South Coast of Dominican Republic

South Coast of DR

Friday 15 March – Friday 29 March

We had a calm crossing of the Mona passage from Puerto Rico to the Dominican Republic, we had to motor most of the way but the seas were calm so made for a comfortable (but noisy) ride. 22 hours after leaving PR we were entering the Marina Zar Par in Boca Chica DR. The marina sends out a tender to guide you in and we go to the fuel dock to clear in with customs & immigration and get fuel, 3 hours later we get to our slip. Don't think it usually takes that long but everyone was very nice & helpful, the marina staff even drove Steve to a bank to get some local money. We had noticed in PR black ash on the boat and first thought it was someone having a big BBQ on the beach. Now in the DR we notice it again and are trying to figure out how we still have ash on the boat after 22 hours at sea. We learn that they are burning the sugar cane fields and the black ash just goes every where during the month of March. NOT mentioned in any of the tourist guides :). Free water at the marina so wash the boat down and get it ready for guests arriving Sunday & Monday. 

Sunday morning a little more getting the boat ready. Then Steve makes a wonderful pork tenderloin with apples, apricot, cranberry & sweet potato that just has to be heated up when he gets back from picking Sean up at the airport. They get back around 8 pm and after Sean gets settled in we have a great dinner. Monday Sean goes to meet Carrie at the airport, and the taxi drops Steve off at the grocery to be picked up on the way back. They all arrive back on the boat around 12:30 as we meet Carrie for the first time showing her around the boat and let her get settled in and changed into island clothes. We walk down to the beach known as Boca Chica and find a beach restaurant to have a late lunch. Once seated at the table on the beach we immediately start getting approached by vendors. They are selling EVERYTHING. From food & drink, even though we are sitting at a restaurant, to sunglasses, watches, jewelry, even 4' x 3' pictures, massages, pedicures & of course cigars. It was hard to have a conversation in between the hundreds of times we had to say NO GRACIAS. Not the most pleasant experience but entertaining and a true Dominican experience.

The beach is lovely and for a late afternoon on a Monday very busy and getting busier. We (me) did get suckered into getting the “best pina colada in the world” drink down the beach, it was NOT but we used the beach lounge chairs to drink them & refused his request for a tip for the already overpriced drinks. Rule # 1 find out the price first !!

Back to the marina by 5 to request our despacho for the following morning so we can go to another anchorage. Unlike the other eastern Caribbean countries, in the DR you need a form allowing you to move from one spot to another. We get ours to go to Bayahibe where we will get another to go to Isla Saona our goal. Bayahibe is a interesting little village and anchorage. It is home to about 30 catamaran day trip boats plus several 10 to 20 seat motor boats that take tourist from near & far resorts out to Isla Saona, a national park.

Bayahibe has its share of vendors selling souvenirs, but they have huts you can choose to walk by or go in and look, and they are not too pushy. Steve, Sean & Carrie had gone in the night before to let them know we had arrived. The next morning we all go in to see the town and find an ATM so Carrie & I can get some DR Pesos, and to get our despacho to go to Isla Saona. Isla Saona is an island with beautiful beaches all around it, it gets busy for a few hours during the day with all the day trip boats, but they are almost all gone by 3 and at night we shared the anchorage with 3 other boats. The day trip boats have assigned areas so no one beach is swarmed with all the people. This being Carries first time staying on a sail boat we are happy to show her this wonderful part of anchoring out off beautiful locations. After a few of the catamarans left we took the dinghy to the beach to check in and walk the beach and swim.

Thursday we had made arraignments, in Bayahibe, for a dive shop to come out to our boat at Isla Saona to take us diving. When we get up we see that Ultra has arrived and is anchored near by. Steve & I go by to say HI and even though they just got in 2 hours before they join us to go diving in an hour. It was of course subject to the dive shops okay, which they did and since Bill & JoAnne have equipment & tanks it was just a matter of loading 2 more people into the dive boat. A little later start then planned but the dive sights were close by and the guides were not in a hurry. Back to the boat to clean off equipment and a late lunch followed by relaxing afternoon. Sean & Carrie go swimming again, Steve makes a Bulgur salad to bring over to Ultra who invited us all over to dinner that night. Dinner followed by some rum tasting. Friday Ultra leaves early to continue on to Casa de Campo marina to clear into the country while we do some more exploring of the island.

Bill had lent us a dive plane that he made. You tow it behind the dinghy and using a mask, hold on & hold your breath & dive down and snorkel, angling the board to either dive or come up for air or go left or right. Sean said it was the closest he's ever come to feeling like a porpoise. The dinghy's not going fast, only 2-3 knots, but it's way faster than you can swim, and effortless gliding along the bottom.

Even if the weather is not good, partly cloudy with a few showers, we still have fun and visit another beautiful beach that we have to ourselves to have a picnic lunch. We got our despacho Friday night so are ready to leave early on Saturday. We were going to go all the way back to Zar Par marina so left at 7, but Bill & JoAnne called on the radio telling us how wonderful Casa de Campo marina is and Saturday night is a free BBQ at the yacht club. So we make the decision to go there. It will be a longer taxi ride for Sean & Carrie to the airport the next day but they will get to see some place different. The marina sends a boat out to help us get into our slip and we are docked by 9:30. Check out the marina and surrounding area then decide to head to the beach.

Casa de Campo is a huge complex of 7,000 acres on which sits in addition to the 370 slip marina, a luxury hotel, 4 golf courses, equestrian center with 3 polo fields, a skeet shooting range, tennis courts, numerous shops and restaurants, private million dollar homes, the beautiful Minitas beach, Altos de Chavon a stone paved medieval village over looking the Chavon river, complete with an amphitheater to mention a few amenities. It employees 15,000 people mostly from the near by town of La Romana. The marina rates are very reasonable, for our 50 ft boat $50 a night, restaurants are also reasonable but the shops are VERY expensive as is the laundry service that I learned the hard way. But now after almost 57 years I can say I have IRONED sheets & pillowcases :).

Getting ahead of myself here, so we are on our way to the beach Saturday by 10:30. One thing this area lacks is a cheap way to get from point A to point B. All rental properties come with a golf cart, and you can rent them here at the marina, but NO shuttle buses !!! Only taxi's, not a cheap way to go short distances. As we were learning this a very nice gentleman came out of the grocery store and asked where we were going. Carrie (who is fluent in Spanish as well as French and was our WONDERFUL interpreter while she was here) told him to the beach, and he gave us a ride. It was a lovely day at the beach with NO vendors trying to sell us anything. Lunch at the beach then a nice 30 minute walk back to the marina getting to see some gorgeous homes and landscaping.

Saturday evening the yacht club hosted a free BBQ for the beginning of the sports fishing season. The yacht club, is a beautiful building outside and in, decorated with mahogany wood, art work and fantastic lighting. It is open to all and has a great bar with a friendly staff. We thought it would be a cash bar but soon learn Absolute vodka, Brugal rum, another liquor can't remember & Presidente beer and a passion fruit rum punch were all free, paid for by sponsors of the party. We were all very happy with the choices. Wait staff served appetizers, as we listened to live music waiting on the BBQ hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, coleslaw and salad, followed by more live music. Eleven pm we decide to go up to Altos de Chavon to check out the village, even at night it is beautiful and you feel like you are in an old stone village not one that was built in 1976. JoAnne talked one of the security guards into letting us ride in the bed of the little pick-up trucks (I got shotgun) up to the village for $15 ($5 each couple). We had a fun time seeing the sights at night and had made arraignments for him to come back and pick us up at 1. He was a no show for the ride back to the marina but we found another security guard who between JoAnne & Carrie made the same deal to get us back to the marina.

Sunday morning we were all moving a little slow but this was Sean & Carrie's last day so we got up and they packed up then we got a ride from the taxi driver set up to take them to the airport to bring us up to the hotel for a couple of hours before they had to leave for the airport. The hotel pool is beautiful and it was a great way to make the most of the morning before their 12:30 departure to the airport. They are on their way to the airport and we go back to the boat to find a note from Bill & JoAnne that they were riding their bikes heading to the pool then would go to the polo fields to watch a game at 4:30. We rested for a few hours then got our taxi guy to bring us back up to the polo grounds across from the hotel to find NO game on Sunday. So we go back to the hotel and find Bill & JoAnne and decide to get a free hotel shuttle to Altos de Chavon to see it in the daylight.

They really did a great job at recreating an 18^th century village and it is fun seeing it and the views of the river. Catch the 7:15 pm hotel shuttle back to the hotel with several other hotel guests, I lend Bill & JoAnne my flashlight so they can ride their bikes back to the marina and the hotel driver drives Steve & I back to the marina. We walked through the plaza where all the restaurants are to check out menus. JoAnne & Bill make it back safe and we go out for dinner. A great day ending a great visit with Sean & Carrie and for Steve & I to celebrate 3 years of cruising living on our floating traveling home.

