Sunday, November 27, 2011

Trinidad to Tobago - Store Bay

Friday 25th November 2011

Tobago

We checked out of Trinidad and set sail for Tobago at 11h30. There was very little wind which we were heading straight into and a strong current so motoring was the order of the day.
Store Bay is just near the point marked Canaan
We stuck close to the Northern shore of Trinidad heading east until we got close to the tip of the Island we turned North and headed straight for Tobago. I was on watch at the time doing the 21h00 to 24h00 shift. We always work our shifts so I get to sleep between 18h00 and 21h00 as Andre can’t. Not that he sleeps much in the first few days anyway when we are at sea. Eventually exhaustion takes over and he manages to sleep when not on watch. Luckily this trip was only going to be about 12 hours so it wouldn’t be a problem!

Turning to run across the channel between the islands put us in the shipping lane for traffic heading to Port of Spain and it increased accordingly. At one stage I had two cargo vessels heading towards me. A call to them on the radio and one changed course slightly to Port and the other to Starboard and I found myself aiming for the gap between them. Three nautical miles suddenly seems a very small space.

I handed over the helm to Andre at midnight. I had just fallen asleep when the emergency bell we use to call each other rang urgently. Andre’s “come up here quick this guy is going to run us over” had me in the cockpit in seconds.

Andre said he had called the vessel and had no response and it was heading directly for us. He was steering trying to get us out the way and I took over the radio.

My loud and clear announcement on the emergency channel (this is monitored by everyone including the authorities)  that the “Warrior Spirit” was on a collision course with us and to state his intentions IMMEDIATELY”. 

One of the benefits of having an AIS (Automatic Identification System for ships) installed is you can call the vessels by name.

To this, Warrior Spirit responded saying he was changing his course to Port. This is not standard practice. The Collision Avoidance rules say that in the event of two vessels being on a collision course they are both to make a positive and obvious heading change TO STARBOARD. However we accepted his move expecting him to make a BIG adjustment to Port. 

Warrior Spirit made a minute change of course to Port which actually put him on a more direct course towards us. He was going to T-Bone us if he maintained his heading.

I once again summoned him on the radio stating clearly he was going to hit us if he did not IMMEDIATELY make a change of course to Starboard. Thankfully he did as commanded; then came back saying he had already changed course and we had to get out of the way! I informed him he was the bigger faster vessel and it was his responsibility to avoid collision. His retort was he had changed; to Port. When I pointed out he was in contravention of Collision regulations and was supposed to have made a positive and obvious move to Starboard. He stopped replying. Wonder why!?

So with adrenalin levels dropping it was back to bed for me until 03h00 and an uneventful journey into Tobago’s Store Bay.

We laid anchor at 06h00 and went to sleep.

Awakening at about 10h00 we found we were back in cruising heaven. Beautiful clean water and beaches. First order of the day was a swim! We had not been able to swim since Itaparica in Brazil and had serious withdrawal symptoms. The water was warm and we could see fish swimming around below us.

Trinidad and Tobago require that we sign in and out between the Island even though they are one country. We were supposed to have sailed to Scarborough to sign in but had been told by other cruisers that if we stopped in Store Bay and took a taxi over to Scarborough it was much easier and they usually didn’t ask to see the boat. Our luck was in and the very friendly Immigration Officer signed us in no problem. We have to go back to him when we leave this end of the island and head North where we have to sign in again at Charlotteville.

For those who are interested in AIS and ships at sea; I have just discovered this link and you would probably be able to see where we were when we are at sea if you followed it: http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/

We are booked to go Scuba diving tomorrow morning. More news later.

Rat Catcher Store Bay!




Sunday, November 20, 2011

Back in the Water!

18th November 2011

So after nearly 10 days of non-stop work the time had come for "Rat CATcher" to be lifted back into the water!
 
Her hulls had been scraped and a new coat of Anti-foul had her looking pretty as new. A few repairs had been done which had been caused by bad workmanship in CT. Let us say no more about that!

The prop "problem" was fixed, we found they had installed the wrong size spacer in CT and we had to replace it.

Our Mast lights and wind sensor was replaced and we now our "Brazilian" wind (see previous blog) sensor is for decoration. Standing on the very top of the mast is always an incredible experience. I love the head rush and got a chance to go up again during this repair. I do the feeding of the cable etc then Andre goes up after me and does the connections. Its hard work standing up the with little support so it helps to work in relays!

