tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61521842769379198552024-03-12T23:30:10.287-04:00Sailing With MatsuJoin Tim and Linda as we sail aimlessly aroundTim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-15576400631379788862013-06-02T09:33:00.001-04:002013-06-06T10:33:31.531-04:00Matsu Up For SaleAfter over six years cruising on Matsu and 9 in total, Linda and I are swallowing the anchor, so Matsu is up for sale. 1987 Passport 51, a superb blue water cruiser, fast, sea kindly and great accommodations.<br />
Any blog followers would know what a great boat she is, so if you know anyone interested in a great cruising boat, all ready to go anywhere then please contact my broker Bernie Jakits at Rogue Wave Yacht Sales <a href="http://www.roguewaveyachtsales.com/">www.roguewaveyachtsales.com</a>.<br />
Matsu is currently back in Annapolis, MD and sale particulars and photographs are below<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mqZBRELr7Lg/UatJb06E6vI/AAAAAAAAE6c/l0xAo5U8uiw/s1600-h/Matsu%252520-%252520Medium%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Matsu - Medium" border="0" height="398" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5SiS8fngyN0/UatJjLGY4uI/AAAAAAAAE6k/sEeHADMWcD0/Matsu%252520-%252520Medium_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Matsu - Medium" width="574" /></a><br />
<b>Matsu – 1987 Passport 51</b><br />
<b>Specifications</b><br />
LOA: 51’ Beam: 14’5” Draft: 7’5” Displacement: 38,000lbs<br />
Mast Height : 66’ or 64’11” with everything off<br />
Sailing Speed: 7-8.5 knots in most conditions, we passage plan at 6.8 and are never late arriving.<br />
Engine: Yanmar 4JH4-HTE 110hp Installed new 2011, 575 Hours<br />
Autoprop folding propeller<br />
Cruises at 8.3 knots at 2300rpm, 1.8 gallons per hour<br />
Generator: Northern Lights M673.L 6KW Installed new 2002, 2,721 Hours<br />
Designer: Stan Huntingford<br />
Manufactured: Passport Yachts, 1987, Hull 8 of 8 Major refit: 2002<br />
Hull: GRP Cored Deck: Teak (Excellent Condition) Spars: Aluminium<br />
Fuel: 205 gallons Water: 230 gallons Holding: 80 gallons over 2 tanks<br />
<b>Overview</b><br />
Matsu is a superb blue water cruising yacht, she was circumnavigated by the previous owners, and the current owners have sailed over 21,000 miles in the last 6 years in the USA, Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. She is fast, will sail well in light winds despite her size, and is superbly comfortable in heavy weather and seas.<br />
She has been lovingly maintained by the previous and current owners and is in turn key condition for your cruising adventures.<br />
Solar, wind generator, generator, brand new engine, water maker, davits, electric heads, new fridge and freezers (yes you can have ice cream on board), new mainsail, dodger bimini and enclosed sides for comfort, large and comfortable aft suite, large galley great for entertaining but safe at sea, deep comfortable and safe cockpit. It’s all there and ready to go and with a strong windlass, large anchors and lots of chain ready to stay still too.<br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Accommodation </b><br />
The interior is beautifully crafted in solid teak, with a solid teak and holly sole. Well ventilated with hatches and dorade vents and providing spacious accommodation over two cabins.<br />
Starting forward there is a large guest cabin with a double berth, large hatch above for ventilation and cabin fan. There is ample storage in 2 hanging lockers, draws and additional lockers. Plus large storage space under berth. Door provides access to chain locker, (chain falls to locker beneath berth) and anchor windlass for easy service.<br />
Just aft to port is a head with electric toilet, vanity and wash basin, this can be accessed direct from cabin or from saloon. To starboard is a separate shower, which is currently used for storage.<br />
The saloon has a C shaped settee and dining table to starboard, while to port is a custom built teak sideboard. This is the perfect place to store food, no searching beneath cushions for your provisions making life aboard much more comfortable than the usual cruising boat. We have comfortably stored 6 months of food here.<br />
The companion way rises to the cockpit from the back of the saloon, and is equipped with large brass hand rails that are both functional and beautiful.<br />
To starboard is the huge galley which combines space and functionality with a safe place to cook at sea. It’s a real chef’s delight with Corian counter tops, huge fridge and freezer, 4 burner stove, deep twin sinks and abundant storage space for all your galley needs.<br />
To port is the large navigation area with swing out seat, file draws and ample space. Instruments, radios and electrical panel are here.<br />
Aft of the chart table is the walk through to the aft cabin, with full head room. On the outboard side of this is a work bench and tool area, as well as the generator, inverter and batteries. <br />
Inboard is a pilot berth that is 6’6” long and a good width. Pilot berth and galley counter easily removed (5 minutes) to allow full 360 degree access to engine.<br />
The aft state room is enormous and well laid out. To port is a large double with custom mattress, to starboard 4 hanging lockers and an additional cupboard. There is an en suite head with electric flushing head, vanity, full length mirror and separate shower. Ventilation is excellent with 2 hatches and a companion way opening into the aft owners cockpit complete with shower.<br />
<b>On Deck</b><br />
Terrific deck layout with moulded non skid on the trunk house and the teak decks are in excellent condition having been replaced in 1999 with new ¾” teak. Varnished cap rails and and a teak rub rail.<br />
At the bow is a sturdy bow roller holding the oversized anchor, a Maxwell windlass with reversing gear and a deck wash.<br />
There are safety bars at the mast and all sail handling is done at the mast but in a safe and efficient manner. On the safety bars are custom made teak storage boxes.<br />
The centre cockpit is safe at sea and comfortable at anchor, high seat backs, new cockpit cushions, bimin dodger and a full enclosure for those cold fronts at sea.<br />
Aft of the cockpit are the boom gallows, life raft storage and a custom teak dive tank rack.<br />
Further aft is the owners cockpit, with 2 large lazarettes for additional storage and the ideal place to land a fish or do your messy boat chores.<br />
At the stern is a custom stainless arch (2008) with davits, wind generator, solar panels and outboard motor hoist. It is designed so that the Sayes Rig wind vane will work if the dinghy is stored on deck for passages.<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Sails & Rigging</b><br />
Matsu has a Sloop/Cutter rig with removable inner forestay, double spreader aluminum rig that is keel stepped. Winches are Barient 32CST and 23CST, and an hydraulic Navtec boom vang and backstay adjuster.<br />
Mast mounted spinnaker pole for downwind sailing, we find goose wing gives great speeds and maximum comfort, as with the canoe stern the boat doesn’t roll.<br />
<b>Sail Inventory:</b><br />
Fully Battened Main with external track and cars (North 2010)<br />
110% Genoa (Smith Sails Australia 2003) on Reckman furler<br />
Staysail (Smith Sails Australia 2003)<br />
Storm Jib<br />
Storm Tri Sail with separate mast track<br />
Standing Rigging replaced in 2002<br />
<b>Detailed Inventory & Systems</b><br />
<b>Engine</b><br />
Dual Switchable Racors 10 micron (also additional single one for Generator)<br />
Single 2 micron Racor<br />
Two Main 85 Gallon fuel tanks<br />
Additional 30 Gallon Auxillary<br />
Yanmar 110hp Installed New in 2011<br />
Auto Prop Propeller<br />
Fixed 3 Blade propeller as spare<br />
Aquadrive Thrust Bearing<br />
Engine Room Blowers<br />
Oil Change Pump<br />
Fuel Priming Pump For Filter Changes<br />
Mane Craft Shaft Seal (2010) Plus Spare On Board<br />
Huge Spares Inventory for Engine and Generator<br />
<b>Electronics</b><br />
<i>Mounted In Cockpit</i><br />
Raymarine ST60 Wind<br />
Raymarine ST60 Tri Data<br />
Raypilot 650 Hydraulic pilot – we have never sailed in conditions when this wouldn’t steer<br />
Sitex GPS Repeater<br />
Raymarine A65 Chartplotter and Fishfinder<br />
<i>Mounted At Chart Table</i><br />
Uniden UM525 DSC VHF with RAM Mic (2007)<br />
Icom M710 SSB (2003)<br />
SCS PTC-IIex Pactor Modem (2009)<br />
Raymarine ST60 Tri Data<br />
Furuno GPS31 (interfaced to USB cable for computer navigation) (2003)<br />
Furuno 1832 radar (2003)<br />
AIS Black Box interfaced to USB cable (2010)<br />
Linksys Router Coupled with Bullet WIFI antenna for on board wireless network<br />
Dual CD Player/Radio with Auxillary in for iPod (internal and external Bose speakers)<br />
<b>Electrical</b><br />
6 Trojan T105 Golf Cart batteries giving 660AH at 12v (2010)<br />
1 12v Starter Battery (2010)<br />
Heart Freedom 2000 Inverter/Charger<br />
Heart Interface Remote panel and battery monitor <br />
Xantrex True Charge 20A 220v/110v battery charger (2012)<br />
Blue Seas battery combiner on charging system (2011)<br />
Sterling Pro Pulse Battery Desulphation system (2012)<br />
220v Step Down Transformer for international travel (2003)<br />
<b>Plumbing</b><br />
Fresh water system completely re plumbed with Shark Bite fittings and new pipes in 2011<br />
Spectra 380C 12 gal/hr Water Maker (1999) Clark Pump factory rebuilt (2010) Membrane (2011) <br />
Jabsco Electric Heads (2011)<br />
Foot pumps for fresh and salt water in galley<br />
<b>Galley</b><br />
Sea Frost Refrigeration and Freezer system, 12v, stainless cold plates (2011)<br />
Fridge opens front and top, Freezer top opening<br />
Separate compressors so can run one or both, freezer as fridge etc<br />
Water cooled and air cooled so can run on hard stand<br />
Regal 2 Four Burner Stove<br />
Xintex gas solenoid<br />
Microwave Oven<br />
<b>Safety Equipment</b><br />
Zodiac 4 person life raft (2007)<br />
ACR Global Fix EPIRB with integral GPS (2011)<br />
Jordan Series Drogue<br />
Drogue<br />
Life Sling<br />
Dan Buoy and Life belt<br />
Sayes Rig Wind Vane<br />
Emergency Tiller and easy access to use it<br />
110v Crash Pump<br />
Twin 12v Bilge Pumps on separate circuits<br />
Whale Manual Bilge Pump<br />
Gasoline locker<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b>Other</b><br />
Bimini (2007)<br />
Dodger (2010)<br />
Clear Sides (2012)<br />
Aft Cockpit Sun Cover and Rain Catcher (2012)<br />
Cockpit Cushions (2012)<br />
Stack Pack (2012)<br />
Insect Screens<br />
Canvas Covers For Bright Work<br />
Bose Cockpit Speakers<br />
Large Spares Inventory (including spare windlass motor)<br />
Detailed Maintenance Plan Available<br />
Owner Will Provide Extensive After Purchase Support<br />
UK Registered but US Duties have been paid<br />
Tender & Outboard by separate negotiation<br />
Charts, Guides and Personal Sailing Effects and all the cruising trimmings also available by separate negotiation<br />
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Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-18089028839403739012012-11-16T20:25:00.000-04:002012-11-20T13:00:30.343-04:00Economic Prosperity!<p><em>Chatham Bay, Union Island</em></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-c8xtN6CTfWQ/UKu2cR1lYKI/AAAAAAAAE3M/8PvNq-cL970/s1600-h/Chatham-Bay-0108.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Chatham Bay 010" border="0" alt="Chatham Bay 010" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dBDgDro-330/UKu2i3nEpQI/AAAAAAAAE3U/kTeDlgY_Qp0/Chatham-Bay-010_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="372" height="503" /></a>Almost exactly four years ago we were here in Chatham Bay with a five other boats and went ashore to a brand new beach bar that had just opened.</p> <p>Seckie and Vanessa welcomed us with rum cocktails and happy smiles.  The usual custom in these parts is to have old flags hanging from the roof, but theirs was conspicuously bare so we left our old red ensign as a memento, their first flag.</p> <p>Since November 2008 the world has changed a fair bit economically, all the other boats we were with have retired from cruising, we have had a spell back in the UK working and times have been tough for the islanders, as charter boat visits have diminished as well as cruisers, and those that do pass have had tighter belts.</p> <p>So it was great to return here last night and find the bar open and our flag hard to find among the many that now fly from their roof.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VBZ-9_vpbJ8/UKu2tjd6uZI/AAAAAAAAE3c/apbQP3WT4bc/s1600-h/Chatham-Bay-0057.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Chatham Bay 005" border="0" alt="Chatham Bay 005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iZSeeKjx9_A/UKu22YpNeOI/AAAAAAAAE3k/7mL8u0AjYdY/Chatham-Bay-005_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="416" /></a></p> <p>If you pass this way on your boat make sure you head ashore and have a rum or dinner to help keep them going and reward their hard work.</p> <p>By the way this is the view you will have of sunset:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RQbk-bmCl9A/UKu3Bqxb5sI/AAAAAAAAE3s/aD3rZ0VOJ94/s1600-h/Chatham-Bay-0064.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Chatham Bay 006" border="0" alt="Chatham Bay 006" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6MtKadgefiE/UKu3KiGooWI/AAAAAAAAE30/yur2Lvl8-9M/Chatham-Bay-006_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="412" /></a></p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-50987656041664109042012-11-15T13:00:00.000-04:002012-11-18T09:13:39.446-04:00At Loggerheads!<p><em>Tobago Cays, Grenadines</em></p> <p>We woke this morning to sunny skies and calm seas at our anchorage in the Tobago Cays</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-U8Aich-gAfg/UKjdyCdcZXI/AAAAAAAAE1c/-ZH5Vo2YNPM/s1600-h/image4.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="image" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UhNautaH_tE/UKjeFW714MI/AAAAAAAAE1k/_R31W-6Xlgo/image_thumb2.png?imgmax=800" width="554" height="323" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-d9HK65LQ0-Y/UKjeOxStgNI/AAAAAAAAE1s/d4XoNBN0_wk/s1600-h/Jamesby-0035.