Monday I go to find the laundromat and find out the one here at the marina is no longer here, only one up at the hotel so they call someone to come and pick up my laundry. I should have guessed since a hotel was involved that it might be a little expensive but when they bring it back two days later never in my wildest dreams, did I think they would IRON the sheets and pillowcases and Steve's shirts & shorts – crazy !!! What did I say at the top of this blog ASK THE PRICE FIRST, won't forget again.

Monday late afternoon Frank the harbor master came by and said we needed to adjust our boat lines since our solar panels were hanging over the walkway and he was afraid someone would get hurt. We had had this conversation with another boater and agreed, BUT if we moved the boat out any further we could not get off, even if we put the dinghy behind the boat in the water the dock was too high to climb up on to, and the marina staff helped tie us off this way. We did tape plastic bags with bright color paper on the corners to act as a warning flag. Frank said we still needed to do something so he got us a passerelle (gangplank) that 2 marina staff dropped off. Steve & I tried to get it to work on our own but we could not get it secured so I called back saying we needed some help and next thing we knew 2 dinghies & 2 golf carts came up to help. It took us about 30 minutes to rig it up right but we got it done. Still a little overhang onto the walkway but Frank came by to check and said that it would work. Still a little tricky getting on & off have to be careful not to hit our heads or trip over the lines holding the passerelle in place.

Tuesday there is a polo match so I rented a golf cart and gave Bill & JoAnne a ride up to the hotel pool then back to the boat where Steve is finishing up changing the oil on the engine & generator and start putting the boat back together. Riding a golf cart around the marina you feel like 10 – 15 MPH is a good speed, out on the nice paved roads it feels really slow. So slow my leg was hurting from pressing the petal down so hard trying to make it go faster (it did not). This was an electric cart but even other electric carts were passing me :(. I needed a sign that said sorry- I am going as fast as I can. You probably had to be there but it was pretty funny.

Steve & I go up to the hotel at 4:30 to pick up Bill & JoAnne to go across the road to the polo fields to watch a game, the first time for all 4 of us to see a polo match. It was fun but by 6 we were ready to head back to the marina for happy hour watching the sun set. Wednesday Ultra leaves the marina to go over to Isla Catalina, we were staying for one more day to do another boat project, polish the stainless on the arch since we are backed into the dock it is easy to reach. Wednesday night there is another party in the marina with free drinks and heavy hors derves for the Toy Box grand opening, they are located next to the Mistral Bar & restaurant who provided the food & drinks and had a great musician. The Toy Box is a concierge service company for the “ villa clients and yachts, super yachts and mega yachts” there wording but I guess it included us cruisers also.

We had planned to leave Thursday morning meeting up with Ultra back at marina Zar Par, but heard of another free party with live Jazz Thursday night at the Azimut cafe so decided to stay one more day. Steve had been working almost non stop for a few days and was looking forward to an easy day before getting underway. Thursday morning we get a hold of Ultra to let them know of our change in plans. Steve had one little project to do – grease the main roller furling track, and with the light winds it was a good morning to do it. He got it done just in time for the rain which lasted all afternoon. Our final night event was not as good as the other two, just free Chivas scotch which I do not drink or champagne and only nuts and cheese for snacks. They did have some paintings from 3 local artist on display that were really good, they had to move them inside along with the people as we had a light evening shower for a few minutes. Back to the boat by 8:30 for dinner and to get the boat ready for an early morning departure.

8 AM Friday morning Steve goes to check out with the marina then with the Coast Guard to get our despacho to go back to Boca Chica. He comes back at 8:30 with several marine staff so we can hand off the passerelle then we need them to ease off the stern lines so we can bring the dinghy back and haul it up. We leave the dock to go circle around in front by the fuel dock so Steve can secure the dinghy, tying the lines so it does not swing / move while underway. By 9 we are heading out the channel, under gray skies with a cool temperature of 76°, calm seas and light winds to start so just put up the main sail. By 9:30 winds have picked able to carry the genoa and and turn off the motor. We have a great sail, winds build during the day so first put a reef in the genoa then a 2^nd reef and one in the main. Average speed of 8, hitting 10.6 with one wind gust. We were outside the marina trying to get them on the radio by 2, took them a while to answer and they gave us a choice of going back to our old slip or since the winds were still blowing they had a side tie slip available which we took. All tied up by 3, washed down the boat and called Ultra who was out on a marina mooring close by. Ultra came by for drinks and to make plans our future travels west.

link to pictures;  https://plus.google.com/photos/103931849054358791487/albums/5860094853534020049?authkey=CMDO6N_aiKqQWA

West Bound on Schedule

West Bound on Schedule

Friday 1 March – Friday 15 March 2013

 

