working. This year a guy called Cow was overseeing the antifouling with his team. He was also doing the repainting of the french yacht next to ours and had thoughtfully put up a screen so as not to cover Piano with any flying paint mist. He also pointed out that the rudder seems to be dripping rather too much water. That will be a job top of the list for next season. He is probably the guy with most experience of what needs doing and showed us some work in progress not too far away.

Meanwhile we were invited to the Crews Inn Christmas Cocktail Party and had a truly enjoyable time while there. Of course the pot lucks at Power Boats were also a good excuse to catch up with people we only see twice a year or so. This year another first we also savored an American Thanks-giving dinner. All too soon we were due for launch and as the day drew near so Michael the crane driver came to look at the space he had to work in. On launch day he asked the weight of Piano and ummed and ahhed before telling us that she was too heavy for the small lift so he would have to move the huge Catamaran on the other side. This took about 3 hours all in but there were no problems once we were afloat. We motored around the bay for ½ an hour to check out various systems then proceeded to a birth at Crews Inn. (this would have made any other boats relaunching equally 3 hours further on)

Now away from the continuous dirt of the yard coming up the ladder I have managed to totally clean the boat below decks. The sails retrieved from the sailmaker and were laboriously rebattoned and put back on. The stock cupboards replenished and the wine cellar repacked. All too soon we were ready to leave. And would you believe it our friends Greg and Kathy (S/Y Indigo) got back just in time to say Hi and Bye before helping to slip our lines.

Three days later (bar ½ an hour) we arrived in Bonaire. Rather a rolly sail but hey if that is the price of a FAST passage I’m not complaining. The best thing was soo many shooting stars-- on all 3 nights.

Well, we are nicely settled having done a bit more food shopping at Van Den Tweels namely Croissants and mushrooms, and we have checked in at the Yellow submarine (which has had a major refurbishment), tonight is burger night at the Cafe de Paris so no cooking. Maybe tomorrow some diving…..

Some Blue water

All that is left is to wish you all a Healthy New Year wherever you are, thanks to the xmas emails I know many are far away , as always we raise our glasses to absent friends , hoping that you are as happy and satisfied as we are.