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Jamesby 003" border="0" alt="Jamesby 003" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wmAlADtn344/UKjeWTJBQSI/AAAAAAAAE10/s0KA4ASaJqw/Jamesby-003_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="373" /></a></p> <p>After all these months in Grenada running up hills and through mud it was time for some water based exercise and there are few places better for watching turtles than off Baradal on the sea grass plains.</p> <p>So after a morning coffee we leapt into the dinghy to go and find a few:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jx-AotcBQvY/UKjeexrmBiI/AAAAAAAAE18/5k3kMnRN8xQ/s1600-h/Tobago-Cays-0128.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Tobago Cays 012" border="0" alt="Tobago Cays 012" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uQdFpXc7QTI/UKjeo049-uI/AAAAAAAAE2I/I3sxG7rVXg8/Tobago-Cays-012_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="417" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-p4mHFLZmEo0/UKje0e7oiaI/AAAAAAAAE2Q/DK2IuYdk1UM/s1600-h/Tobago-Cays-0389.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Tobago Cays 038" border="0" alt="Tobago Cays 038" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7ICRLBdJRkc/UKje-T_Un6I/AAAAAAAAE2Y/fCqp5nOG_ec/Tobago-Cays-038_thumb6.jpg?imgmax=800" width="554" height="426" /></a></p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-47405440833821333842012-11-14T12:00:00.000-04:002012-11-18T08:10:41.428-04:00Small Steps<p><em>Union Island, Grenadines</em></p> <p>Seven years ago we were contemplating our first international voyage as being Australia to New Caledonia, around 800 miles upwind in the Pacific.  In the end a “pleasure” deferred by buying a new boat in the USA and relocating to the northern hemisphere.</p> <p>Almost exactly a year ago we were getting ready to cross from the USA to the Bahamas, about 60 miles across the Gulf Stream so navigationally challenging, the weather needs to be right, and despite being one we had done 3 times before it still involved a 5am rise from bed and a lot of bashing to windward in the dark off the Florida coast.</p> <p>This season’s first international voyage is one of the smallest you can do, Carriacou to Union Island, anchor to anchor about 7 miles and all on a beam reach under sunny skies in 12 knots of breeze and calm sheltered waters!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-u3IlTeoBokU/UKjPvscmbqI/AAAAAAAAE0Q/St7nUmBqcAM/s1600-h/Bound-For-Grenadines-0024.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Bound For Grenadines 002" border="0" alt="Bound For Grenadines 002" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LiGydZ4K9ds/UKjP30mPCVI/AAAAAAAAE0Y/X7bPY_XU5YE/Bound-For-Grenadines-002_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="573" height="383" /></a></p> <p align="center"><em>View Of Union Island Approaching</em></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ocBeBYTLT4M/UKjQHaYPNUI/AAAAAAAAE0g/dKoXiXWcTt0/s1600-h/Bound-For-Grenadines-0044.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Bound For Grenadines 004" border="0" alt="Bound For Grenadines 004" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TChriJf6owM/UKjQO_SuwxI/AAAAAAAAE0o/HVpuzQ3euqs/Bound-For-Grenadines-004_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="583" height="402" /></a></p> <p align="center"><em>View Of Carriacou Receding</em></p> <p>Now that’s what we call cruising!</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-65153751935377887932012-11-02T11:00:00.000-04:002012-11-02T12:28:06.312-04:00Hurricane Season In Grenada<p><em>Clarkes Court Bay, Grenada</em></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xjELFpfH4Tc/UJPrII1DFkI/AAAAAAAAEcM/4bkTOf-U1KM/s1600-h/Clarkes%252520Court%252520Bay%252520001%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Clarkes Court Bay 001" border="0" alt="Clarkes Court Bay 001" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qSANNJxNw48/UJPrJdQZNmI/AAAAAAAAEcU/EIh17klgFzU/Clarkes%252520Court%252520Bay%252520001_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="564" height="393" /></a></p> <p>So nearly 2 months have passed since Carnival and what have we been up to?  It’s hurricane season so first and foremost not very much sailing, it’s the time of year to find a nice spot drop the hook and catch up on all the boat maintenance that needs doing.</p> <p>To that end my work has mainly been the unseen, uncelebrated type eg remove the pulpit, replace a couple of broken bolts and reinstall, while Linda has been doing some wonderful eye catching boat improvements mainly of the sewing variety.</p> <p>New cockpit cushions <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w_zenS2dP5k/UJPrLZSEkxI/AAAAAAAAEcc/bWSGUx_8i2E/s1600-h/Cockpit%252520Cushions%252520001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cockpit Cushions 001" border="0" alt="Cockpit Cushions 001" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OkCNZuAfpPg/UJPrMDS_qgI/AAAAAAAAEck/Nt8JgJSjsCM/Cockpit%252520Cushions%252520001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="331" height="255" /></a>make life more stylish and comfortable, new cockpit sides to keep the <font style="background-color: #ffffff">sun and water out, adding gutters to our sunshade to make a rain catcher, re designing the stack pack and finally as a nice change from that, the varnishing.  </font></p> <p><font style="background-color: #ffffff">It certainly makes a nice change this year to be doing the more mundane boat chores rather than major improvements, eg the engine last summer.  </font></p> <p><font style="background-color: #ffffff">Perhaps a good time to say that last summers work has paid great dividends this year.  </font></p> <p><font style="background-color: #ffffff">The engine is superb, great to be able to relax and enjoy the ride without fretting about what might break, great to be doing 8.3 knots under motor rather than 6.3 knots, and easy to maintain because of the clean and tidy engine room.  </font><font style="background-color: #ffffff">The new fridge and freezer are a revelation, we never have to think about when to run the generator, what temperature they are and so forth, and instead we can just enjoy cold beers and ice cream out of our own freezer.  But in many ways the best of all is the installation of the electric heads which have done 15 months now without a single blockage!</font></p> <p>Aside from boat chores we have been enjoying the routine of life here.  With the cruising community collectively putting their feet up for a few months, the seeds of stable community life bear fruit and the ways to fill your days expand.  The list of things we have been doing is much shorter than the list of things we have missed, yoga twice a week in the classes run by Gabrielle from <a href="http://www.svsantosha.com/">Santosha</a>, beach volleyball, cricket, half price pizza night, trivia night, and of course the weekly hash house harriers run.</p> <p>Hashing has been a revelation, it’s basically running or walking through forests, grassland, mud, river beds, steep hills and even wading through the sea following a trail of paper left by the hares.  Usually it takes about an hour, leaving you hot, sweaty, muddy and thirsty which is lucky as there is ample opportunity to refuel at the lime afterwards with beer, BBQ chicken or Grenadian oil down if feeling strong enough! <a href="http://grenadahash.com/">Grenada Hash House Harriers</a></p> <p>Given the unforgiving nature of the terrain, and the fact that usually I am running mean that the photos from these events are sparse but hopefully this selection will give you an idea.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:20b28acf-eb81-4e8a-ba5c-2ed69ac3f693" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!360&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!359&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!ACBHshx8d2mAHbk" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="157" height="157" 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href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!403&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!374&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AFJB-31d5s976Qw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ncqU5aa_3cw/UJP0gRSovrI/AAAAAAAAEzU/7KdYXIddCmc/7890688114697EC61.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!404&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!374&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AFJB-31d5s976Qw" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-o6oxrXM_87E/UJP0jgMiYcI/AAAAAAAAEzc/EkTBdHpK0IA/78421930874853F19.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> <p>It’s now time to start heading north, and I hope to be updating this more regularly from now on as we explore the islands, it’s a resolution type thing, let’s see how I do!</p> <p>Thank you Grenada and Grenadians for being our hosts for the past few months we will miss the island and the people hugely until we return next year.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-56610837514062369442012-08-15T19:58:00.000-04:002012-10-07T09:21:14.350-04:00Grenada Carnival<p><em>Port Louis Marina, St Georges, Grenada</em></p> <p>No sooner are we returned from the UK and we are plunged into Grenada Carnival.  The marina is basically on the route so you can either sit on board listening to incredibly loud Soca at 3am or go out and join in!</p> <p>Carnival starts on Monday morning with J’Ouvert, a 5am start to find the streets filled with people.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dFoNBmSgiuQ/UHGBbr9KhLI/AAAAAAAAEZc/Qx59KbjAatE/s1600-h/018%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="018" border="0" alt="018" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-A2vlwzoVwA0/UHGBdKwLjKI/AAAAAAAAEZk/O96LM6OqU6o/018_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="417" height="325" /></a>The history is that the Jab Jab demons that own the night are gradually pushed back to where they belong by the sunlight and the people.  </p> <p>The reality is a 50:50 split between people covered in old motor oil and people covered in brightly coloured paint.  </p> <p>Sadly like everywhere else in the world corporate marketing types have got involved so yellow paint for the Carib Beer float, red for Digicel etc.  That said it’s lots of fun.</p> <p>After a well earned rest we are back on the streets for the Pretty Mas, the traditional carnival parade all colours, feathers, sequins and dancing – a spectacular sight and best summed up in photos.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:cb0f8fc2-972a-41e4-91dc-72756b832f15" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!344&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="157" height="157" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rhVmvHKGYMw/UHGBeb0PtEI/AAAAAAAAEZs/BtVyPObmpn8/844320316351D7089.png?imgmax=800" /></a> </td> <td colspan=3 style='vertical-align:middle;margin:0px;padding:5px 5px 5px 0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:223px' > <div style="margin-left:10px;top:-3%;" > <div style='width:223px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=5&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:223px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Pretty Mas</span></a></div> <div style="padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:auto;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 15px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=5&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=downloadphotos&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!345&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8LszoiY_RNM/UHGBfuW9ofI/AAAAAAAAEZ0/Ig1HIdCug0Y/105392078855A4B03B.png?imgmax=800" 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href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!355&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eq3SYmgzP5M/UHGBngwRlyI/AAAAAAAAEbE/vYsmBmLuMV4/-20715565882A601934.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a 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href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!357&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yo3a58lffWo/UHGBqKtAG6I/AAAAAAAAEbU/3lrVdRjOVVA/-563827790435BE979.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!358&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!343&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AM7XGVha-fYiUc0" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YXWakNvt7vo/UHGBuGA0DQI/AAAAAAAAEbc/g-2rmmzzo98/924685839435BE979.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> <p>The best thing being the complete lack of body image issues, no matter your age, colour, BMI get out there whack on an outrageous costume and shake what you’ve got.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PJt9LZOSlFs/UHGBxH7cPzI/AAAAAAAAEbk/8powUM4LdCA/s1600-h/IMG_4278%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_4278" border="0" alt="IMG_4278" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-a6tenfMXBvo/UHGBx_9BnII/AAAAAAAAEbs/UFwZCeH6rlE/IMG_4278_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="360" height="276" /></a>Another rest before the final leg of a long day, Night Mas.  We had joined up with the Carib Beer float.  So we walked the 3 miles into town behind a booming sound truck, chipping and whining, waving our light sabres and drinking free beer.</p> <p>The trips to the beer truck to get refills were either painless (no queue) or like a scene from a famine in Africa as 100 people hang off a slowly moving truck banging cups on the sides and begging for beer from the overworked and stressed “relief” workers.</p> <p>At 2am we called it a day missing the final 2 miles into the national stadium and generally being useless cruiser woosies rather than hardened Carnival party goers!</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-17140590569044948002012-08-10T14:29:00.000-04:002012-09-09T17:51:31.369-04:00Back From UK and Canada<em>Port Louis Marina, Grenada</em><br />