Friday morning we leave the lovely anchorage at Honeymoon Beach to go into Crown Bay Marina. Without the generator to charge the batteries they have been getting low, plus it is almost time to equalize them again. We are docked by 9:30, after checking in Steve goes over to the machine shop to check on the progress of our part repair while I sort out 3 loads of laundry. The laundromat is a self serve or drop off, and I plan on doing my own laundry. I know it sounds funny but sometimes it is nice to be able to do your own laundry. Not that I want to spend all day at the laundromat but some things need a gentle cycle and not a hot dryer that I think I do a better job with. I am done & back on the boat for lunch just as Steve finished washing the deck & cockpit. After lunch Steve gets the bus to go to Home Depot to get new batteries for his drill and some other supplies while I clean the inside of the boat. Steve makes another stop at the machine shop and is glad to learn that they are open a full day on Saturday but still not sure if we will get our part. Friday night on board trying to finish up my last blog and get pictures posted and the internet goes down ! Saturday morning internet back working so finish with blog. After lunch Steve goes to the machine shop and YES our part is ready. I guess Steve's persistence of stopping by and pleading with them paid off. They were supposed to fix the old part so we would have that as a spare but they did not have time for that. The new part is substantially better built so will hopefully hold up. Short trip up the road to the grocery store, where Steve realizes he left his credit card at the machine shop. I had my card so groceries bought and back on board Steve runs back to machine shop to get his card. Goes to put new part on the generator and realizes he also left the new belt there that they needed for sizing. One final trip back to the shop then he puts the part on and it works!! Steve starts putting away his tools and we get the boat ready to leave on Sunday. Sunday we check out of the marina at 10:30 and leave the slip shortly after making a quick stop at the fuel dock and are out the channel leaving St Thomas by 11:30. Clouds moved in making it a gray day but we have a great sail all the way to the island of Culebra, (Spanish Virgin Island, Puerto Rico) and pick up one of the last free moorings by 2:30 under clear skies behind the reef at Dakity, the area just as you enter the bay of Ensenada Honda. Steve calls to check us in with our local boater option cards, only this time they ask for the boat decal # (did not ask in USVI's). Well he had one only it was a year out of date, so they would not check us in. They told Steve he had to go to the airport to get a new decal #, and for some reason Steve thought they were telling him he had to go to the airport in San Juan. Once it was clear, after another call, that they meant the airport here in Culebra it was better but still thought it might interfere with our travel plans. The customs guy made it clear we could NOT leave without getting them that # or there would be a $5000.00 fine. Steve was able to get on line with a very slow internet connection and manage homeland securities web site to pay his $27.50 for the new decal #. We did not get the decal # , just an order # and when he called back they accepted that and gave us our clearance #. And we thought other countries were a pain to check into! We saw another boat we knew in the anchorage so went by to say HI to Chris & Yani on Magus then stopped by the boat Orion to say HI to Sue the lady that does the Culebra Cruisers Facebook page before going back to the boat for dinner. Monday we take a dinghy ride then move up to another mooring as it was a little rolly where we were. Defrost the freezer, have lunch then drop the genoa sail as it had seams on the sun cover where the thread had disintegrated and needed to be re-stitched. Even though this anchorage is behind a big reef there is not many fish or much to look at just rock but it was a wonderful swim after a hot day. An early dinner and early night to get ready for a long days sail to Salinas Puerto Rico. We are underway by 6:45 in drizzling rain and very light winds in calm seas. Once out the channel the rain stops but skies remain gray, passing the island the winds pick up and we are able to sail with full main & genoa up doing 7 to 7.5 knots in choppy seas with 1-2 foot swells. Even though I had my weathers on when I released our lines from the mooring & still had them on, I was cold, so went below to stay warm under a blanket, but Steve is comfortable in his shorts & T-shirt. We had a few more showers along the way and several wind shifts causing us to roll up the main but manage to sail almost the whole way with just the genoa, once in the lee of Puerto Rico the northerly swells are blocked and makes for a smooth sail. By 3 the rain has been gone for awhile and the sun is popping out between clouds so I bring my blanket up on deck to keep Steve company for the last stretch. By 4:30 we are anchored in Salinas, we get several Spanish speaking TV channels but NO internet on the boat. Wednesday we call and make a reservation for a rental car then go into the restaurant by the marina to use their internet. I connect right away but Steve's computer will not allow him to connect. He uses mine for a while then goes out to see if there is another place open he can connect. Finds a place not open but a guy is there so lets him use the wifi which he is able to connect with. His computer has been acting very strange lately, think it is getting old and overloaded. Back to the boat for lunch, and Steve gets some warmer clothes out to pack as we saw on the news about Chicago getting snow!! Not only has he not been away from the boat for any length of time he has not been in cold weather in an even longer time. Thursday we are waiting for the rental car at 10 & Sidney gets there with the car about 10:20 quickly do the paperwork and drive off taking highway 52 a beautiful road going from the south side of the island up and through the mountains to the north side of the island. First stop is a T-Mobile store as Steve's chip will not work in his phone. He had called T-Mobile on my phone that did work and they said just go by and get another sim card, no charge. The young lady helping us took her time and made several calls but could not get his phone to work. She did get his chip to work in my phone so it was determined the phone was the problem. It had worked in several countries since he got it just not in the US. She recommended we go to the next town up to a place called Dr. Mobile and maybe he could fix the problem. We get there and the problem turns out to be that Steve's phone is just a dual band NOT a quad band phone that he was told it was when he bought it after ours were stolen down in Bequia. $32 later Steve has another new phone, just a little Nokia that his T-Mobile chip works in. Now when he gets to Chicago he can connect with his brother flying in from Dallas to meet his sister picking them up. By this time it is 2, and Steve's flight is at 4. Thought we would have time to stop for lunch but not knowing the area we decide to just drop him off at the airport. He can get something to eat there and I can find something when I make a stop to shop. We had seen a few stores by the T-Mobile store and also passed a “mall” on the way to the airport. I missed the exit to the mall so thought I would just turn around, well this beautiful highway 52 has very few exits and they are far between and even when you do exit, getting back on to go the opposite way is NOT just making a U-turn. I finally got back to the “mall” (think really small version of any US mall) grabbed a big soft pretzel and spent time looking. Time flies when you are just browsing looking for things you might need, had some idea of things we needed but finding / looking for what will actually work takes a lot of time. I was out of there by 4:30, as I still had a ways to drive and did not want to be going back to the marina the 1^st time in the dark. Finding the exit I knew would be easy, but the little back roads to the marina are a little tricky and sure enough I made a wrong turn and had to have some young men on bikes show me the way. Friday I go shopping again, and I'm amazed how long it takes to go through Wall-Mart. Good thing Steve is in Chicago as he would have no patience for all day shopping. Back to the marina & out to the boat by 6 again. Saturday morning into the marina for internet, bring computer back to the boat then take the car to go to the town of Ponce. Need to go to Customs to get Clearance papers to go to the DR. Steve had told me it was by the area where we anchored last time we were in PR, so I found that area with no problem, only customs was not there. Luckily I had the phone # so was able to call but his directions were not that clear either & I went to the wrong place again. I saw a police car so waved them down and they just said follow us and lead me there. Sure are some nice friendly people in PR. Got our clearance document then stopped by another mall on my way back to the marina. Sunday no way can I even think about going to another store !!! Plus Sidney said since I was not using the car that day he would not charge me for it. Went to the marina to use internet then a quiet afternoon on the boat reading with a couple of Manatee sightings. Meanwhile Steve is having a wonderful visit with his brother and 4 sisters as they celebrate with their mom for her 90^th birthday. Monday I head out early as I am going to go by the “big” Mall of Americas on my way to the airport to pick up Steve. I get a text from him that he was boarding on time but did not see the 2^nd text telling me there was a problem with the plane so they had to switch planes and would now arrive 2 hours later. I had enough shopping so was actually getting to the airport a little early, now I was a LOT early but did not want to do any more driving or shopping so just parked the car and went and had a drink to wait. His plane got in around 4 and we headed back to the boat, stopping at a couple of auto part stores to see if they had any bearings. Steve wants to keep extras on hand for if & when we have a problem with the generator again. Stop at the grocery store and get back to the boat by 7:30. Tuesday the rental car needs to be turned in by 10 so we make an early quick run to Wall-Mart to get a few things I forgot. Back to the boat to get ready to leave on Wednesday. Wednesday we head out around 8, but first have to go out off shore and drift so Steve can put the dinghy down and use the snake to unclog the head that clogged before he left. That lovely job taken care of, we get on course to head west and have a nice sail to Boqueron for the night to be in position to do the passage to Dominican Republic the following day. Thursday morning we get the boat ready for the passage, take the dinghy motor off, check oil, make dinner to be heated up later underway, and make sure everything is secure. We leave at noon and wind is from the SE not E & NE as predicted so we have a nice sail for the first 4 hours. Then the winds start to die down and we have to motor sail at first but then wind up just motoring for the next 18 hours. Would have been nice to have had more wind BUT the seas were calm so it made for a good passage, we were at the fuel dock by 10 am Friday. Customs and coast guard met us there along with the marina personal to inspect the boat for clearing in, then the marina employee took Steve to immigration to pay our importation fees and also took him to the bank. We got fuel and moved over to our slip 3 hours later, one of the longest check-ins we have ever had but they were all very nice and friendly and helpful. So glad the weather cooperated keeping us on schedule, arriving safe & on time. Saturday we will check out the area and see where we can visit and do some planning for our guests arriving.

link to pictures;  https://plus.google.com/photos/103931849054358791487/albums/5855800754643777761?authkey=CJmV1buch86xQw

February 2013

February 2013

Friday 1 February – Thursday 28 February

Warning it is another long update, will try to do more often so not as long :). 3 countries numerous islands and lots of friends.

