116. Seismic Wave

George Town

About an hour after leaving George Town anchorage I heard an engine alarm, and saw the low oil warning light had come on. I switched off the engine and discovered all my oil had sprayed out through the dipstick port. I refilled the oil and everything went back to normal. A bit scary, very messy, and I’m still not entirely sure why it happened. I’m now back anchored in Governor’s Creek, and next to a catamaran called Seismic Wave, which seems like a good match for Sonic Boom.

Clear Caribbean Sea in Hogs Sty Bay

I took Davide and Daniel for a trip to Starfish point, which was lots of fun, and another day I spent shopping for some boat parts with John, another friend from work, and then snorkeling at Macabuca.  Hopefully we’ll go diving soon – John’s an expert diver, with over 6800 dives, Davide and Daniel are also master divers. I’m hoping Steven from s/v Amaris will come and stay for some diving this summer.

Tall ship off George Town

I spent a day off doing maintenance. My head has been leaking, so I took the pump apart, cleaned it and tightened everything up. No more leaks. I installed a new engine ignition switch after mine broke. I fitted a new vented loop on my exhaust hose, and so my cooling system is now completely refurbished. I also made a new mosquito net for my fore hatch. Then I took the boat out into North Sound, cleaned the hull and propeller and tightened my zinc.

I still need to fix my throttle lever, compass light and starboard running light, and now a new cabin fan. Salt corrosion is brutal here; anything that can rust, rusts. Knives, tools, tins, zips, bikes, jeeps just turn to piles of brown powder.

Macabuca

115. Customised

Cat boat Club

I leave my dinghy on the dock next to the Catboat Club. Catboats are traditional Cayman Islands sailboats, usually with one mast at the bow, often used for turtle fishing. My friend Tyronnie told me the story of how long ago a local man made a small boat and one day found his cat asleep inside. She’d given birth to kittens and so was very protective of the boat, which became known as the catboat.

A Mouse boat? The Disney cruise ship Fantasy

It’s fun listening to the VHF radio in the morning, and conversations between port authority and arriving cruise ship captains. A small pilot boat guides in the cruise ships to a specific spot with a sandy bottom and 22 feet of water under their keel. Then they dive on the anchor, although the other day they couldn’t find it.

Another advantage of being on the west coast is spectacular sunsets. Last night was cloudless, the setting sun touched the water and I saw my first ever green flash.

I went to immigration and got my passport stamped with my work permit. Should be no more immigration until next January, although I will have to renew my police clearance form soon. I’m still waiting to hear from customs.