After a few weeks of boat chores we parked Matsu in Port Louis marina to keep her safe and most importantly insured for hurricanes and I caught the Virgin flight to the UK for 4 weeks with family and friends there, Linda had a short stay on the boat, weeks in Canada for Anouck and Jimmy’s wedding, back to Matsu for a week and then 2 weeks in the UK with me arriving just in time for the Olympics, we even got to go and see Canada beat Team GB in women’s soccer at Coventry stadium much to Linda's delight.<br />
<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gW8bcKHFo6U/UEznyl0rv_I/AAAAAAAAEYU/G9oaddO5dMI/s1600-h/P80313244.jpg"><img alt="P8031324" border="0" height="158" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZTXtjebc40E/UEzn1a-CDlI/AAAAAAAAEYc/igJ7zmUspfc/P8031324_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="P8031324" width="546" /></a><br />
As usual the trips home were lots of fun and with nowhere near enough time to catch up with all our friends – to those we saw we wish we could have seen more of you and those we missed altogether, sorry we didn’t make it and we promise to do better on our next trip!<br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3bOc2UpNfDQ/UEzn3mCweJI/AAAAAAAAEYk/qUtyo4ejVmc/s1600-h/Lakes-0354.jpg"><img alt="Lakes 035" border="0" height="426" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-jMuWAmfDWnE/UEzn6rTBB0I/AAAAAAAAEYs/C9TB_VDrJ5Y/Lakes-035_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Lakes 035" width="555" /></a><br />
We are now back on board and gearing up for Carnival in Grenada.<br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-wUecXwTVZEw/UEzn-5apoJI/AAAAAAAAEY0/8zXVRdyv1OQ/s1600-h/Pretty-Mas-0024.jpg"><img alt="Pretty Mas 002" border="0" height="377" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9HFhZ0N1pfA/UEzoHaNn5II/AAAAAAAAEY8/6pDzON5Ljjw/Pretty-Mas-002_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Pretty Mas 002" width="547" /></a>Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-64963562721068502822012-06-10T13:40:00.000-04:002012-09-09T14:58:33.889-04:00Travels To Grenada<p><em>Prickly Bay, Grenada</em></p> <p>We have had a pretty fast trip down to Grenada from the Virgin Islands, we finally left Virgin Gorda on 6th May, with a goal of getting here in time to do a few boat chores before heading off on our various land trips in July/August.</p> <p>First stop was St Martin and the long awaited reunion with French supermarkets.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xzS3ENk39Wk/UEzhxLzolHI/AAAAAAAAEWA/HUSNANtgmqY/s1600-h/DSC_00024.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_0002" border="0" alt="DSC_0002" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-asORGjIcU1E/UEzhy926miI/AAAAAAAAEWI/H9r4OC5PXAY/DSC_0002_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" height="260" /></a>In conjunction with Bleu Marie we organised a blind taste testing evening of 12 wines, 4 saucisson and countless cheeses – what decadence, what gluttony, what joy!  </p> <p>We set a self imposed target of a maximum of 4.50 Euros a bottle to compare with the various US chateau cardboards we have been drinking while in the Bahamas and Virgin Islands.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TMsi35TuocU/UEzh0z_QR6I/AAAAAAAAEWQ/YsD-xafCqR4/s1600-h/St-Martin-1015.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="St Martin 101" border="0" alt="St Martin 101" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-X77DentrgLg/UEzh2Lry9lI/AAAAAAAAEWY/tJ1JXaJC3JE/St-Martin-101_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="371" height="269" /></a>We managed to remain sober enough to write down the details of the wines, most drinkable, the odd horrible and a couple that were very good – so the next day we returned to the shops to buy a couple of cases of the good stuff!</p> <p>Even Charlie got to do his own taste test!  Although he prefers the posh US vet only food to the crappy French cat biscuits!</p> <p>Next stop is St Barts, one of our favourites, we spend a few days in the superb Anse Colombier enjoying the weather and the water, some great hiking and a fabulous lunch in sophisticated Gustavia to celebrate 15 years together.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V3-1DGYaucE/UEzh6IyUdbI/AAAAAAAAEWg/nY3B6yQafGI/s1600-h/DSC_00064.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_0006" border="0" alt="DSC_0006" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9lrdpgktQhI/UEzh9Q89krI/AAAAAAAAEWo/XVWaEQK4Nt0/DSC_0006_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="604" height="416" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vzmbHlc22fc/UEziArDXMoI/AAAAAAAAEWw/LKeklkqTKPE/s1600-h/DSC_00166.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_0016" border="0" alt="DSC_0016" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DORYo7iPn8g/UEziEBsbMKI/AAAAAAAAEW4/qP02JvakDd4/DSC_0016_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="608" height="427" /></a></p> <p>Onwards ever onwards we sailed from St Barts to Guadeloupe stopping overnight for a sleep at Montserrat, the anchorage there was very comfortable and we must go back soon to do the volcano tours.</p> <p>A few days in Des Haies doing some sightseeing, a trip to Carrefour to stock up on French delicacies for hurricane season, and for Linda some busy days as she makes some stunning cockpit cushions for Bleu Marie.  When we bought Matsu Linda got an industrial sewing machine and has gradually pushed back the boundaries of yacht sewing starting with some simple covers and through to our dodger that she made so well in 2011.  The combination of Michelle’s artistic eye for colours and Linda’s sewing making for a stunning addition to Bleu Marie.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KVdUk0pKt3c/UEziHbOkOwI/AAAAAAAAEXA/hbt6C1RYLSs/s1600-h/Des-Haies-0918.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Des Haies 091" border="0" alt="Des Haies 091" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wQmpgz9Jyp0/UEziJnqdwbI/AAAAAAAAEXI/ncveGMn1C2s/Des-Haies-091_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="566" height="414" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-a7ekSyC-4To/UEziNUDjeRI/AAAAAAAAEXQ/cEX-YXcSY6E/s1600-h/Des-Haies-0986.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Des Haies 098" border="0" alt="Des Haies 098" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sPsDv-ogVZM/UEziPBHakCI/AAAAAAAAEXY/iOVdVh1aDfY/Des-Haies-098_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="566" height="400" /></a></p> <p>From Des Haies a long and superb sail to Roseau Dominica for the night and then on to Grand Anse D’Arlet in Martinique, where we ran into our long lost cruising friends Sam and John on Imagine, last seen in early 2009.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-78XzlIA8ql8/UEziTL9LAvI/AAAAAAAAEXg/B_4rsnUEto4/s1600-h/Rodney-Bay-0134.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Rodney Bay 013" border="0" alt="Rodney Bay 013" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Hn6TgHUy7po/UEziVmd8EGI/AAAAAAAAEXo/5w7zFNY_kQE/Rodney-Bay-013_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="236" /></a>We found them in great form and sailed with them on to Rodney Bay St Lucia for a few days of exploring that area.  Highlight being a superb hike up to the old fort and gun placements with spectacular views back over Rodney Bay.</p> <p>We also got our first Roti of the trip at the excellent Jambe De Bois on Pigeon Island – heaven.</p> <p>Another great but long sail took us from Rodney Bay direct to Bequia via the Pitons of St Lucia, great views and safely anchored before sunset at Bequia.  We celebrated Linda’s birthday there before a final leg to Carriacou and Grenada our home for hurricane season.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q66S-DycOmk/UEzmyuMPYyI/AAAAAAAAEYE/LvVX1-iEdDM/s1600-h/Birthday-Night-0054.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Birthday Night 005" border="0" alt="Birthday Night 005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-QhViIq3deQo/UEzm1Gh9Q1I/AAAAAAAAEYM/0l0iu217RM4/Birthday-Night-005_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="576" height="397" /></a></p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-7084583684106646702012-05-02T14:21:00.000-04:002012-05-02T14:24:13.157-04:00US & British Virgin Islands<p><em>Bitter End, Virgin Gorda</em></p> <p>We noticed today that we have been in the Virgin islands for nearly 2 months now, so consider ourselves very lucky!  Previous trips here were much shorter and it has been great to explore some different places.</p> <p>St John has been a real favourite, most of the island is national park and is covered in hiking trails. The trails wind through the forest and up and over the mountains taking in old sugar plantations, petroglyphs and stunning views over the islands.</p> <p>The other highlight has been sailing once more, after hundred of miles of head winds and seas it has been so good to hoist the sails, slipping silently from place to place in sheltered waters. </p> <p>It has also been a very sociable few months, guests on board, catching up with sailing buddies we haven’t seen for years and waving sad farewells to Chandelle and Bella as they turn round and head for the USA.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:532cc429-8753-4c32-9be6-dfd1f2c2e943" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 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href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!337&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!325&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKk2Qush2J88w2g" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CNtSDsmJKR4/T6F7qEGcMqI/AAAAAAAAEVM/ENi3pVrNrkI/-112731259872D8163A.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!338&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!325&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKk2Qush2J88w2g" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uZUXolIAPO8/T6F7rpACwUI/AAAAAAAAEVU/Q_9FTXeERo0/116008305320C568F3.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!339&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!325&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKk2Qush2J88w2g" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-92PyyQseuzs/T6F7s4lYizI/AAAAAAAAEVc/MPJ_240vPew/11496625034EB2BBAB.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!340&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!325&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKk2Qush2J88w2g" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y5f0mj6ejVE/T6F7vUmxz7I/AAAAAAAAEVk/uMtqx87OS0A/116925792839C13938.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!341&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!325&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKk2Qush2J88w2g" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uwCJya_-NxA/T6F7wmxFKbI/AAAAAAAAEVs/slZSxOAOzZs/115680608867AE8BF0.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!342&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!325&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKk2Qush2J88w2g" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-cHJOEr3DuY4/T6F7yZJZy3I/AAAAAAAAEV0/9wWhfAnxYaU/116008259400AA5C36.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-5442588737487620452012-03-06T11:54:00.000-04:002012-04-13T15:18:14.124-04:00Puerto Rico & Spanish Virgins<p><em>Culebrita, Puerto Rico</em></p> <p>Hola, Buenos Dias y Mucho Fun from Puerto Rico!</p> <p>We have had a great 3 weeks travelling along the coast, seeing the sights and making the most of our last chance at US style shopping for a while.</p> <p>Almost the first thing we did on arriving in Puerto Rico was to buy the plentiful and delicious fresh fruit and veg, after 4 months in the Bahamas subsisting on whatever scraps are left in the stores we went mad at the first sight of a supermarket!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UpTPiWheTY8/T4h7J-PAinI/AAAAAAAAEMc/c3NtgqKw-aI/s1600-h/Boqueron_0065.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Boqueron_006" border="0" alt="Boqueron_006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ggu64u_vSkg/T4h7WTw7k2I/AAAAAAAAEMk/JzZwsWCHvIQ/Boqueron_006_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> <p>We would normally have spent more time in Boqueron and many of the anchorages on the south coast but with incredibly calm weather forecast and the opportunity to make easy miles eastward we decided to get going.  We did stay long enough to empty Boqueron of mojitos and have one of the best meals we have had for a long long time in a great new restaurant for Valentines Day but soon we were off for Salinas.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H1CMAI-zbQg/T4h7cj2BgPI/AAAAAAAAEMs/LIXmfTxhqKE/s1600-h/IMG_21455.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_2145" border="0" alt="IMG_2145" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r2ExJ5bnBKk/T4h7euzJ7II/AAAAAAAAEM0/uOrtceCyOxg/IMG_2145_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="397" height="310" /></a></p> <p>We hadn’t been here before as the charts show only 7 feet at the entrance but we had heard that there is more water than charted and Merlin kindly agreed to lead us in so we gave it a try.   All went well and we were soon anchored in this delightful little harbour.  Surrounded by mangroves on all sides, with towering mountains as a back drop it’s hard to beat.</p> <p>We based ourselves here, hiring a car with Merlin and North Bound to see the sights and replenish the freezer and spares lockers.  