February starts out with another beautiful sunny day, Steve & I get our hair cut at the same place – how scary is that !! A little place right by the dinghy dock at Simpson Bay Marina, I just needed a couple of inches cut off the ends straight across so is was pretty easy and for $15 each can't complain, she actually did a very nice job. After waiting a MONTH for an overnight Fed X delivery I finally get my ATM card, NOT a problem with Fed X but with the stupid bank not recognizing a valid St Maarten address - crazy. Later we go to HH at the Yacht Club and then to dinner at the Thai place with Jan & Larry from Sea Bear & Bennie & Rick from Lima. Saturday we drop off laundry then Steve goes to the boaters flea market. Ultra's friend arrives for a visit so we go with them to the Yacht club again so Scott can watch some boats come in. Then walk down to a casino for a few minutes before going to an Indian restaurant for dinner. Sunday starts off cloudy but clears & warms up by 1.  Trip to the grocery store then later dinner on Ultra after they get back from showing Scott Maho beach. Monday Scott rented a car to tour around the island and we went with him, JoAnne & Bill, loading our beach bags into the trunk. At one stop we parked the car and walked a little ways to see some views and during that short time someone jimmied the car door & opened the trunk and stole all our beach bags. We did not know this until 2 stops later when we went to get something else out of the trunk. Shock & disbelief hit us all. We went back to “the scene of the crime” hoping maybe the bags were thrown away when he realized there was not a lot of valuables in them, but no such luck. We had been told that rental cars on the islands are targets and you are not supposed to leave anything in them. But since it was beach stuff and we were not really walking far we let our guard down and paid the price. We will be much more vigilant in the future. I know it happens everywhere but it is hard to understand why some people think it is OK for them to take other peoples belongings. We did not let it ruin the day, even if it was quite upsetting and we kept thinking about what else was in our beach bags. We still managed to see some beautiful sights & beaches around the island. Tuesday was going to be another touring by car day but as we were leaving the boats we ran out of gas, Steve had meant to switch tanks but forgot. We kept a spare liter in the dinghy in a bottle that we put in BUT the motor would not re start. Luckily Bill was near by with his dinghy so towed us back to our boat. Steve thought it was dirt in the carburetor and he could clean it out and switch fuel tanks and be ready to go in an hour. Bill & JoAnne & Scott were going to run some errands and check back with us. Well the fuel had gotten water in it and Steve cleaned it all out but still could not get the motor to start. Keep in mind that we have to lift the motor off the dinghy & onto the big boat to be able to work on it then put it back on the dinghy to see if it will work. We were on the 2^nd try when Bill & JoAnne called to see if we were ready to go. We told them we were not having any luck & to go ahead without us, and check back later in the day. Steve worked on it for the rest of the day still no luck getting it started. Tuesday night we had planned to drive up to Grand Case for the street party but after a frustrating day of working on the motor Steve was in no mood to go so we told Bill & JoAnne & Scott who had come back to get us to go on without us. Wednesday Dave & Margaret from Highland Fling come by so Dave can help Steve with the dinghy motor and they get it to work. We had taken over Wild Things internet modem for the last 2 weeks but now the company renting them needed this one back so we reluctantly gave it back. Then went by Barnacles for the cruisers HH. Other friends Izzy & Jeff from Izzy R have now arrived in St Martin, and they come by also along with Sunny & John from Notre Vie. Later we all catch a bus to go to Maho Village to see some night life. We first go by Cheri's Cafe to watch a fun song & dance act with the audience involved. It was really funny as you can see by some of the pictures from that night. Next we stop by a couple of bars just to check them out as they are quite unique, like Sky Beach a bar on the roof with a sand floor. Next we try to get a bus back but learn they stopped running, not sure why they don't run at night but we finally find a taxi and negotiate a good rate to get the 9 of us back to where we left our dinghies. Thursday we go into Lagoonies for lunch and to use internet and go by NAPA to get a 1 gallon gas tank to replace the plastic bottle for keeping spare gas in the dinghy. It should not get water in it if and when we need to use it again. Later we take the depth finder to see if there is a path along the north side of explorer island to get to the French bridge to find a shorter route than going all the way to the Cupecoy channel. Friday we along with Bill & JoAnne take the bus to Cost U Less (big box store) to stock up since we will be leaving St Martin. They deliver so we really load up and run into 3 other couples we know doing the same. They were going to take a taxi back but we told them about the delivery so all 5 boats got our goods delivered to the dinghy dock a few hours later. You have to box everything up and seal the boxes and write your boat name on the box with on lot #'s and the store will keep your frozen goods in the freezer until it's ready to be delivered, a great service for us boaters. Jan & George are back on island so we have HH on Blue Star along with Ultra & Highland Fling and Beth & Mike the NEW owners of Wild Thing. Jan & George are SO happy to only have 1 boat, and so lucky to have sold their old boat 2 months after buying their new one. They are still going by the name Wild Thing on the VFH radio until they can have an official renaming ceremony for Blue Star to become Wild Cat. Yes it is confusing even for me. We talk about us all heading to the BVI's. Saturday we are getting the boat ready to make a passage = putting stuff away. Making the 2:30 bridge to go out to the marina in Marigot Bay to fuel up and take a slip for the night to equalize the batteries. Glad we checked out the shortcut because as we were pulling up the anchor our new snubber would not come off the anchor. Steve had to get a pair of pliers and a hammer to get it to release. We make the bridge which is actually a few minutes late to open, then have to wait in the marina for the fuel dock to open up. Steve actually has time to take the dinghy to another fuel dock to get gas, as the marina only sells diesel. Get into the slip, hooked up to power, cleaned up with a little time to rest before heading into Simpson Bay for a group dinner at Jimbos with Notre Vie, Izzy R, Ultra, Wild Thing. Sunday morning at the marina catching up on internet, we see that friends from Kemah Deana & Troy on Storyville have just arrived. We belonged to the same sailing club back in Texas and our paths finally cross but just for a day. We see where they are anchored and even though they just had an overnight crossing we have to go by and say HI. We visit for a little while before saying good bye, make another quick stop at Pipe muh Bligh , Storyvilles buddy boat, to say hi & bye to Stacy & Rene' whom we had also met back in the Bahamas. Go to lunch on the French side and stop by the grocery to pick up a few things and use up our Euros. Back to the boat finish getting things ready and go out to anchor at 5:30. Relax a little and have dinner before our 8 PM departure to sail to Virgin Gorda in the BVI's. Ultra is a little ahead of us having left a little earlier from Simpson Bay and Wild Thing & Highland Fling are waiting to leave at 4 AM. We have the full main out and one reef in the genoa, the winds are more NE then E which is in our favor (for a change). Winds are 17-20 knots and waves are hard to judge, very dark, but feel like 5-6 feet on the aft quarter we are moving at 8.5 to 9.5 seeing 10 knots once. It is a beautiful night no moon but the stars are magnificent. By midnight when Steve came on watch we put a 2^nd reef in the genoa and one in the main which slowed us down to 7.5 – 8.5 knots, which was still too fast to arrive at daybreak. By 2:30 we rolled the main in and put a 3^rd reef in the genoa to slow us down to 5.5 knots. Without the main up we are rolling more in the seas making it impossible for me to sleep but not Steve so he goes down to catch a little more sleep. By 6:30 with the sun coming up and Virgin Gorda in sight we let out the whole genoa sail and put up the main up. As we enter the channel Ultra calls on the radio to let us know they are having engine problems and will be anchoring under sail. We stay out on the end of Prickly Pear Island and are anchored by 7:30. Washed down the boat getting the salt off the windows and stainless, went for a swim then showers and relaxed for a little before going in to customs. We pick JoAnne up to go to customs while Bill works on their engine problem. Of course they are still closed for another 30 minutes for lunch so we walk around and find a nice little grocery store. On our way back it starts to pour, running the last few yards to the cover at the customs office. At least the boat is getting a really good wash down. By now Wild Thing & Highland Fling are coming into the anchorage. Steve drops me off at our boat and goes over to see if he can help Bill with his engine problem. A little later I notice our snubber (rope line taking the tension of the anchor chain off the windlass) has come off so I go up to reattach it. Where we are anchored is a little rolly the swells coming in and rock the boat. Our remote for the anchor windlass is located in a big storage area in the bow of the boat, the hatch to this area is about 3' x3'. As I get the remote I am standing next to the hatch and a swell hits the boat and rocks it just so that I loose my balance and fall backward through the hatch and down 5 feet. Banging my head, arms, legs, back, ribs, it's a bad fall. I land wedged in so lay there a few minutes, I can tell I am banged up BUT can also tell nothing is broken or cut, so I manage to get up and climb back out, finish putting the snubber back on and go to get ice packs to place on my already swelling bruises. I can't ice my whole body but put the ice on the 2 spots I think are the worst and dig out some 2+ year old pain pills & muscle relaxers that we got before we left Texas to help ease the pain. Steve gets back to the boat a couple of hours later and I tell him what happened, he makes me chicken soup for dinner to help me feel better. Tuesday Ultra & Highland Fling are off to Road Harbour on Tortola to see about repairs, Ultra for their engine & Highland Fling for sail repair as their main sail was torn on the way over . I am moving slowly, and still sore but able to function as we follow Ultra out of the channel with Wild Thing shortly behind us. We stop at Great Dog along with Wild Thing to do some snorkeling and have lunch before heading over to Little Harbour on Peter Island to meet back up with Highland Fling. Ultra is getting their problem fixed and spending the night in Road Harbour. We get settled in Little Harbour with anchors out and stern lines tied to shore. It is a small deep bay so this allows more boats in without bumping into each other. We go over to Wild Thing for HH then back to our boat for dinner. Wednesday I am feeling a little more sore but manage to go in to snorkel and swim around, getting in the water seems to help. On the way over the day before Steve noticed the winch squeaking so he decides to stay on board & service it. Later he makes a shrimp stew to bring over to Wild Thing to go with their veggies & Highland Flings salad for dinner. Thursday 2/14 Valentines day, Wild Thing has guests flying in so they & Highland Fling leave early to head over to Trellis Bay on Tortola, near the airport and where Ultra is. We have a lazy morning and give Steve a chance to snorkel, have lunch and get underway by noon. Ultra has made reservations at 8 for all 10 of us to go to The Last Resort on Bellamy Cay (a little man made island in the middle of the bay) for dinner along with a little show. We have HH on Wild Thing to meet their guests Kathy & Martin before going in. Friday Wild Thing & Highland Fling leave for Monkey Point & White Bay on Guana Island while Ultra & us stay behind, Steve to service the 2^nd winch and Ultra to find a dinghy patch from the dinghy graveyard to fix a hole in their dinghy. We get underway by 2 to go back to North Sound in Virgin Gorda, since we left so fast when we first arrived we wanted to explore it a little more plus get wifi. We are anchored by 4 after a wonderful sail off Prickly Pear Island again only this time much further in by Saba Rock & Bitter End. We enjoy a quiet night getting caught up on internet. Saturday, Bill who has been fighting a bad cold for a few days is still not feeling well. JoAnne, Steve & I go over to Bitter End to do a hike and take Guys Trail to Deep Bay trail winding up at Biras Creek resorts beach. Then took the easy mangrove trail back to Bitter End for a nice hike. Back to boats and Bill is felling a little better so we go get our snorkel gear and head way out to the reef to snorkel. Back in time to change into dry clothes & make it to Saba Rocks HH for $3 Painkiller drinks, we order 2 each and the waitress was surprised to see only 4 of us when she showed up at our table with 8 strong drinks. End the great day with dinner on Ultra. Sunday we are underway by 9:30 to head over to the Baths. We get the last mooring all the way on the north end, and Ultra anchors up in the next bay. Lunch on boats then Ultra dinghies down to our boat and Steve thinks its just easier to swim in BUT the beach we are in front of has no access to the Baths so we have to swim a lot further then planned. We are on the beach at the Baths by 1, this is a remarkable place, a few million years ago vocanoes threw these huge granite rocks up forming this unique formation that you walk over, under and through from one bay to another. This was our 3^rd time here and we would go back again & again. When we are done we make Steve swim back to the boat to get the dinghy so we just have to swim out to the dinghy mooring closer to the beach. Back on Ocean Star we all put our snorkel gear on and snorkel the area by the boat. We are back underway by 4:30 to anchor off Cooper Island. The bay we were going to anchor in was too rolly so we went around to the mooring field but all the moorings were taken. Ultra found a spot on the west end & us on the east end of the bay to anchor overnight. Monday underway by 11:30 to head over to the Indians = a group of rocks great for snorkeling & diving. We were all going to dive but one of the tanks was low on air so Steve, JoAnne & Bill dove while I snorkeled. Back underway by 3:30 to head to White Bay on south side of Peter Island to anchor for the night. Wild Thing & Highland Fling join us at this anchorage, and we have cocktails and a pot luck dinner on Wild Thing followed by a FUN night playing different games. Tuesday Wild Thing & Highland Fling get underway early to show Kathy & Martin more sights in the BVI's, Ultra leaves later to go back to Cooper to get dive tanks filled and dive the Rhone, we stay and Steve services the final winch- the electric one. A couple of hours later Ultra is back as they could not get air for their tanks and waters were TOO rough to snorkel, heard on the radio that sea access to the Baths was even closed! Ultra stays in White Bay for the night while we head out at 3:30 to go over to Normans Island and pick up a mooring. We are out far so internet connection is not so good so we take our computers into Pirates Bight restaurant and use the wifi. We have some time restrictions on our schedule as Steve will be flying home and then a week later his son is coming to visit both taking place in two different countries. So we have been trying to get things ordered and move along so we can be in the right place at the right time. Wednesday with a lot of the boats gone we get better internet connection on the boat, we go into Pirates for a late lunch then go snorkel the caves around the corner of the bay. We talk to Ultra & Wild Thing letting them know we are planning on leaving Thursday then decide to wait until Friday so we can all get together one more time. Thursday Ultra comes in to Normans Bight where we have moved up to a closer mooring ball and they find a place to anchor. They had spent the day before patching their dinghy so it is on the deck drying so Steve takes our dinghy over to let them use it to get their tanks filled. Make contact with Wild Thing & they are on the way here also and have a great dinner on Ultra. Friday morning we were running the generator before we left and it overheated. No time to look at it before getting underway by 9:30 for a nice sail over to Soper's Hole to check out of the BVI's, then sail over to St John's Maho Bay. With the LBO card Steve can just make a phone call to customs to check in the the US VI's. On the way into the anchorage as we are rolling up the genoa, the sheet lines get caught around the starboard dorade Just as I get to it to try to unhook the lines the whole thing gets pulled off, so I am trying to hold onto it with the sail trying to fling me overboard. Steve comes up to try to hold onto it better & I go back and turn into the wind and start to roll the sail up so he can untangle it without losing it overboard. We pick up a mooring by 2, get the dinghy down no dinghy dock in this bay so we beach it. Haul it up on shore, find a tree to tie it to and lock it to and go to the street to catch the bus into Cruz Bay. Steve had lost his national park card when his wallet was stolen in Grenada a year & ½ ago so wanted to get another one. These are really great cards issued to anyone 62 & older. In St John we get get mooring fees for ½ price = $7.50 a night. In other parks he and 3 others would get in free ! one perk of getting older. Walk around the town of Cruz Bay enjoying the town once again, have a late lunch / early dinner before catching the bus back to Maho Beach and the boat by 6. Saturday morning Steve looks at the generator to see what was wrong. NOT good news. It is the pulley for the cooling water, the one that we first had made in Grenada then re made in Antigua now it has failed again ! We get underway by 10 to go around to Coral Bay spend the day there then Sunday go over to Great Lameshur Bay to spend a beautiful day in a beautiful place. Wish we could have stayed a few more days as planned to do some hikes but we leave at 6:30 Monday morning to get to St Thomas to try to find someone to help us with the generator. We are anchored in Charlotte Amalie by 8:30. Steve heads out to go talk to a guy mentioned in the guide book. He says he might be able to help BUT Steve has to find the parts. He comes back to the boat and we go to town to try get some lunch and find some bearings & a pulley. One guy is close but no luck so we go in island to a couple of auto part stores to see if they can help, then to another marina on the east end of the island all with no luck. Catching the bus to Compass Pt. Marina from Tu-Tu where we were at for the auto parts store was a little tricky since we had to go the long way around then walk down a long road, luckily a nice lady stopped and gave us a ride. We did not get lucky with finding any parts but did have a taxi come into the marina to drop some people off and had one more person to be dropped off over towards where we had to go back to and they waited a few minutes for us so we did not have the LONG walk back to a bus stop. Back to the boat in time for a quick shower and then a 3 mile dinghy ride over to Honeymoon beach on Water Island. Steve had ran into Bill & Charlene on the boat RSVP earlier and they told him about movie night on the beach. After a long & disappointing day we needed something good, plus we knew other people we knew were around and were hoping to see them. The locals who live on the island, accessible only by boat, set this up and welcome all the cruisers anchored near by. We see the new James Bond movie Sky Fall. We also see Carrie & Carl who we met our 1^st year in Grenada and who have been up here working and selling their old boat Sanctuary and fixing their new 1978 Gulfstar ketch rigged boat. So they know a lot about the area and who & where to get things done and gave us a name & # for someone they thought could help. Tuesday we sleep till 9 then run the motor a little to charge the batteries before going over to Crown Bay marina. On the way in we pass a boat Celebration and I say that looks like Steve & Lynn's boat so we make a u turn and stop by. Steve is on board but Lynn is back in the states so we visit with him a little. I brought just a small load of laundry in to do while Steve pursues some more leads on getting our generator fixed. As we come into the marina we see Notre Vie at the fuel dock so stop by to say Hi. They tell us La Luna is in the marina then Stu walks by and tells us to go over to their boat to tie the dinghy up since the dinghy dock is full. Barb is on board busy getting ready for guestsarriving later that day but she still welcomes us on board. I stay and talk with Barb while Steve goes to find parts & or a repair man. We have not seen Barb & Stu since October in Grenada. A lot for us to chat about and catch up on. Steve finally comes back and we go grab a sandwich and do a load of laundry as he fills me in on the progress of fixing the generator. Laundry almost done and Steve goes back to get a piece from our boat to give to the machine shop to help make the piece they are making a better fit. Then he thinks of something else for them and goes back while I go back to La Luna & our dinghy to wait for him. Well it takes him a lot longer then he thought having to walk to NAPA twice since the bearings in the 1^st box were not the size it said on the outside of the box 6 miles for the 2 trips. Barb & Stu again very kindly let me hang out on their boat visiting with them as they get ready for their guests. As Barb & I are talking I turn around and see Jeff I Izzy from Izzy R on the dock, they had just came in from the BVI's so get to say Hi to them again. Stu actually goes to the airport and gets back with Jim & Marsha before Steve makes it back. Steve gets back just in time to join us in a welcome champagne toast, Carrie & Carl also walk by and join the crowd as Barb serves us all some wonderful snacks. True hospitality cruiser style. When we got back Tuesday we found we had a water leak from the same hot water hose that leads to our cockpit shower that we have had problems in the past with also. The hose is just old & brittle so keeps splitting. We are too tired to deal with it that evening but Wednesday morning we get up and clean up the water in the engine compartment and Steve takes the fitting from the end of the hose and puts it at the junction sealing it off for good this time we hope. We get underway by 10:45 to head over to a little island close by to go snorkeling. La Luna was going to bring their guests over but had engine problems of their own so didn't make it. The place is empty between 11 &1 in-between all the party boats bringing snorkelers out. So we had the place almost to ourselves for a little while. Then it was actually kinda fun watching the party boats come back in with the groups of people to snorkel and listen to the story of the sunken boat as the guides & groups snorkeled around our boat. After they left we went snorkeling again then headed back around 4. We decided to anchor off Honeymoon Beach it was hard to find any sandy spots with enough swing room, after two attempts of the anchor landing on hard rocky bottom and not being able to dig in we were trying for a 3^rd spot near 2 moorings thinking that no one else would be coming in to use them this late since by now it is 5:30. A guy on a boat near by says one of the moorings is free until Monday so we pick it up. Quick dinner & showers then off to Tickles, a bar / restaurant at Crown Bay marina for open mike night to hear Stu preform and get to visit with them & Steve from Celebration again. Thursday 2/28 can't believe it is the end of the month !!! This is one time we wish February was like the others & had 30 or 31 days as we sure could use some more time. We make a quick trip across the bay to get our propane gas tank filled then get a call from the machine shop saying our part will not be ready today as originally quoted, Steve reminds them that we are on a time schedule and pleads for them to get it done as soon as possible. We decide to stay here on the mooring one more day and take it easy before starting March off with another busy schedule.