We added another 10 meters of anchor chain. The wood was all scraped down and re-varnished.

These were just a few of the hundreds of things that needed doing. As well as a spring clean inside. All covers washed and aired.

We are having new waterproof canvas covers made for the cockpit so we don't get drenched in the rain and a cover made for the rubber duck to stop the sun eating her.

She has also been repaired and patched and waterproofed and should be good for another few years.

We had booked to be lifted back in on the 18th; Thursday but we were just not ready!

Friday was D-Day. I could feel "rat catcher" holding her breath in anticipation! Proud and beaming and glad to have us back on board!

She was gently lifted, the last places that had been inaccessible painted and then into the water.





I swear I heard her squeal with glee as her keels touched the water. So for 3 days we will be here on the mooring at Peake, then we are having her buffed at Crews Inn on Monday and then Tobago, here we come!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Relaxed at Last!

My Captain chilling after working his butt off in Canada and then on the boat when we got back!

Hows that sky?


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

St. John's - the unexplained!

9th November 2011

We flew out of St. John's today! Not since I left Harare have I felt this way about leaving a city!

That's the "unexplained". I have no idea why this place has crept into my heart! I know I would hate the long cold winters! Andre was working long hours while we were here and after months of being together 24/7 I missed him!

Maybe it's the openness of the people? The freedom to go anywhere any time and feel safe! The way people greet you in the street and often stop to chat reminds me of Rhodesia! I honestly cannot put my finger on the reason but I left St. John's with a lump in my throat!

Of course I also was very pleased to be going back to the boat! We flew Westjet airlines to Toronto with a half hour stopover in Halifax! We didn't disembark!

After a bumpy descent into a rainy Toronto we had five hours to kill until the Caribbean Airline flight to Port of Spain, Trinidad. A beer and dinner did the trick and they were soon announcing boarding!

It seems most people had lost their sense of humour by that time as everyone was barking and growling at everyone! The poor ground hostess had messed up a few duty free booze orders and given wrong bags to wrong people! Well we saw that at ten o'clock at night you don't mess with a man’s duty free booze without being bit!!

By now the poor hostie was in a state and had lost Andre's proof of purchase he had just given her! At that moment I would not have swapped places for all the booze in the shop! Haha

Landing at Trinidad was uneventful and Ian was waiting for us in his taxi! I had expected the same humid heat as when we left and was surprised to find it much more comfortable!

It was wonderful seeing 'rat catcher' standing in the shadow of the giant tree as we drove in the gate! On boarding her imagine our dismay to find her absolutely filthy! Covered in leaves, her decks green and her helm seat black with mould!





We had hired a recommended boat man 'Uncle Sam' who was supposed to have washed her down once a week and kept her free of the falling leaves! He was also supposed to check the aircon we had running inside was in fact running! This he was supposed to go by simply checking the piece of tape attached above the exhaust vent was blowing! Well not even that was working!

So much for boat boy uncle Sam!

Lots of work before we lifted back onto the water.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Half Century.

2nd November 2011

I was privileged to celebrate my 50th birthday in St. John's. I was horribly spoiled, Andre bought me an iPad. Its awesome.

It started as a wonderful day. Andre only had to be in later so we planned to stop for coffee at the Stavanger center on his way into the office and I would get the protective cover on my iPad and then bus back. As we were about to leave he was called out. These things happen so it was bye for now see you later. Then 15 mins later he walked back in! Our friend Morne had offered to go do the run for him so he could take me to breakfast!

So Stavanger breakfast and shopping was on again! What more could I want?

He had said he was taking me out to dinner but we were stopping at our friends Helen and Rob Griffiths for drinks first! So "tarted"and ready we set off. Only to discover Rob and Helen were hosting a dinner party for me with our other friends, Morne and Zoe Wijd , Laurie Du Pois  and Mike Hill.

Helen had balloons and streamers up in her entrance hall. The bar was adorned with "Pink Flamingo's" she had drawn and stuck up.

Dinner was an awesome Curry and desert was to die for. Helen had made a delicious cake and Zoe had brought Cheese Cake.

An spectacular evening with great friends.

Many thanks to my true love for planning it all.


Morne Andre, Alison and Mike (lt - rt)

Helen, Laurie, Zoe and Morne

Great evening with great people! Thanks all. 

Hug from Mike



Ron and Helen Griffiths.


Helens Cat is 19 and traveled from Africa!

Desert to die for! NNNNNyummmy!