Old San Juan, coffee plantations, climbing El Yunque, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, scenic drive along the mountain spine all best covered by a photo montage rather than my paltry descriptive powers:</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:cb3e240f-7164-4971-ae7f-b959b5ffb3ff" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!305&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!304&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AFUcQ2Z_PmM0RAk" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="157" height="157" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b_Tzvqt1t_k/T4h7ht_diII/AAAAAAAAEM8/jfrVTeAsf8o/-8226388926909F7B7.png?imgmax=800" /></a> </td> <td colspan=3 style='vertical-align:middle;margin:0px;padding:5px 5px 5px 0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:223px' > <div style="margin-left:10px;top:-3%;" > <div style='width:223px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!304&type=5&authkey=!AFUcQ2Z_PmM0RAk&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:223px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Puerto Rico 2012</span></a></div> <div style="padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:auto;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 15px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!304&type=5&authkey=!AFUcQ2Z_PmM0RAk&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=downloadphotos&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!304&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AFUcQ2Z_PmM0RAk" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!306&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!304&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AFUcQ2Z_PmM0RAk" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" 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href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!321&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!304&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AFUcQ2Z_PmM0RAk" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dnOcPo6IUyA/T4h762Hq7iI/AAAAAAAAEO8/Awz39ateHvk/1345997989228D07AF.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!322&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!304&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AFUcQ2Z_PmM0RAk" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-p-yoD5Fu-fM/T4h78BC_qgI/AAAAAAAAEPE/-saXppw3Uyk/-8840610190D9B853C.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> <p>With the exploring and shopping done it was time to head for the Virgin Islands and the long awaited reunion with Chandelle and Bella who we left Annapolis with all those months ago as well as Bleu Marie who we haven’t seen since the Bahamas last year.</p> <p>By now the trade winds had filled in so we were back to the usual Puerto Rico strategy of an early start before they get too strong, and the other tested strategy of suck it up and pretend your whole boat isn’t being shaken to pieces by bashing into 10’ waves!</p> <p>Two ordinary trips later and here we are safely anchored in Culebrita and ready to head onward to the US Virgin islands.  Culebrita is possibly our favourite spot in the whole Caribbean but certainly in the top 10, a gorgeous bay on the north side with sand and palms and the views from the lighthouse of the BVI’s and USVI’s.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>bash along rest of PR coast</p> <p>Culebra/Culebrita</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-30496336160654869692012-02-13T11:48:00.000-04:002012-04-13T15:02:27.682-04:00“Thorny Path” Complete<p><em>Boqueron, Puerto Rico</em></p> <p>The winds finally relented and we left Mayaguana on 8th February with a good forecast for getting across the Turks and Caicos banks and onward to Puerto Rico.</p> <p>The day before leaving I did something very, very stupid - I tipped 5 gallons of gasoline into the port diesel tank!  The sound of swearing was heard as far away as Nassau I would imagine, and the last afternoon before departure was spent pumping 70 gallons of contaminated diesel out of the tank and into jerry cans, spare containers, holding tanks etc ready to refill with nice clean diesel in the Turks and hopefully to be able to dispose of it there too!  </p> <p>An annoying and expensive mistake, but thankfully I noticed before running any engines/generators!  Luckily we have a completely full and uncontaminated starboard tank so we can catch the weather window rather than having to stay here any longer!</p> <p>The first leg of our trip takes us to Sapodilla Bay in the Caicos Islands, it’s only 60  miles but with the wind 30 degrees off the bow it meant motor sailing rather than sailing in order to arrive in daylight, which with a coral head strewn last 8 miles onto the banks and into the anchorage was essential.</p> <p>It was basically a boring day of chugga chugga from the engine, a few waves over the deck but as the winds dropped off to under 15 knots by lunch time even that didn’t happen too often.  The new engine did a great job of powering us into the wind at 7.5 knots plus and really that’s all you can ask for on a trip like that – uneventful!</p> <p>The next day we went across the Caicos Banks in near perfect conditions, we had a lovely sail for the first ten miles down to our waypoint and then another fast but flat motor all the way across to Six Hills Cays.  The coral heads were easy to see and frequent enough to keep you alert without it being too stressful.  It took a little under 7 hours to complete the 52 miles into the anchorage at South Caicos.  </p> <p>Once cleared in with Customs I get to spend a smelly, tiring, sweaty few hours offloading contaminated diesel for disposal and refilling the tank with fresh clean nice $6.60 a gallon diesel – why did I choose the most expensive country for diesel in the whole Caribbean to do this?<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9r9PCF_9EXA/T4h4HgmwFtI/AAAAAAAAEL8/dg-Qtaw0Fr8/s1600-h/Six-Hills-0015.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Six Hills 001" border="0" alt="Six Hills 001" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c46_jsxgrIM/T4h4KN88I4I/AAAAAAAAEME/PcdDLbpRghY/Six-Hills-001_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="418" height="283" /></a></p> <p>We spend a rolly night in the South Caicos anchorage, finalise the diesel refill and then move round to the gorgeous Six Hills Cays to await the weather for the trip to Puerto Rico.  We are swimming in crystal clear water over a sandy bottom wondering why we are leaving!</p> <p>Saturday morning we awake to SE15 and the forecast of that dropping to near zero by night fall.  We wait for a few hours, so that we will arrive in Puerto Rico in daylight and then up the anchor wave goodbye to the shallows of the Bahamas and Turks and make our way out into the ocean. </p> <p>The first 12 hours takes us across towards Great Sand cay and then to the south around the Mouchoir Bank, the first of 3 huge sand banks in the middle of nowhere that for a breeding ground for whales at this time of year, so it is no surprise to see a big humpback quite close up just before sunset.</p> <p>Just before sunset the course changes and we are able to sail for 2 glorious hours, but then the wind dies almost completely and that is it, we don’t see a breath of wind for the next 36 hours!</p> <p>So basically we just motor, in a flat calm sea straight to Puerto Rico, we get distant views of the Dominican Republic, I have to change a fuel filter that has become clogged and we see three very mysterious floating cubes with buoys attached – obviously a drug drop, luckily we don’t encounter the collectors or customs while we are near them, and in fact most luckily we don’t hit the first one as it is not easy to see and in a huge calm sea with no land or boats in sight not what you are really keeping watch for!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ft3-m9S9q58/T4h4OZoVyYI/AAAAAAAAEMM/wX0M5iBGaG0/s1600-h/Mayaguez-014.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mayaguez 01" border="0" alt="Mayaguez 01" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--awj98m3n6U/T4h4QO7cwyI/AAAAAAAAEMU/nAhGJIZLag4/Mayaguez-01_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="419" height="289" /></a>325 miles and 45 hours later we drop anchor off the customs dock in Mayaguana just after sunrise, two nights at sea $450 of diesel and here we are.  Still a few miles to go to get to the Virgin Islands but the hard yards done.</p> <p>Customs clearance is easy and the we move down to Boqueron for a mojito or two and dinner with Merlin to celebrate what feels like the end of a long trip to the Caribbean.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-47727055153927596562012-02-03T16:09:00.000-04:002012-02-04T15:16:48.605-04:00Finally Some Progress<p><em>Mayaguana, Bahamas</em></p> <p>We finally set off on the thorny path south last Sunday.  The trip was pretty good in the end, we had to motor sail for most of the day into stronger winds and bigger seas than forecast, but although annoying it wasn’t too uncomfortable.  The new engine doing sterling work, driving us through the seas at 8 knots even at comfortable cruising revs, it was the first real test of it in those conditions and we are really pleased how it went.</p> <p>During the evening the wind and seas laid down and we sailed all night as the wind backed more to the north and we rounded Samana.</p> <p>Day break saw us lining up the western reef entrance and the anchor rattled down in time for bacon sandwiches and a nap.  During the morning our various companion boats arrived, North Bound and Makai are with us here, as they were in 2008 bizarrely, and it’s the first time any of us have been back!<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-P0puA9TFCIo/Ty2EEGWHOnI/AAAAAAAAELc/fcoxaEp-zls/s1600-h/Mayaguana_0144.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mayaguana_014" border="0" alt="Mayaguana_014" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6bH5RtHW7eY/Ty2EEj1JcwI/AAAAAAAAELk/3PVYqa4mW00/Mayaguana_014_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="350" height="269" /></a></p> <p>We felt very lucky as of the 6 boats with us, one lost their auto pilot, two had major engine issues and another lost all their electrical power!</p> <p>The good passage behind us we are now going to be here a while it seems, the wind is howling out of the ESE, exactly where we need to go to, and is forecast to do that for quite a while.  There is a very unseasonal weather pattern in place with no cold fronts penetrating south to the Bahamas to back off the trade winds.</p> <p>We aren’t alone though the boat count is up to 10 boats now, all but 2 waiting to head to the eastern Caribbean. So although we are “stuck” it could be worse, there are lobsters on the reef and  good company with the other cruisers here.  We had an excellent beach BBQ yesterday afternoon and other than the howling wind blowing over a few beers it was perfect!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-synNE-kvbQQ/Ty2EGwQGBxI/AAAAAAAAELs/TWOO_M09vfg/s1600-h/Mayaguana_0074.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Mayaguana_007" border="0" alt="Mayaguana_007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1Dl1xU1nV-o/Ty2EH3LFZlI/AAAAAAAAEL0/DAwt6WCyXUA/Mayaguana_007_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-85581303201651918782012-01-28T16:02:00.000-04:002012-02-04T15:12:08.198-04:00Windows That Don’t Open!<p><em>Conception Island, Bahamas</em></p> <p>Well nearly 3 weeks after we left Georgetown to head south we are precisely 40 miles further on!</p> <p>We had a lovely trip over to Conception Island and then the weather window that looked so good slammed shut (like all windows eg the football transfer window, they never seem to close quietly!).</p> <p>So we have spent a wonderful few weeks pottering round here and Rum Cay, as well as a flying visit to Thompson Bay on Long Island to get more fruit, vegetables and diesel! </p> <p>Despite some frustration at lack of progress, we have had a superb time, the weather has been stunning, sunny days, warm star filled nights and pleasant winds here (slightly further south it has been howling).</p> <p>The freezer is filled with lobster from our various hunts (sadly Conception is now a park so no more hunting there) but stubbornly no fish, just 2 more lost lures.  We keep hooking fish that are far too big and they then break our gear!</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:4b5d7762-3974-48d0-a15f-edb300a12bad" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!298&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="157" height="157" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Rqsg2L1m57c/Ty2C_k-PKYI/AAAAAAAAEKs/sKfoPwyp3vw/-198184444379300282.png?imgmax=800" /></a> </td> <td colspan=3 style='vertical-align:middle;margin:0px;padding:5px 5px 5px 0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:223px' > <div style="margin-left:10px;top:-3%;" > <div style='width:223px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=5&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:223px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">January 2012</span></a></div> <div style="padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:auto;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 15px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=5&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=downloadphotos&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!299&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-guKiBFdVMyI/Ty2DAC4VGiI/AAAAAAAAEK0/F-L4XwOvLL4/-14654842562EA8C4A8.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!300&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N12xU8xQU-Q/Ty2DAfZXh9I/AAAAAAAAEK8/SsUAQdLvEN8/154526321219B74235.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!301&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h3jzj3Y4j5o/Ty2DA0g3o_I/AAAAAAAAELE/cpZkq91vLnY/195439456247A494ED.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!302&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kgcz_jVXzrY/Ty2DBI45giI/AAAAAAAAELM/4CsgNgjfprc/168661446647A494ED.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!303&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!297&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AA2a2URRRRzey3c" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-4zUs0AvevmI/Ty2DBjL7-iI/AAAAAAAAELU/OYudA8e3I7c/-20921257587591E7A5.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td></tr></table></div> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-15316123689389428572012-01-10T15:45:00.000-04:002012-02-04T15:09:08.774-04:00Christmas With The Wilsons<p><em>Georgetown, Exuma</em></p> <p>With Christmas and New Year over we find ourselves in Georgetown getting ready to head south to the eastern Caribbean.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hahDa2LMZ8s/Ty2CSninUEI/AAAAAAAAEKU/1OMEC-xVhO0/s1600-h/Kate_1575.