Link to pictures;  https://plus.google.com/photos/103931849054358791487/albums/5850212966811500897?authkey=CNuM2Pn1ttnudg

St. Martin / St Maarten January 2013

St. Maarten / St. Martin January 2013

Thursday 27 December - Thursday 31 January

 

We remain at the marina through the weekend getting a few more things done in between the holidays. One of the zippers connecting the dodger (front “windshield”) to the bimini (cockpit overhead sunshade) broke. We got that down and into the sail loft Thursday morning so we could get it back the following day. A laundry is located just a short distance from the dock, so we drop off a couple of loads to get done while we are close by. Our water maker part that we have been waiting on comes in and Steve gets it installed BUT it still does not work. I make a trip over to Business Point, a cruiser friendly business that helps with internet, phones and mailing out and receiving mail and packages. I discovered one day when I went to use my ATM card that it had expired in November. Called the company about getting a new one, but since I was having it sent out of the country and not my US address, I had to have my brokerage account authorize it to be sent to me here in St. Maarten. Just one of those little things that turns into a big thing when you have a traveling home. Friday Dougie from Electec comes over to help Steve with the new water maker pump. They work on that all afternoon taking it to the shop to test it and by 5:30 decided that in addition to the pump we now also need a new capacitor board, and it has to be ordered. Which will have to be done Monday before the New Years holiday. It is a full moon night and the Brazilian boat on the dock is having a big BBQ party that we go by, one of the guys just flew back and said he bought the meat back with him, not sure if he did but it was the best tasting steak we have had. By advertising in Portuguese and word of mouth this marina has become very popular with the Brazilians. Saturday morning Electec comes back out to try something else with the water maker with no luck. Several boats are moved around in the marina, one rafted up to another going out to anchor and us staying longer another boat on T head needing to make room for another coming back. It's kind of like a self serve marina, with Bernard there part time checking on things and letting us know you might have to move if & when this boat comes back. Saturday afternoon we go by IWW & Budget Marine looking for a dorade, that somewhere along our travels the genoa sheet line must have got caught on it and ripped off. We wanted to get one to match the other 3 that are chrome plated brass but IWW wants $600 for one & Budget over a $1000 which is just crazy overpriced. Stopped by 2 boat re-sale shops just on the chance they might have one but no luck. So we can order 4 plastic PVC ones for $400 so that is what we are doing, meantime we move one of the back ones up front so it looks nicer. Out to dinner with Jan & Larry from Sea Bear at an Asian fusion restaurant called Satara, not as good as the Thai place but 2^nd in line. It is right on the “main drag” of Simpson Bay but the landscaping hides the street and it is a lovely outdoor dining setting. Sunday things are closed so we have a slow day with no errands. Steve does routine maintenance on the windlass and we dine on board. Monday an early morning wash-down of the decks and filling of the water tanks before we check out of the marina. Another boat is due back and instead of moving to another spot we go out to anchor. Glad to be away from the dock but we don't go far as we still need to be close to the marine stores for a few more days. There is a little room to anchor out in front of IWW not the best place to anchor but can pick up IWW's wifi signal and it is just for a few days. George & Jan on Wild Thing flew back in the night before, but when we hear George on the VHF radio in the morning we can tell he is not feeling well. We talk to them later an confirm that he has arrived back in St Maarten with a bad case of the flu. It is New Years Eve and we had made plans to meet Jan & Larry & Benita & Rick from Lima at the yacht club for a drink before deciding on a place for dinner. Many of the restaurants are having preset menus that were to expensive so we wound up back at Satara and have another good meal while listening to some good live music at a level where you can still have conversations with people at your table. We leave at 11:30, Rick & Benita to go back to their boat to be with their dog when the fireworks start, while Steve & I & Jan & Larry go to the beach to watch the fireworks to bring in 2013. Tuesday we slept in then took a dinghy ride to check the depths along the route to the area we will move the boat to re-anchor at then over to the yacht club to watch some of the mega yachts returning. Most of the marinas emptied out during the week between Christmas & New Year with everyone going over to St Barts for the holiday so it was fun watching them start to come back in. Wednesday we had trouble with 2 of the hatches so first thing Steve went into Maintec to talk to Dave. He came right out to see the problem then went and re cut 2 new pieces and got Robbie to re do them. We did not have to use any liquid solution so even though it was still very windy and black pieces of adhesive were going everywhere they were dry and easier to vacuum up if they missed the garbage bag or didn't blow away. Thursday Steve finished putting the hinges & handles on the hatches, over to the little store across from Lagoonies for cokes & diet cokes. Anchor up at 1 and over to the French side of the lagoon to re-anchor in an area called Baie Nettle Lagoon. Have lunch in the cockpit enjoying the breeze with a much nicer view. A few people we met at the cruisers get together on boxing day (12/26) had told us how nice it is over in this area, and we had checked out the water depths. It is a much nicer anchorage then anywhere else in the lagoon BUT it is a long dinghy ride from everything also. Glad we have a bigger faster dinghy but you plan your trips to the store a little better from here than when you're just right next to something. We go over to the Cupecoy marina area about another mile west from our anchorage for dinner that night. Friday starts as a cloudy cool day, temperatures in the mornings & evenings can get down to 75°, which to me now is sweater weather. Once the sun breaks through the morning rain clouds it warms up nicely and most days we have temps around 85°. We go over to a nearby little dinghy dock, you can also beach the dinghy along the shore but we prefer locking it at the dock to hauling it up onto the beach. A walk around the area to see what is around, a little gourmet grocery store, two beach restaurants on the ocean side - Layla's & Boucaniers & a boulangerie = french bakery. Several resident inn / condo type places and a laundromat that we thought might be self serve, but it wasn't. Not a lot compared to the Simpson bay / Cole Bay areas but as I mentioned a lot nicer anchorage. Later we go the 3 miles over to Budget marine store then stop at Barnacles for a few drinks with some other boaters before coming back to the boat for the evening. Saturday 1/5 Steve went into a monthly boaters swap meet at Time Out Boat Yard in the morning to see if anyone had any thing he might need. These are very hit & miss sometimes you can come across good stuff sometimes not. That night we go back to the Thai restaurant with Jan & George since George is finally feeling better. Sunday the clouds hung around all day with a few showers during the day and then rain all night, a good day to just hang out on the boat. Monday it cleared up back to a beautiful day but winds are still strong and seas are high so we are glad to stay put in the lagoon. We meet Jan & George at the yacht club for the 5:30 bridge opening then go to Jimbos for dinner where I drank a huge margarita with dinner. Tuesday I am hung over from that huge margarita but manage to help Steve get things out of the forpeak since our water maker part has arrived and Dougie from Electec is coming out to help Steve put it in. They get it up and running, woo-hoo, but also try to fix a little leak and make it worse, boo, so 2 new parts need to be ordered. We could make water if needed, the leak just goes into the bilge but a little messy so we will hold off since we still have plenty of water. Wednesday Jan & Dana & I take the bus into Philipsburg for a ladies day out to shop w/o the guys and have a fun day. We get back to the marina where Blue Star (Jan & George's new boat) is just before 5. We call Steve & Wayne and tell them we will go with Jan & George in their dinghy to meet them at Barnacles for HH . After HH Jan & George and Steve & I go next door to Curry in a Hurry for dinner. Friday Steve & I go over to Cupecoy marina for lunch before going over to the beach for a swim. It has been a while since we have been swimming and we needed to get in the salt water, it felt great! Later that night Madeline & Skip from Saralane stopped by for drinks and to visit. Saturday we went over to Blue Star for happy hour with David & Margaret from Highland Fling . Sunday Steve & I go over to Layla's for lunch and for Steve to use their wifi, we had been