190. Instagram

I decided to change from blogspot to instagram.
Look for high_and_dry_sonic_boom

189. Storms

I am safe in Trinidad, well away from Irma.
Very worried about Tortola and St. Martin - looks like they've been destroyed.

188. Laptop has died

Disaster - my laptop has finally died.
Help!

187. Chagauramas

A rain shower passing to the south

It feels good to be back in Trinidad. I’d forgotten, how commercial/industrial Chagauramas is, but Crew’s Inn’s beautiful swimming pool is still there, as are the showers at Coral Cove and Power Boats. I’d also forgotten just how cheap everything is. It’s like the reverse of Grand Cayman. After a few days of getting the boat back in order, I feel settled for the next few months until the end of hurricane season.

Out Now – featuring Sonic Boom

http://www.sailingtoday.co.uk

186. Crash

Chagauramas, Trinidad

The sail from Grenada to Trinidad sucked. I knew there wasn’t going to be enough wind but I didn’t fancy waiting for at least a week, probably two for better conditions, so I set off anyway. I made it through the night OK, thanks to almost no waves, but in the morning the wind died and waves grew as thunderstorms started to roll by. I dodged a few but got hit by two big ones. Massive winds and torrential rain, and got pushed very close to an oilrig, which when I’d first seen in the night, I’d mistaken for an oil tanker. I’d wondered why it was going so slowly.

I had to motor for about eight hours. As I approached Trinidad my engine started making a strange noise – my fan belt was starting to break, so I stopped and tried to fit my spare, but I couldn’t get it on, so I put the old one back on and prayed. The very last three miles, in a narrow channel between rocky islands and steep cliffs were very stressful. I made it to Chagauramas and picked up a mooring ball. It was too late to avoid customs overtime fees so I hid and cleared in the next morning.

After an almost pleasant customs and immigration, a big storm rolled over the mountains so I quickly headed back. Huge winds and massive rain hit the bay. I was glad I wasn’t on a newly laid anchor. Inside Sonic Boom I could hear the wind and my dinghy banging against the hull, then I heard a much bigger bang. In my window a big fishing boat – it had dragged and smashed into me. I grabbed fenders and tried to push it away. With the help of my neighbor, I untied and moved to another ball, and we tied the dragging boat onto the ball I’d been on. Welcome to Trinidad.

185. Grenada

Hillsborough

Carriacou is part of Grenada, so I stopped in Hillsborough Bay and cleared in with customs and immigration. Then I motored round the coast to Tyrrel Bay. I needed to do laundry, take a shower and check the weather. It’s so nice there I stayed an extra day. It would be a great place to spend hurricane season – and quite a few boats are doing. For me though, next stop Grenada.

Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou

The sail to Grenada was nice and quick, some nasty rain, and then not much wind but nothing really bad. I anchored off St. George’s instead of going into Port Louis Marina, although I did dinghy there later on to have a look around and a swim in their pool. The next day I motored round to the south coast and Prickly Bay, where a lot of cruisers go. It’s a good place to leave for Trinidad, my next and, hopefully for a while, final stop.

Prickly Bay, Grenada