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Kate_157" border="0" alt="Kate_157" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-l4quIPKxiXA/Ty2CT0CGcXI/AAAAAAAAEKc/V0X0sZ5078M/Kate_157_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="375" height="304" /></a>We spent a wonderful Christmas with the Wilsons, they flew down to Staniel Cay and rented a lovely cottage for a week, plus 3 days on board Matsu.  We were also honoured by the girls coming to visit without Kate & Rog for a few nights, giving us a great chance to catch up on their real news away from Mum and Dad’s flapping ears!</p> <p>While they had the house they also rented a Boston Whaler so we zoomed around the Exumas in that showing off our favourite spots to them.</p> <p>Highlights included Sandy Cay, iguanas, eagle rays, feeding the nurse sharks at Compass Cay, snorkeling Thunderball cave and feeding the swimming pigs plus lots of wonderful talking drinking and laughing.</p> <p>Christmas Day started early with Georgie dropping all Santa’s presents on the floor at 6am, after present swapping and brunch it was time for the cooking marathon and then turkey lunch before whiling away the afternoon on the dock with a few cold drinks.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:2e3cd813-45f9-4aa8-999b-d3b6696918ad" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:410px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!271&type=5&authkey=!ACYfiQ_gMqWIpU4&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PPoQFVQsLZE/Ty2CUp-kX7I/AAAAAAAAEKk/epNJcnkYuK0/Wilsons%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:410px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:410px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!271&type=5&authkey=!ACYfiQ_gMqWIpU4&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:410px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Wilsons!</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!271&type=5&authkey=!ACYfiQ_gMqWIpU4&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=downloadphotos&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!271&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!ACYfiQ_gMqWIpU4" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>We sadly waved them farewell at the airport and then had a lovely sail down to Georgetown, losing yet another fishing lure on the way.</p> <p>We have been here 10 days now, we have fresh fruit and veggies, diesel, petrol etc on board ready to go, and have had our fill of beach volleyball, yoga and walks on the beach.  We have a good window to leave over the next few days so will set sail for places new.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-27685214410094397442011-12-31T15:39:00.000-04:002011-12-31T15:39:52.597-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Happy Christmas & New Year To One And All</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our year in photos is below:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://youtu.be/O9NQ3p8BUvM"><b><span style="background: #6683B3; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">http://youtu.be/O9NQ3p8BUvM</span></b></a></span></div>Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-54048997787082589562011-12-10T14:05:00.000-04:002011-12-15T13:23:24.468-04:00Cat Island<p><em>Little San Salvador</em></p> <p>From Nassau we headed across the banks to the top end of the Exumas at Allans Cay.  It’s a well protected anchorage and has some good lobster hunting nearby and we were very excited about starting the new season.  We anchored where we normally do and went for an hunt bagging a lobster for dinner.  We went to bed very happy and looking forward to tomorrow.  </p> <p>During the night we were woken by a bang and the feel of the boat moving.  It felt like the rudder had hit something solid, but there was no obvious thing it could have hit, we had 12’ of water at the stern, checked with a lead line.  I shortened the anchor rode juts in case and we went back to bed with no further incidence.  </p> <p>In the morning it all became clear, right behind the boat submerged in the water was a large dump truck!  It wasn’t there last year and has somehow appeared in the water at a small isolated cay in the middle of nowhere!  The damage to the rudder was minimal, just a small nick off the trailing tip, and soon repaired temporarily with underwater epoxy, but we were lucky it wasn’t worse.  Any ideas on how this truck got there gratefully received!</p> <p>After a few days of hunting there and enjoying the Exumas we decided it was time for a change and headed over to Cat Island, our first visit there.</p> <p>We passed an excellent 10 days, we were the only cruising boat there so had all the anchorages to ourselves.  We met some very kind expats when we anchored off there gorgeous house at Pigeon Cay, and as a result got to tour to a really nice resort on the NW tip for dinner.</p> <p>Cat Island is also home to the highest mountain in the Bahamas, all 63 metres of it, atop said mountain is The Hermitage, a true hermitage built by Father Jerome a priest who had spent many years in the Caribbean building and designing churches.  In 1940 or so he retired and was granted the land on the hill by the Government and built his retreat.  It looks like a huge imposing building on a big hill:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2xpHNsXK0XE/TuosWte_xNI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/0afTez1bLNQ/s1600-h/Hermitage_0025.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Hermitage_002" border="0" alt="Hermitage_002" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EIumGPBVeZQ/Tuosc49-xHI/AAAAAAAAEJY/rK_bhrfa8sU/Hermitage_002_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p>But when you get close you realise it is a tiny, low ceilinged cramped single bedroom hermits house on a very small hill!  Still it’s not often you scale the highest peak in a country, especially in flip flops!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_Q8i_gfNOj0/TuosnbixXBI/AAAAAAAAEJg/Llf0RYKi9ts/s1600-h/Half-Moon-Cay_0115.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Half Moon Cay_011" border="0" alt="Half Moon Cay_011" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-n5XDfVgWwmY/TuossrTCd2I/AAAAAAAAEJo/vzGFw3LxSRg/Half-Moon-Cay_011_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="343" height="242" /></a>From there we went out to the small island of Little San Salvador, up until 1997 a remote pristine cay, but then bought by the Holland America cruise ship line as a day stop for their cruises on the way from Nassau to the Caribbean, and subsequently renamed half Moon Cay.  </p> <p>So now there is a replica pirate ship on the beach, <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gLwTZvV1K_w/TuoszgsYl6I/AAAAAAAAEJw/LsK5Ixd34NY/s1600-h/Half-Moon-Cay_0155.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Half Moon Cay_015" border="0" alt="Half Moon Cay_015" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9D8XUa_4qAs/Tuos4g7gqsI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/yOfH8CYvNdw/Half-Moon-Cay_015_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="241" /></a>sailing dinghies, kayaks, 1000’s of sun loungers, horses etc etc to amuse the passengers.  </p> <p>We had one day with just us and two days with ships there, and in fairness despite the delivery of humans the resort is run well and if you closed your eyes you wouldn’t know 500 people were sharing it with you!</p> <p>Still the lobster hunting was excellent and despite being slightly rolly the anchorage was amazing at night when the ships had gone, sitting under the stars in our own private island</p> <p>To cap it all off we even caught our first fish of the trip on the way back to the Exumas, a nice big Mahi Mahi.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bUEH-5nO7bA/Tuos9SzjrmI/AAAAAAAAEKA/JixSH7T7Di8/s1600-h/Half-Moon-Cay_0184.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Half Moon Cay_018" border="0" alt="Half Moon Cay_018" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s1DI-TmCjJg/TuotByTm2_I/AAAAAAAAEKI/Sk_fCE0g2CE/Half-Moon-Cay_018_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p>So now we will hang out in the Exumas until the New Year, and then start the trip south to the Eastern Caribbean.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-90141242657417140782011-11-16T12:59:00.000-04:002011-12-15T13:15:28.036-04:00Made It To The Bahamas<p><em>West End, Bahamas</em></p> <p>We carried on down the ICW as far as Brunswick, GA pursued by very strong winds and unseasonably cold weather enjoying the ability to move during the day when the sun was out rather than doing an overnight run. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DzxrpynRxRg/Tuoqo5OrrgI/AAAAAAAAEIg/1pIRXBsM0t0/s1600-h/ICW_1735.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ICW_173" border="0" alt="ICW_173" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vP_kF9x543g/TuoqtRAuW5I/AAAAAAAAEIo/30vHAaidlGI/ICW_173_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="385" height="270" /></a>The marshes were lovely in the autumn sunshine and we took in the history of the area, which was a real frontier for the British.  </p> <p>With the Spanish in Florida wanting to move north, Georgia provided a useful buffer from the lucrative colonies in the north.  So fortified settlements were attempted to stake a British claim.  One of these is on the Frederica settlement and a tour of the ruins attested to the frontier feel.  Yes, those cannons are trained on Matsu!</p> <p>The final Georgia section from Brunswick involves a very shallow stretch and a fixed bridge so we decided to head back out to sea, as with a high tide for the shallows we would hit the bridge and with a low tide for the bridge we would run aground.</p> <p>We decided that the Georgia ICW was like Paris Hilton, pretty but shallow (insert additional non family friendly gags yourselves).</p> <p>Our next stop was Cumberland Island one of our favourite spots and subject of several earlier blog posts.  We stayed here for well over a week as the winds howled and the temperatures plummeted.  We were on the Florida border for goodness sake and wearing woolly hats and gloves during the day!</p> <p>Finally we got a great window of moderate northerly winds and left on a cold but clear morning in company with Chandelle and Discovery.  It was a great sail if a bit chilly enlivened by a great dolphin visit yet again.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RbJVG03cSwk/Tuoq2BpfXyI/AAAAAAAAEIw/1FmtK0GGjpw/s1600-h/Passage-To-FL_0014.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Passage To FL_001" border="0" alt="Passage To FL_001" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BoBtGyDxHWM/Tuoq63g_ILI/AAAAAAAAEI4/dsWkkAjmLc0/Passage-To-FL_001_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="528" height="342" /></a></p> <p>With the short days we couldn’t make Lake Worth before dark so we went to a new destination Fort Pierce.  We timed it perfectly for the outgoing tide and had a very uncomfortable trip into the inlet with big standing waves, not at all pleasant, but Matsu looked after us well.</p> <p>The next day we hopped to Lake Worth to begin a mad dash to get ready for the weather window coming up for the Bahamas trip.  We had a couple of minor boat chores to do and things to buy plus a last stock up at a USA grocery store.  We took the dinghy towards our usual store but on the way saw a huge, brand new Publix store had opened.  We left the dinghy at a nearby marina and wandered in.  It had opened the day before so the service was impeccable, but we think we left them thinking we were mystery shoppers sent by head office!</p> <p>I had the distinction of being the first person to smash something, which caused chaos as nobody could find the spill cart.  Then as we were also buying food for friends Linda and I paid separately at the tills.  The bank saw two simultaneous charges on the cards at the same place so declined them, we were whisked off to customer service to make calls to the bank to verify etc etc.  </p> <p>Finally we tried to leave with the trolleys to take the food back to the dinghy, but the state of the art trolleys had wheels that locked automatically as soon as they crossed a yellow perimeter line.  Legions of customer service people arrived and we explained what we were doing, so a ride up in the lift, carry the trolleys over the line in the car park, unlock the wheels and then they pushed our trolleys to the marina for us and helped us unload!  </p> <p>They were now convinced that we were plants from head office hence all the amazing service and we were too embarrassed to ever return!</p> <p>Amazingly we had the preparations done in time and on the morning of the 16th November left the USA for the last time in a while we think, for a very straightforward trip over to West End, Grand Bahama.  With customs cleared it was time for a beer, and then the next day we set off again for an overnight sail to Nassau.  At least this time we had no water spouts like last year, and we were wearing shorts and t-shirts for night watch rather than jumpers and hats.</p> <p>We headed into Nassau harbour at sunrise just behind a huge cruise ship and so here we are, back in one of our favourite places and ready to head for the Exumas tomorrow.  But first we must have a Kalik and some conch!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-elHrKZl5RiE/TuorB9mX6HI/AAAAAAAAEJA/5Yx0w1KvR6k/s1600-h/Nassau_0026.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Nassau_002" border="0" alt="Nassau_002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sK1pg-9K9YA/TuorJG5HWKI/AAAAAAAAEJI/c-qRhBdV7Og/Nassau_002_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="484" /></a></p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-71576972635280051382011-10-31T11:24:00.000-04:002011-10-31T12:04:54.241-04:00South Carolina & The ICW<p><em>Thunderbolt, GA</em></p> <p>For a few years now Larry & Bev on Chandelle have been telling us that even with our deep keel (7’ 6”) and high mast (65’) we could run the tides and do the Intra Coastal Waterway through the swamps and marshes of South Carolina and Georgia.   So when Chandelle joined us in Charleston and said they were happy to act as tour guides we decided to be brave and give it a go.</p> <p>The first leg was back on the outside though as we motored in a flat calm from Charleston to Port Royal at the north end of Hilton Head Island.  