getting a free signal over here from the Flamingo resident inn. But for some reason they changed it to be pass word protected. Maybe they had only 10 rooms booked and saw they had 30 log on to their server so decided to add a password ? It was nice while it lasted. After lunch and a nice walk on the beach we rode around this section of the lagoon enjoying a beautiful day on the water. Monday on the cruisers net someone had some maps of Panama so Steve went to see him to get them. Time for laundry again so we dropped it off at Shrimpy's near the French bridge then went into Marigot to do a little shopping, Steve had 3 things he needed to get on the French side and found all 3. We had a nice lunch then I needed to go back to Philipsburg to pick something up so I called Jan and she wanted to go also so George ran her over to Marigot and we caught the bus. On the way back Jan got dropped off at the marina and I went back to Marigot where Steve came into pick me up stopping at Shrimpy's to pick up the laundry. Tuesday afternoon we had a ladies Mexican train dominoes game over at Lagoonies and Steve brought his computer in to get the internet connection. Went by the yacht club for the 5:30 bridge opening to get a picture of Blue Star coming back in after going out for a day sail to try to learn their new boat. Back to our boat before it got dark since we did not have flashlights, and a nice warm stew for dinner. Wednesday morning, still have no internet on the boat so we go over to the French bakery to use their internet which from what we were told is usually okay. But today the signal kept dropping off so we went over to Business Point to use theirs. This is a pay service but I needed to make a Skype call to see where my debit card that was supposed to be sent FedEx to me 2 weeks ago was and get my emails. Thursday the sun tried to come out a few times but it stayed mostly cloudy all day, we went over to Blue Star to use their internet. They had rented a modem from Business Point (last one) that lets you get an internet connection through a cell phone connection. Several people we know have talked about these and they seem to work great. Friday a beautiful sunny day, we go in to run errands and go to grocery store. We talked with Jan & George about getting out of the lagoon and doing a little side trip somewhere. We have been wanting to do this for a while BUT wind and wave action as well as boat projects kept us inside the lagoon. Since we had ordered 2 new parts for the water maker we had not secured it back in place and had not put everything back in place so we really did not want to do an open water passage with things loose in the bow. George & Jan come out to Ocean Star for dinner, and we tell them we can't leave Saturday and delay our plans until Sunday. Our water maker parts are in and Dougie comes out Saturday to finish the repairs and we get it all back together by 3:30. Steve runs over to customs to check us out so we can catch the morning bridge opening to head over to St Barts for a few days. Sunday 1/20 we go out the 9 am bridge opening on the Dutch side, once again hoping they can't see our boat name and don't try to come collect their bridge fee. The Dutch charge a fee every time you go in & out of the bridge on their side, but since we are checked in on the French side we will never see the Dutch customs people to get charged, IF we ever do check in on the Dutch side they could hit us with a bridge bill. They always have a lot of boats going in and out and and with our dinghy hauled up our boat name is hard to see so it's worth the chance. We have a good sail over to St. Barts, sailing to wind a little off course with reefed main & genoa tacking twice to get us to Gustavia the main town on St Barts. Many boats come over to St Barts and anchor off Colombier or Ile Fourchue for a few days W/O checking in then go over to Gustavia and check in & out for 1 day as St Barts charges by the day. We are anchored right behind Blue Star off Gustavia by 1:30, a quick wash down of dodger & stainless to get the salt off and have lunch before going in to check in. Jan & George had not been here and wanted to see the town, so we walk around town after checking in being Sunday most of the shops are closed, Steve & George are happy, we check out several restaurant menus for dinner later. Back to the boats to clean up and then back to town for dinner. Monday we go in and rent a car for the 4 of us to drive around the island. George being a pilot and St Barts airport being known for its SCARY landings we stop by there and watch a few planes land & take off. See the video !! I have no problems with flying but like many, take off & landings are always a little tense but landing at St Barts in one of those little planes would be very tense especially from a front seat!! Continue with our island tour stopping in Baie St Jean for lunch at Nikki Beach restaurant a lovely setting on a lovely beach. We make several more stops along the beautiful island enjoying the views. Back to the boats just after 5 for a quick departure to go over to Colombier, where there are no swells and another friend on Highland Fling is anchored. By 6 we are moored in Colombier and Margaret & David on Highland Fling join us on Blue Star for HH. Tuesday Blue Star has to go back to St Martin, but we stay and enjoy the day swimming and hiking. Wednesday we head back to St Martin leaving by 9 with a nice downwind sail. A rain storm catches up to us and gives the boat & sails a good rinse, it clears by the time we are sailing past Philipsburg. It has turned out to be a lovely day so we keep sailing past Simpson bay to go around to Marigot bay and anchor by 1 waiting for the 2:30 bridge opening. The French bridge opening is NOT as organized as the Dutch side with different times for inbound & outbound traffic. When they open out bound traffic comes out first then inbound traffic goes in BUT the bridge tender does not monitor the radio. I was trying to hail the bridge tender or any out bound boats on channel 16 to see if there were any boats coming out, we could not see any waiting in the channel. Two small powerboats zip in when the bridge opens and we are making our way in trying to see if anyone is coming out. Still don't see anyone and still no one talking to us on the radio so we start into the channel to the bridge when an outbound boat starts to come out. Just enough room for us to inch over as he comes out so he can pass, then we start to go through and another boat comes around the bend to go out, we can not back up so just go through he has plenty of room on the inside to get past us just gives us a funny look. We shrug and said we tried to call on the radio to see if anyone was coming out, then still another one comes hurrying up to go out, they all should have been lined up in the channel to be ready to go out and so inbound traffic could see them. They really need to have someone on channel 16 like the book says to let you know when it is safe to come in. We get re-anchored back where we were, Steve goes over to Marigot to check us back in. We go over to Blue Star for dinner as Jan & George will be going back to Texas for 2 weeks the following day. Jan wants to use up as much of their fresh food before they leave, we still come away with several things that would go bad if left on board plus the WiFi modem that they had been renting. We will take over their payments the 2 weeks they are away to have WiFi access on our boat again. Thursday we run a bunch of errands stopping at Ace, Budget, Electec, FKG, Business Point, & Grand Marche to name a few. We have a quiet and slow weekend, Sunday night we get a call on the VHF radio that Ultra has arrived !! JoAnne & Bill are anchored out in the bay and will be coming in through the bridge Monday morning. We tell them where we are anchored and by 10 they anchor near by. We are so happy to see them again after almost 3 months since Grenada. After they get settled we go over for hugs and kisses and bloody mary's for a real welcome and start catching up. We go back to our boat to change with plans to go into Marigot for lunch and for Bill & JoAnne to check in. A nice afternoon “in town” then dinner on Ocean Star. Tuesday we hear of another friend from Grenada has also arrived Sunny & John on Notre Vie, while out in the dinghy we see them anchored on the Dutch side and stop by to say hello. Several boats that we knew in Grenada are now starting to arrive so we decide to announce it on the cruisers net the following morning of a “Grenada reunion” one at Barnacles on Wednesday then another at the Yacht Club on Friday to get a chance to say Hi to everyone again. It is always fun to reconnect with people we have met along they way, as well as meeting new people all of whom we never know if & when we will meet again. Hard to believe another month has gone by !! January weather was great inside the lagoon with mostly sunny days lows of 75, & highs 85. Plenty of rain showers but most short lived only a few days that were gray all day. Seas not so great for traveling to other islands or anchorages but we enjoyed the time here in St Martin/ St Maarten AKA the land of plenty as it is a great place to provision, get parts and to get boat work done. Time to make plans to move on SOON !!  