It should have been stress free, but for the second year in a row the day started with a snagged anchor in Charleston, although we managed to free it without scuba gear this time much to my relief.</p> <p align="left">The motor was easy and then just before the shoals at Port Royal the engine slowly died.  It was obvious straight away that it was fuel rather than mechanical with the new baby installed but I could see no reason how we would have a fuel problem either.  It turned out that for some reason the new engine was pulling fuel from only the port tank, despite both being turned on so we had sucked the tank dry, a quick change of the manifold, 4 pumps of the fuel primer and we were back on our way.  </p> <p align="left">We were lucky to get this important lesson in the middle of the sea rather than in a tight cut on the ICW, as while it was a quick fix it wasn’t quick enough to avoid running aground in a tighter space, so in a funny way we were grateful for the interruption.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_fTmsspfniQ/Tq7G8Sh1PDI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/tGRMuajPWa4/s1600-h/ICW-Trip_0028.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ICW Trip_002" border="0" alt="ICW Trip_002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OM8ejVAHLDU/Tq7G9znfimI/AAAAAAAAEGY/Zk1iT-f3rDk/ICW-Trip_002_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a> <br /><strong><em>Up The Mast Removing Lights etc For ICW Bridges</em></strong></p> <p>The trip down the ICW so far has been great, we are basically following a combination of rivers, sounds and man made canals joining them travelling 5-10 miles in from the coast past a series of barrier islands.</p> <p>The travel is slow as we have to have high tide for the shallow sections and low tide for the two fixed bridges we have negotiate.  So far no groundings and we haven’t touched either bridge even with our VHF antenna.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--OsZ6wBjuj0/Tq7HAXxomRI/AAAAAAAAEGg/7t-efVZrs3c/s1600-h/ICW-Trip_0185.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ICW Trip_018" border="0" alt="ICW Trip_018" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-voqXCWfKEDs/Tq7HB5hBw0I/AAAAAAAAEGo/IQDBc-fSG88/ICW-Trip_018_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="448" /></a> <br /><strong><em>Too Close For Comfort?</em></strong></p> <p>The highlight without doubt though has been seeing the amazing spectacle of the local  dolphins “strand feeding”.  They work in a team and herd the fish into the beach where they can’t escape and then all four dolphins surge out of the water onto the beach, grabbing a few fish to fee on and then wriggling their way back into the water to do it again.  Sadly we didn’t have the camera the first day, but the second time we did and while they were more keen on mating and playing we still got some amazing shots!</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:71fa95ad-0320-4b0b-a29c-3361c1034f62" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 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href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!268&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!254&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=7XpPm1jQdwU%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ofOMSUvWrE0/Tq7HJVaGEWI/AAAAAAAAEIY/5jn65MZuZYg/5057704292637C77E.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-21204789145770703942011-10-26T19:04:00.000-04:002011-10-31T12:00:28.690-04:00Round Hatteras & On To Charleston<p><em>Charleston, SC</em></p> <p>We left Annapolis after the boat show on the 12th of October.  We had three day trips down the bay before staging for the trip round Cape Hatteras.  The trip was varied to say the least, we had one day of sailing, one day of gentle motoring and one day of bloody awful motoring into a shocking head sea taking waves over the bow despite being in Chesapeake Bay and generally hating every minute of it!  Charlie sulked all day in the back cabin, letting us know how bored he was every time we descended the companion way!</p> <p>The trip round Hatteras was perhaps our best yet, we woke to sunny skies and a great 15-20 knot westerly wind, which we ran down the bay and the Virginia coast under full sail on a beam reach.  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-E0BugwU5ICM/Tq7GD8ufMvI/AAAAAAAAEFg/96_E3pW_7XU/s1600-h/Cape%252520Lookout_100%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cape Lookout_100" border="0" alt="Cape Lookout_100" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-k2HamOg62X0/Tq7GEOYNhYI/AAAAAAAAEFo/7vXRGBkfiwc/Cape%252520Lookout_100_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="351" height="248" /></a></p> <p>We sat for about 3 hours at between 8.5 and 9.3 knots so imagine our surprise when we turned round and saw a sail rapidly catching us up!  It turned out to be a 70’ custom carbon yacht called Route 66, so we felt less embarrassed by being passed by it when it finally caught up.</p> <p>By the time we got to Hatteras the wind had backed off and gone North so we had gentle motor sail from just north of the cape, round it and down to Cape Lookout arriving just before sunset, the $50 of diesel being a small price to pay for the lack of 10’ seas and high winds we normally seem to get!</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3s1tGZjcEPI/Tq7GE5FCwcI/AAAAAAAAEFs/vo2rie1zCxg/s1600-h/Cape-Lookout_1015.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cape Lookout_101" border="0" alt="Cape Lookout_101" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--kS5yRFwRss/Tq7GFv8BplI/AAAAAAAAEF4/kJb978_Wkk4/Cape-Lookout_101_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="448" /></a></p> <p>Our first day at Cape Lookout was stunning, the sun was out and temperatures in the high 20’s, just like summer, I even managed to get sunburned.  We walked for about 6 miles on the beach round the whole Cape and then back through the most insect infested interior track we have ever seen.  Little black flies that obviously haven’t seen human blood for a while and were ravenous for it.</p> <p>Tuesday dawned clear and still but there was a battle between our two weather sources.  NOAA the official US weather service were saying 2 days of 20-25 knot SW winds so nothing much, BUT Chris Parker our custom weather guru was saying that 3 weather systems were going to collide and we should batten down for 40-50 knot winds, ie more than we had during the hurricane!</p> <p>Sadly but predictably it was Chris who proved to be right and so after a lovely sunny calm day the wind filled in that night and howled non stop for 48 hours, it also lashed down with rain and was generally horrible. <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CcIyT40gZW0/Tq7GGv3Ui6I/AAAAAAAAEGA/MePBpCSThKQ/s1600-h/Cape-Lookout_0046.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Cape Lookout_004" border="0" alt="Cape Lookout_004" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-OtilEm6Rdi8/Tq7GG1v183I/AAAAAAAAEGI/Tddsh8IVx7Y/Cape-Lookout_004_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="346" height="274" /></a></p> <p>Lookout Bight was great place to be for it mind, we snugged up near the beach and let out 100 metres of anchor chain in the 6 metres of water we were in, so no danger of dragging (and even if we did it is 1.5 miles to the beach on the other side so we had plenty of time to sort it out!).</p> <p>The second night was the worst when it blew at 40-50 knots all night with no let up, the only stress was the constant noise of the wind, the peace that reigned when it finally backed off on Friday morning was wonderful and meant we could finally sleep uninterrupted.</p> <p>On checking the GPS I found the boat had sailed 5 miles while at anchor in the 48 hours!</p> <p>Almost as soon as the wind backed off and went North, the seas died down and the conditions were great for moving on.  We motor sailed over to Wrightsville Beach and the had a fabulous sail on Sunday overnight to Monday down to Charleston, sailing the whole way to the entrance channel at Charleston.  We got our customary visit from a huge pod of dolphins once round Cape Fear, 20-30 dolphins swimming with the boat for around 20 minutes just at sunset – see last years post for the photos!</p> <p>We timed our arrival into Charleston perfectly for the peak of the outgoing current, we were pushing 3.5 knots of current at one time, plus had to share the entrance channel with an enormous container ship.</p> <p>We will have a few days in Charleston and then head for Florida.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-24726542223425823152011-10-11T19:03:00.000-04:002011-10-25T13:01:54.258-04:00A Busy Summer Of Boat Work<p><em>Burley Creek, Annapolis, MD</em></p> <p>Well it has certainly been a busy summer of improvements to Matsu, apart from the engine we have got through a huge list of upgrades either as part of the engine project or since returning from Canada. </p> <p>We have replaced the old manual pump heads (toilets) with new electric flush ones, future visitors will no doubt appreciate this as much as the crew do, no more playing the  Las Vegas slots every time you want to flush, just push a button.  As they are still boat heads I am sure they will require regular unblocking and all the usual unpleasantness but at a  day to day level the improvement is huge.</p> <p>The old 110v generator powered fridge system has been replaced.  This was a bit like the engine in that we thought it would be nice to do before the old system died, and then during the removal of the old system it became clear that we were very lucky it still worked!  The old compressor turned out not to be attached to the boat in any way at all after several things have broken over the years, the only thing holding it down were the refrigerant lines and some good luck.  Similarly one of the holding plates ruptured when I lifted it out!  </p> <p>The new Sea Frost system is superb, it runs on 12v so no need to run the generator twice a day and with digital temperature controllers we can keep ice cream frozen and other such luxuries.  The solar panels and wind generator should provide most of the power we need.  While doing this we have custom built interior shelving and boxes so that the fridge and freezer are more like a home set up than a very large cooler bin.</p> <p>On top of these flag ship projects we have completely replaced the fresh water plumbing, plus we have new taps and shower heads. We have installed reversing up and down switches on the anchor windlass,  a fresh water wash down so we can clean the salt off the varnish and all the usual day to day maintenance required.  Linda has not exactly been idle either having done all the exterior varnishing and quite a bit of the interior, painted all the lockers and cupboard interiors, new cockpit cushions, clean and polish of the hull so she shines like new.  </p> <p>So Matsu is now shinier and better equipped than ever, we are obviously a bit poorer but doing the work ourselves has saved us a lot.  The plan is to head south to the Caribbean for a few years, basing ourselves there so leaving with the boat in top shape is a huge bonus.</p> <p>Hopefully this means we can enjoy the rum cocktail and sunbathing side of cruising a bit more with the marine engineering side covered off!  However, cleaning, polishing, varnishing, etc will always be on the list … at least we’ll be lucky enough to do this in tropical paradise…</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-28420267510648072122011-08-28T15:12:00.000-04:002011-10-25T13:01:37.825-04:00Natural Disaster Week!<p><em>Burley Creek, Annapolis</em></p> <p>Well what a week, we are tied to the dock at Larry & Bev’s and had planned to potter around doing a few boat chores and then heading out for a few days on the boat to do some motoring to make sure all is working well with the new engine before we head south.  However Mother Nature has other plans and we have a far more eventful week than we hoped.</p> <p>On Monday I am working away inside the boat while Linda pops up to the motor bikes to take some photos to stick on EBay.  I feel the boat shake as the piles bang against the hull but given it is flat calm can’t think why, there is then a lot of banging and the rig starts to shake.  </p> <p>I run up on deck and see Larry coming out of his office saying that was an earthquake, we both head up to the house and find Linda and Bev both literally and metaphorically shaken.  Linda had been wheeling her motor bike into position when the ground began to tremble and the bike shake, she miraculously managed not to drop it, but was clearly taken aback by the whole thing.  We watch the news to find it is a 6.5 on the Richter scale quake – quite a shock.</p> <p>The rest of the week passes watching the weather news as Hurricane Irene homes in on us, by Friday it is inevitable that it will pass right over us, so we move Matsu to one of the neighbours docks that is vacant (thank you Marvin and Judith) and start to tie ourselves up with a maze of long lines kept specifically for this purpose but obviously well stored away as you don’t need them very often!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Ze4l002uMrc/TqbrZECXJEI/AAAAAAAAEFA/gjx34lvWAXY/s1600-h/Hurricane-Irene_0254.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Hurricane Irene_025" border="0" alt="Hurricane Irene_025" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hpRtJu2lVm0/TqbraVi8TkI/AAAAAAAAEFI/z8xyYNNmvZ4/Hurricane-Irene_025_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="432" /></a></p> <p>The storm itself arrives on Saturday morning, initially with lots of rain and some wind, and then late afternoon and overnight Saturday (why does bad weather always come at night?) we get the bulk of the winds and rain.</p> <p>Burley Creek is incredibly well protected, high banks on either side, no room for a fetch to develop and lots of mature trees to cut down the wind.  During the night we only saw 40 knots on the wind instruments, and that for a short time, the rest of the time it was 25-30 knots all very manageable.  The only scary bit was knowing that the wind at tree top height was 60-70 knots and wondering if a tree may fall on the boat.</p> <p>During my frequent excursions outside to check lines, that was the scary bit, the sound of breaking branches making me flinch from time to time, but luckily all I got hit with were a few leaves!  By dawn on Sunday the worst was past, winds backing right off and even the endless rain starting to slow down.</p> <p>After breakfast we head up to see the damage on land, there are lots of branches and trees down in the neighbourhood and obviously no power.  But miraculously not just Larry & Bev’s house but all the houses seem to have escaped damage.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MSnJ-esavWE/TqbrbXhXatI/AAAAAAAAEFQ/Xkl2n7wvjjc/s1600-h/Hurricane-Irene_0025.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Hurricane Irene_002" border="0" alt="Hurricane Irene_002" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Z0wn4FAlMt0/Tqbrccb-MgI/AAAAAAAAEFY/_13aNJJ2dIg/Hurricane-Irene_002_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a></p> <p>We spend the day chopping wood and clearing up and by afternoon the sun is out, the branches are gone and it almost seems like a bad dream.</p> <p>Ironically given how worried all the homeowners were about us on our boat in the storm, we are now fine and it is them that suffer.  We obviously still have electricity and water while they have neither for a week afterwards!</p> <p>A big thank you from Linda and I to the local community for looking after us so well during the hurricane and indeed the whole summer.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-71429871815870447252011-08-17T19:01:00.000-04:002011-10-25T13:00:07.678-04:00Summer Travels<p><em>New England, Maine, Nova Scotia, Quebec</em></p> <p>We still have the motor bikes we bought last year so as this will be the last chance we get to use them we decided on a grand tour of the NE corner of the Americas.</p> <p>From Annapolis, we rode north through Pennsylvania into the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire then back down to the coast again in Maine meeting up with Jan and Karyn on Bella who were having their summer cruise in the Mt Desert region.</p> <p>We spent 4 days with them on board and had probably as good weather as you could ever have there, it was well into the high 30’s Celsius and even warm enough to swim off the boat in the anchorage provided you stayed in the top 4’ layer of warm water!  We climbed Cadillac mountain to stretch our aching motor cycle limbs, rewarded with stunning panoramic views of Acadia NP.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mXyAHk3hfpU/Tqbq25i2ipI/AAAAAAAAEDw/n78Nbckz-YI/s1600-h/Maine_0135.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Maine_013" border="0" alt="Maine_013" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/---wUc9gjnoo/Tqbq4gMBYZI/AAAAAAAAED4/4_TECUFmKyw/Maine_013_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="448" /></a></p> <p>Another highlight was boiling up Maine lobster on the beach, it was my first taste of them after eating many Caribbean ones, and I will be controversial and say I couldn’t really tell the difference, especially once dipped in gorgeous garlic butter and washed down with sauvignon blanc!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9NUgZukYWmE/Tqbq7Gw4W1I/AAAAAAAAEEA/GlnTJ8Qp0Tk/s1600-h/Maine_07911.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Maine_079" border="0" alt="Maine_079" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-atTHyui44i0/Tqbq9Nf-gPI/AAAAAAAAEEI/3n7Umh7AQJc/Maine_079_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a>Sad farewells with Bella and then we rode off to Nova Scotia, somewhere I have always wanted to go.  </p> <p>By now the weather was less warm and sunny but we did get a couple of gorgeous days and taking in the tidal bores of the Bay of Fundy and the stunning coast south of Halifax, including the lovely Peggys Cove a traditional fishing village and Lunenberg the maritime capital of the area.  Both areas with moving memorials, the former to the Swiss Air flight that crashed here and the latter to the many fishermen lost over the years.<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-33y1D-5W6cA/Tqbq-WF-vFI/AAAAAAAAEEQ/LF28R8SET3g/s1600-h/Peggys-Cove_0495.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Peggys Cove_049" border="0" alt="Peggys Cove_049" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3tVpY-W6SVE/Tqbq_ntq5UI/AAAAAAAAEEY/zVxAdz4NAa4/Peggys-Cove_049_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="448" /></a></p> <p>From NS we were faced with a very long ride back to Quebec, our amateur geography had somehow convinced us that Nova Scotia was “on the way” so we were somewhat surprised to ride back via Maine passing within about 50 miles of Jan & Karyn after a 1200 mile round trip!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7Y46Iv-flqQ/TqbrCm8iG7I/AAAAAAAAEEg/6OfQY3srtf8/s1600-h/Ride-To-Quebec_0035.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ride To Quebec_003" border="0" alt="Ride To Quebec_003" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6FtotOwMUoI/TqbrDvtMTbI/AAAAAAAAEEo/_tsUAnuyvbA/Ride-To-Quebec_003_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P1w3ia8EH6w/TqbrETTm7XI/AAAAAAAAEEw/Fp22KTqtAqk/s1600-h/Ride-To-Quebec_0075.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ride To Quebec_007" border="0" alt="Ride To Quebec_007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7ouIzuILqCg/TqbrFkAXUQI/AAAAAAAAEE4/PonOvBlusxg/Ride-To-Quebec_007_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Time in Quebec was spent with Linda’s family and friends, it was really great to catch up with everyone once more.</p> <p>By mid August we realise that our to do list on Matsu isn’t getting any shorter but the time until we leave is, so saddle up for the long ride home through the Adirondack’s getting back to Annapolis after a round trip of well over 3,000 miles.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-25325273960833871922011-07-05T18:59:00.000-04:002011-10-25T12:57:59.880-04:00A New Engine For Matsu<p><em>Bert Jabins Yacht Yard, Annapolis, MD</em></p> <p>When we bought Matsu we had some concerns about the age and condition of the original Nanni Mercedes engine and after four more years of cruising it has now done 23,000 hours and is 24 years old.  In all that time it has never let us down (including motoring us most of the 1,000 miles back to Annapolis this year), but there is a growing list of issues that need to be addressed, corrosion, broken brackets that have been bush repaired, belching white smoke and a lack of power.</p> <p>We realised we could either wait until it breaks down comprehensively and deal with it then, or be proactive and deal with it on our own terms, maybe earlier than strictly necessary but avoiding the potential problem of a destroyed engine in a remote location.</p> <p>We decided that this summer would be when we did it on our own terms.  The first question was whether to recondition the existing engine or buy a new one.  A big part of the cost of either is removing and replacing the engine from the boat, and once we got a feel for the reconditioning costs we decided that the extra cost of a brand new modern engine with readily available spare parts worldwide was the better bet, as Nanni no longer support the old engine.</p> <p align="center"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="The Engine_005" border="0" alt="The Engine_005" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GT31fGsIzLI/TqbqEJzDagI/AAAAAAAAD_Y/jwEDw8L8_-Q/The-Engine_005_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /><strong><em>The Starting Point </em></strong></p> <p align="left">Other than buying the engine the vast majority of the cost of repowering is labour (around 70% we estimated) so the even bigger decision was taken that I would draw on all my years of accounting experience and replace it myself – scary!!  Again the logic being that at over $100 an hour for a mechanic versus my time for free we could save a lot of cash even if it took me bit longer, plus of course I would 100% understand the engine installation and drive train for future maintenance.</p> <p>We order a new Yanmar 110hp engine from Bay Shore Marine in Annapolis, they are used to working with DIY installations and provide great support to us throughout.  We also decide to do the work at Bert Jabins Yacht Yard, a great reputation, we can do the work with the boat in the water making life aboard much more pleasant, and bay Shore are based on site.  So on 25th May we pulled Matsu into a berth at Bert Jabins Boat yard in Annapolis and started work.  </p> <p>The first task was <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WS2TRFF4twI/TqbqFlFZ6eI/AAAAAAAAD_g/5nUlS-y5HrA/s1600-h/The-Engine_0117.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Engine_011" border="0" alt="The Engine_011" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qrRpKsbBiRc/TqbqGbaN_yI/AAAAAAAAD_o/F_HHoNrEQvw/The-Engine_011_thumb4.jpg?imgmax=800" width="325" height="258" /></a>fairly obvious, disconnect all the services and remove the old engine from the boat.  </p> <p>One of the first problems I had thought of when we started this was how to get the engine out, a fellow Passport owner told me the great news that he “thought” there was a removable panel in the cockpit floor for the purpose.  </p> <p>Given the alternative was to remove a lot of very nice teak wood work you can imagine our joy at finding out he was right!</p> <p>While removing the various wires, cables, hoses etc from the engine we get to see more of it and the level of corrosion and decay is revealed, it shows how durable diesel engines are that it was still running.  </p> <p>We also have our first cock up when draining the engine oil when we switch the drain pump from suck to blow and cover ourselves and the engine room in old oil!</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:bf714fbc-f326-42e9-a768-d549c38b55e7" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:321px;border-collapse:collapse;'><tbody><tr><td style='margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:auto'><a style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;" target="_blank" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!218&type=5&authkey=iKIxICtkyos%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" alt="View album" title="View album" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VNG9KcEtJSg/TqbqG6yA9NI/AAAAAAAAD_w/O5FXctUdh-8/Engine%252520Comes%252520Out%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style='width:321px;text-align:center;overflow:visible;padding:0px;margin:0px;'> <div style='width:321px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!218&type=5&authkey=iKIxICtkyos%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:321px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Engine Comes Out</span></a></div> <div style="text-align:center;padding:9px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px 0px 0px 0px;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="text-align:center;width:auto;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 12px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!218&type=5&authkey=iKIxICtkyos%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:6px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=downloadphotos&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!218&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=iKIxICtkyos%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <p>By June 1st we are ready for the crane to come and pull out the engine.  </p> <p>It all goes incredibly smoothly, the guys from Jabins and Bay Shore doing great work and within 45 minutes we are engineless and the true state of the old engine is revealed.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> <br /><font color="#333333">The joy of seeing the old engine out was somewhat tempered by the vision of the engine room, we knew it was a mess underneath but perhaps weren’t braced for what it actually looked like!</font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i9k4eBzXCJY/TqbqIFBvFuI/AAAAAAAAD_4/qDKL-mFGUFY/s1600-h/The-Engine_1035.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="The Engine_103" border="0" alt="The Engine_103" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3irqvv0Bjgc/TqbqI2H8-aI/AAAAAAAAEAA/4FnqXAxZJRg/The-Engine_103_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="448" /></a></p> <p>The second stage was also now fairly obvious, and we embarked on the huge process of cleaning up and redesigning the engine room.  For 24 years owners and mechanics had been adding systems to Matsu and installing them  in or around the engine room in cramped spaces so not necessarily doing the job as well as it should have been done.  We now had a golden opportunity to set that straight and leave ourselves with good access to the new engine and a clean clutter free engine room.</p> <p>Over the next 3 weeks we put in a huge number of man hours, turning the mess you see above into this:<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cY-UJBEFyqs/TqbqJ-6w0sI/AAAAAAAAEAI/cSN726bVuus/s1600-h/0025.