 

FYI Sunday Feb. 10 getting ready to leave St Martin tonight for overnight passage to BVI's   

link to one video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqxjvepin-0&feature=youtu.be

 

link to pictures;  https://picasaweb.google.com/103931849054358791487/StMartinStMaartenJanuary2013?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIrr1_-Li7yQDA&feat=directlink

St. Maarten, December 2012

St Maarten December 2012

Tuesday 4 December – Wednesday 26 December

 

We had a wonderful fast sail from Barbuda to St Maarten on a beautiful sunny day. We had originally planned to stop for an overnight anchorage at Colombier Bay on St Barts but we were making such good time it was only 2:30 when we reached St Barts, so we kept going all the way to St Maarten. Passing by Philipsburg the Dutch side capital 4 cruise ships were in. We make it to Simpson Bay by 5 and have to circle around to wait for the 5:30 opening so we can enter the lagoon. As we go thru the bridge and pass by the SMYC (St. Martin Yacht Club) we see friends George & Jan Todd, who are there using internet and watching the boats come in. For tonight’s 5:30 bridge opening, only one mega yacht behind us coming thru. We get in and anchor in “our old spot”, which is luckily open, we have arrived a day earlier than planned and as the sun is setting we do not want to look around for another spot to anchor. George & Jan come by in their dinghy to welcome us to St Maarten. They are going to drop their computers off at their NEW boat and then come back to pick us up so we can go to dinner and catch up on the last weeks happenings. Between our boat problems and their purchase of a new boat, a lot as taken place since we saw them in Guadeloupe. They are now the proud new owners of a huge 57 foot Catamaran and have been transferring all their “stuff” from their old boat Wild Thing a 473 Beneteau (now for sale) and trying to learn their new boat and all its systems. We make plans to go into Lagoon Marina which is right next door to Maintec the company that will be replacing our “windows” but another boat is in our spot so we have to wait until 4 before getting to the dock. During the day Steve is running around making contact with several of the vendors we would be using to see when we could set up jobs. The sail maker is free so we take the main down so it will be ready to off load when we get to the dock, his shop is right at the marina. The leech line always seemed to be to loose so Steve wanted it fixed (again). This time the main is being re-cut to a better shape and then fixing the leech line. In the meantime we have now also discovered our freezer is NOT working. We call Jan & George to see if they can turn on their freezer so we can store our food. I start putting things in coolers and cleaning up the melt while Steve goes to check in with the marina. While checking in Bernard, the marina manager says there is an excellent refrigeration shop on the ground floor below the marina office, and the owner is in at the moment. Steve zooms downstairs to find the guy just closing up, and at his request for help says he is booked thru the 1^st of the year. Steve just starts talking about our system and problem and the guy gets intrigued as he had not heard of it before. So he comes out to take a look, we are only 50 yards away from his office. He helps diagnose the problem which turns out to just be the thermostat and he gives us a replacement to be sold the next day when his computer is back up. His shop has a freezer so he turns it on and we just leave our things in there. Call Jan & George who have finally learned how to turn their new freezer on to tell them we won't need it after all. When we docked we noticed the boat across from us was the same one that was next to us down in Trinidad over a year ago and had a small fire. We say Hi and ask for no fires this time. Get the water tanks filled and get cleaned up, by this time it is after 7 and we are too tired to launch the dinghy to join Jan & George at a pizza place by their marina so we just eat at Lagoonies the restaurant at our marina. Thursday Dave from Maintec shows up to show us how to start taking the hatch plexiglass out and cleaning up the windows. He tells us a great tip to tape up a garbage bag under the window so the debris falls into it. We are taking the “windows” out and getting all the Sikaflex, a black sealant/ adhesive removed from the plexiglass to use as a template to cut the new ones and then we have to clean it ALL out of the frames. A VERY messy and painstakingly slow task. The frames must be totally clean of all residue from the old adhesive. As much as we tried, it was very windy during this time, stray black flex’s went everywhere even the vacuum could not get them all. As Steve and I were cleaning the frames the guys in the shop were cutting the new “glass” making sure of the fit. Next they helped put the new seals in, the ones we got right before leaving Grenada. Had to put blue tape around the plexiglass and the frames then put primer around the plexi – also black and messy then put new Sikaflex in around the “glass” and the frame letting it harden overnight. Cleaning all the hardware (handles & hinges) re-bedding them and cleaning up the excess Sikaflex that oozed out. We only got 2 a day done except the last day when we did 2 small ones and the big one over the front storage area. In between we were doing a few other things like putting in the new thermostat for the freezer – we did that first thing Thursday. Picking up and installing a new hot water heater !! Another messy and hard job. Finding a new computer for me so I can now type with the letters E,R,D,& X :). Had the broken feed pump for the water maker removed and ordered a new one. Got the main sail back and put it back up, should have waited on a less windy day for that job as I almost got launched off the boat holding the end when we had to retie the out-haul line. We later replaced that out-haul line with a smaller but stronger line as the old one was stiff & swollen and did not go thru the rope clutch as easy as it should. After replacement the clutch was still very hard to work, and Steve discovered the problem was a roller bearing encrusted with salt and calcium that wasn't rolling any more. A generous dousing with water to dissolve the salt followed by vinegar to dissolve the calcium got it working freely again, and then he did the same for all the other clutches. We did manage a few fun things during all the work. Shopping at Ace, Jan & I went over to Marigot one afternoon for a little lady shopping. We went out to dinner several times as the boat was such a mess with all the on going work and Steve was too tired to cook. Jan & George were busy setting up their new boat and cleaning up Wild Thing to get hauled out and put on the hard until she sells or gets moved back to the states. They still managed to have time to cook 2 dinners for us in their big new kitchen and salon area. One place we went is a new Thai restaurant - PanLaan, that we found right here in the lagoon with it's own dinghy dock and GREAT Thai food. This all took place in our first week here in St Maarten !! Thursday December 13 Jan & George fly back to Texas for the Christmas holiday, we finish up with the hatches. Friday we start on the portholes, these are the much smaller side “windows” and since they come out easier Steve is able to take them over to the shop to work on them, we get 4 done on Friday. FKG a marine fabricating and rigging company is working on our security grate for the companion way, so they are back and forth to the boat getting it fitted. Feel really good about this extra security measure we are taking. That evening FKG had a company holiday party for customers and staff, free drinks and food, a lot of really good food and plenty to drink. Saturday Steve had to change out the heating element in our new water heater, they had given us a 220v instead of a 120v , so it worked, just not as fast or efficiently as it should. Luckily this was an “easy” task, especially compared to installing the water heater. We went for a late lunch then caught the bus to Philipsburg to look for a 2 TB hard drive (computer stores nearby only had 1TB's) to use to back up my new computer. Only 2 cruise ships in today so shops & streets were not to busy, and it was nice to walk around have a drink on the boardwalk before catching the bus back. Sunday another late lunch then a dinghy ride around the lagoon enjoying the fresh air and a relaxing day before the work starts up again on Monday. Monday & Tuesday we finish up with the portholes. The boat is still a MESS from workers and us going on & off and Steve's tools he has been using still all out and needing to stay out for a few more days to be used before we can start to clean up. Wednesday & Thursday the days blurred together as we finish clean up on all the hatches & portholes and try to start putting away some tools. We had sprung a leak in the hot water hose that runs along the back of the boat to the cockpit hose. NOT that we have a hot water connection there, but in case we ever do the hose is ready. It leaks down into the engine compartment, so when we went to fix the insulation around the engine we had to first fix the leak then mop up all the water. The insulation was flaking and getting really messy, it needed a new rubber coating painted on so we could reattach the noise reduction material we had put on and was peeling back. Thursday morning on the cruisers net we hear that friends Jan & Larry on Sea Bear have arrived in St Maarten. I try to call them later to say Hi but get no answer on the VHF radio, later as we are finishing lunch at Lagoonies they come up in their dinghy. We switch to a bigger table and spend some time catching up with them. Back to the boat to finish up whichever mess we were working on before lunch. Friday we start working on the anchor chain, we had decided to get new chain while here so went by IWW to pick up the new chain. Back to the boat, unload the 120 feet of new chain from the dinghy onto the side deck of the boat and measure out and mark 50, 75 & 100 foot spots (so we know how much chain we have out) . Guys from FKG came by for our rigging inspection, good news we do not need to replace that yet but they did say in the next year before going into the Pacific to get it done. While up the mast Steve had him replace our anchor light that had burned out our 2^nd night in Barbuda. That done we use the halyard line to lift the anchor off the boat and onto the dock and start handing the chain & rode over to the dock. Steve works at undoing the shackle and tries to get our swivel off with no luck. The anchor is free from the chain so we lift it back onto the deck of the boat for the night for safe keeping. Steve goes to budget Saturday morning to get a new swivel. We decide to go make a grocery store run before boat work so get our cart out to go up to Grand Marche. Taking the dinghy to the dock at PDP (Port de Plaisance) the grocery store is a short walk up the road the cart will help bring the heavy stuff back. Back to the boat, groceries put away, have lunch and then get to work putting the anchor & new chain back together. New swivel attached, new shackle and we had switched rope ends so Steve had to splice the rope back to the chain then we had to put length markers on the line also before feeding it back into the anchor well. Once we got down to 20 feet of chain we used the halyard again to lift the anchor up and drop it in the water right in front of the boat using the windlass to bring it up the last few feet. Sunday we sleep in and get up to a cool cloudy day, high temp of only 80° and it took till noon to get that warm, the afternoon is spent CLEANING / scrubbing the deck of the boat. We were worried about some of the black marks coming up but with a little scrub pad they did and it felt so good to have a clean boat again!! Monday Christmas Eve Day, hard to believe it is Christmas. We had been so busy with all the boat work did not get out to see the towns at night to see decorations. Lagoonies the restaurant by our marina did put up some lights and decorated a plant like a Christmas tree and had some Christmas Carols & Santa for the kids one night BUT we have not had time to visit the more festive areas. But it is a sunny day and we are happy to be on the beautiful island of St Martin. Steve replaced the steaming light that we had discovered the lens was gone and not sure when but some time ago based on the corrosion on the old one. I cleaned the inside of the boat, between being in the yard in Antigua and our boat work as well as others around the dock it needed a good cleaning. With the holiday's no one was sanding or sawing wood creating more dirt in the air so a good time to clean even if it is a holiday. Christmas Eve night we went over to a local restaurant & bar, Barnacles, with Jan & Larry from Sea Bear and Dana & Wayne from Journey. Barnacles is a popular cruisers place and they have great happy hours BUT the food they had this night was really bad, a Greek lasagna that was really JUST macaroni, cheese & a little sauce. We were with good company so it was still a fun evening. Tuesday Christmas day !!! One more boat project that of course took longer then planned. The rig inspectors had told Steve to put in 2 plastic washers at two stress points on the boom hinges. NOT so easy lifting the weight of the boom to get the washers in but we finally managed. Then called it quits to enjoy the rest of the day. Making Skype calls to family and preparing a dish to bring to Sea Bear for dinner. We go over around 3:30 to enjoy a few cocktails and horderves with Dana & Wayne also. Our hostess Jan & Larry have made a turkey and stuffing along with carrots potatoes and brussel sprouts (she's English) Steve made a wild rice, leek & butternut squash dish and Dana made a wonderful banana rum raisin desert. It was a wonderful meal and great company to share the day with. Back to the boat and a few more Skype calls before the end of the day. Wednesday, 12/26 AKA Boxing Day, and it has been a busy three weeks since we arrived. We had a nice easy morning and early afternoon then just when I thought there would be no boat projects Steve informed otherwise. He just needed to tighten the bolts where the arch connects to the boat on the starboard side. They had worked themselves loose, over the last year. This was supposed to be a quick easy job, don't really think there is such a thing on a boat. Steve had to crawl down into the stern hull of the boat to get to where he needed to tighten the nuts and put lock nuts on. NOT an easy spot to get to or to work in. He had trouble getting them tight until he found some metric size ones that fit better. Semi cleaned up and tools put away, we went over to a small island in the bay on the French side to join fellow cruisers gathering there for an afternoon BBQ & HH to watch the sun set. A nice time meeting some more people from boats, we head back to our boat just after sunset. Since we were not really hungry before 6 we opted to just bring a snack and cook dinner back at the boat. Our list of To – Do is almost complete, main thing now is waiting for the water maker feed pump, the one that came in was the wrong one so another should be here by the end of the week. So that is boat maintenance in paradise for sure. Our first 3 weeks in St Maarten have been busy and very productive. We are hoping the next 3 will be more about fun things and look forward to seeing some of the beautiful anchorages around the island. 

 

link to pictures; https://picasaweb.google.com/103931849054358791487/StMaartenDecember2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMPq6s3AysyNGA&feat=directlink