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="002" border="0" alt="002" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uEuPyvU4cyI/TqbqK2Uvn5I/AAAAAAAAEAQ/NzStREAJF_U/002_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="500" /></a></p> <p>Without too many boring details we cleaned huge amounts of oily waste from the bilge, removed the old battery boxes, sanded and painted the bilge with 4 coats of Bilgekote paint, replaced and moved the wiring, the engine plumbing, the control cables, the exhaust system, the Racor filters, the bilge pumps, the fresh water plumbing, new sound proofing etc etc etc. <br /></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:1f03342f-f8b9-482e-a4f1-1572bf61e91d" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!230&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!229&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=iEemAnGubR4%24" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="157" height="157" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kdzHj3Id5Bw/TqbqMMATxbI/AAAAAAAAEAY/doBzLEE9mLc/15913621140E0570DE.png?imgmax=800" /></a> </td> <td colspan=3 style='vertical-align:middle;margin:0px;padding:5px 5px 5px 0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:223px' > <div style="margin-left:10px;top:-3%;" > <div style='width:223px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!229&type=5&authkey=iEemAnGubR4%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:223px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Rebuilding The Engine Room</span></a></div> <div style="padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:auto;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 15px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!229&type=5&authkey=iEemAnGubR4%24&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=downloadphotos&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!229&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=iEemAnGubR4%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!231&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!229&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=iEemAnGubR4%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ak_Vkrf47IY/TqbqM7zT3-I/AAAAAAAAEAg/T0PBKKu3yYQ/4268089863993FC0.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a 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href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!239&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!229&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=iEemAnGubR4%24" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--rlbLSUiH1M/TqbqSve98ZI/AAAAAAAAEBg/w4dZgaIZg9g/14159779585C7A0348.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> <p>Now time for stage 3: installing the new engine. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ijsh2b6rlFg/TqbqT58HsII/AAAAAAAAEBo/zp0wz6o64KU/s1600-h/Engine-0028.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Engine 002" border="0" alt="Engine 002" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yBF0sHIGHRE/TqbqUk53v1I/AAAAAAAAEBw/aLFpTJOUB24/Engine-002_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="312" height="244" /></a>We were lucky that the new engine despite being smaller has a similar footprint so the only modifications required to the engine beds are minimal. </p> <p>By installing an aluminium bar spacer and covering it with aluminium angle the engine would be perfectly aligned and the beds narrowed sufficiently to take the new feet.</p> <p>This was one area I did leave to the professionals and Nick from Bay Shore did a great job in working with me to get everything  bolted down and ready for the new baby.</p> <p>So on the 23rd June after an enormous amount of work the crane returned and the new engine arrived.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:b2edaafa-1e71-4b1d-ace1-373725208a97" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=cb21a7e2661c55a0&page=play&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!241&parid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!240&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=7jD831Z0Kmw%24" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img 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style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> <p>From there it really was all quite straightforward.  Nick helped me get the alignment spot on and bolt the engine down.  This is critical to the way the engine will perform in the future, and even though we have a flexible drive there is no harm in getting at as close as possible.  Nick being a perfectionist meant we probably don’t even need the flexible drive now it is so well done!</p> <p>After that I have a busy 2-3 days connecting all the things an engine needs to work.  Electricity, cooling water, diesel, control cables, and an exhaust system were all joined up and then the big moment:  On June 27th almost exactly 1 month later we press the starter and vroom!  off she goes purring away and doing all that a diesel engine should.</p> <p>We head out for a sea trial and she passes all the tests with flying colours, Matsu hits hull speed nice and early in the rev range, the engine hits the target maximum RPM and unbelievably we have done it, installed a new engine!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-K46ItcBbsX4/TqbqjACYpcI/AAAAAAAAEDg/S2MSetdhZ14/s1600-h/0045.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="004" border="0" alt="004" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-84YGw_pZo5E/TqbqkxgvQ-I/AAAAAAAAEDo/lqxUVcxmLgk/004_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="660" height="448" /></a><strong><em>The End Result</em></strong></p> <p> </p> <p>By way of a PS, if any fellow Passport owners or fellow yachties are thinking of doing a similar thing, feel free to get in touch via email if you have any questions or would like some more detailed information.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-48932903863250918532011-05-23T17:17:00.000-04:002011-06-03T17:47:21.965-04:00Back In Annapolis<p><em>Back Creek, Annapolis</em></p> <p>Well we’re back, 3.5 weeks, 1,266 miles, a lot of sailing and even more motoring and we have made it back to Annapolis our summer base.</p> <p>The journey back was fairly uneventful, we stopped in the Berry Islands for a few days, anchored by ourselves at Fish Market Cays, saying a sad farewell to the wonderful Bahamas.  <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3mUYfr4ZIU8/TelWWj5JcCI/AAAAAAAAD-s/J7KGyAvxiEQ/s1600-h/Soldier%252520Cay_409%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Soldier Cay_409" border="0" alt="Soldier Cay_409" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mpdio7y9zJo/TelWXCx3raI/AAAAAAAAD-w/ciH5V366sPA/Soldier%252520Cay_409_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="445" height="305" /></a> </p> <p>We hadn’t been to this anchorage before and hadn’t intended to this time, but Devil Hoffmans was rolling like mad in the strong NE winds so we had a change of plan and found a great little spot to wind down before hitting the USA.</p> <p>The sail to Palm Beach was great, we had good winds and made great time arriving early morning in time to do customs and have lunch at the marina restaurant (Rib special on a Tuesday, great timing!) and then collapse for a well earned sleep in the afternoon.</p> <p>We had 5 days there waiting for some wind we could sail on and finally with still none forecast and having exhausted all West Palm has to offer gave up and decided to motor overnight out of Florida hoping for better winds further north.</p> <p>The motor ran all day and then around midnight the wind filled in north of Cape Canaveral and suddenly we could sail.  As the next morning progressed the wind went more NE so we were sailing straight at Charleston so decided to give St Mary’s a miss and go straight through.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pttPCNBot-k/TelWXfZDV1I/AAAAAAAAD-0/ttQ4RxXqEp8/s1600-h/Charleston_496%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Charleston_496" border="0" alt="Charleston_496" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-q5Xas6FV7Uw/TelWX9YGaaI/AAAAAAAAD-4/v8vtjXa7RvY/Charleston_496_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="391" height="268" /></a>Charlie slept through an offshore bird attack, later waking to kill it, and with the wind dying at sunset we got a peaceful nights sleep ourselves motoring in the flat calm.  </p> <p>Next day more chugging along until we finally got into Charleston around 5pm on day 3.  We were tired but happy to have got that far (less happy when we paid for the diesel we had used!).</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-E5c1ejOjhjA/TelWYl-7GWI/AAAAAAAAD-8/2VaefokOWnM/s1600-h/Magnolia_030%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Magnolia_030" border="0" alt="Magnolia_030" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fPMDbgdvi5w/TelWZZlcycI/AAAAAAAAD_A/IFHu_ohi26s/Magnolia_030_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="390" height="267" /></a>More weather waiting meant we could take advantage of the excellent Charleston restaurants and also take day trips to Savannah and one of the old plantations on the Ashley River.    It is really quite chilling to see the prosperous house and gardens, the river boats and the crops they transported and then the little slave shacks to really bring home how this wealth was created.</p> <p>We finally left Charleston on 16th for the most tiring leg of our trip, the wind is excellent and we have a rollicking sail with the genoa poled out, averaging 8 knots for the first 12 hours.  Then the wind dies and constantly shifts, so constant course changes to stay downwind, rolling from the seas as they now don’t match the waves and general crash banging of sails, etc make for a very sleepless night.</p> <p>By the following morning we are exhausted and now have no wind but 6’ seas so end up motoring all day to Cape Lookout feeling grumpy!  Luckily we get a few dolphin visits to keep us amused but we are very happy to finally drop the anchor in Lookout Bight, in calm water.  We have a beer and go straight to bed for 14 hours sleep!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DjoLWGqCqaI/TelWZhcHHPI/AAAAAAAAD_E/8QnXlxd0jXM/s1600-h/Passage_011%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; border-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Passage_011" border="0" alt="Passage_011" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fGNosy9l0hg/TelWaeJiYOI/AAAAAAAAD_I/VTXuqAfsiEE/Passage_011_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="440" height="304" /></a> We are now in the same situation as Florida, no wind forecast for the next 10 days, so as we need to get back and get started on our projects, we decide to motor again, it’s flat calm so we can sleep well and we chug along all day.  It’s so calm at Cape Hatteras, “Graveyard of the Atlantic” that we get photos as we round the shoal buoy (on the way south it was pitch black and we had 25 knots of wind!).</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Amazingly that evening the wind filled in from the NW and we had a great sail tight reaching up the North Carolina and Virginia coasts, making good boat speed, but in flat seas.  We did have one major excitement on my watch when a large fishing boat heading in to Oregon Inlet just completely failed to pick us up on radar, hear our VHF call or see our Nav lights, or for that matter my spreader lights and torches on sails – so a swift crash tack from the stand on vessel avoided a collision and a somewhat terse VHF call later he was vaguely apologetic and we carried on our way!</p> <p>By the following morning the wind had died and the motor was back on for the long motor into Chesapeake Bay, dodging the 15 ships at the entrance and then finally through the Bay Bridge Tunnel and on to Deltaville.</p> <p>Two more days up the Bay and then, hooray we are back “home” and drinking beer with Dave & Donna on Meander, with Bella and Chandelle who had both  beaten us back.</p> <p>Projects await, but that’s another post!</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6152184276937919855.post-40005636449457111042011-04-25T14:00:00.000-04:002011-04-25T14:19:58.685-04:00Time To Head “Home”<p><em>Emerald Bay Marina, Great Exuma</em></p> <p>Our last couple of weeks here has been back in visitor mode, however this time the visitors have been staying on land as with 7 young kids between them life aboard would have been just a bit cramped!</p> <p>First up were the Fletchers who were staying at Staniel Cay.  With the aid of a Boston Whaler we were able to take in all the sights of the local area, Thunderball Cave, iguanas, swimming pigs and the snorkeling and beaches of Exuma sea park – all best summed up in pictures really.</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:5558eda9-36cb-40a1-9b80-db0aa6928f05" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-cb21a7e2661c55a0.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!165&type=5"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Fletchers 2011" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_eITEVBnJP50/TbW7SBJmSQI/AAAAAAAAD-c/lGHdSfX16zU/InlineRepresentationa203be0f1df84ef8.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:400px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-cb21a7e2661c55a0.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!165&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p>After that we sailed down to Emerald Bay to meet the Farleys catching a huge 49” Mahi Mahi on the way, it’s even bigger than the one we caught off the DR in 2009.<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_eITEVBnJP50/TbW7SnMAouI/AAAAAAAAD-g/YqcfRkpCviQ/s1600-h/TheFletchers_0084.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="The Fletchers_008" border="0" alt="The Fletchers_008" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_eITEVBnJP50/TbW7TD9YlDI/AAAAAAAAD-k/eSLjvYg4HCA/TheFletchers_008_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="425" height="291" /></a> We had a similarly excellent time with the Farleys either round the pool at the resort or during our side trip to George Town, wonderful to see everyone on holiday rather than working!</p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:ef3f797e-708e-4948-98a4-5353763816dc" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a style="border:0px" href="http://cid-cb21a7e2661c55a0.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!176&type=5"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Farleys 2011" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_eITEVBnJP50/TbW7TRbGTQI/AAAAAAAAD-o/aAWJtqp8Vt4/InlineRepresentation09b8edaaabd3411a.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:400px;text-align:right;" ><a href="http://cid-cb21a7e2661c55a0.skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?page=browse&resid=CB21A7E2661C55A0!176&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p>So now it is time for us to turn round and head north, we hope to get away tomorrow and begin the slow trip, it’s around 1300 miles to Annapolis where we plan to spend summer doing some boat work and land travel, we will update our progress as we sail.</p> Tim Ball and Linda Lepinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17785292057273317277noreply@blogger.com2