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Larry's LogThe next day I woke up around 5:30 and Diane was up shortly after that. We wanted to get going early before the wind had a chance to really start blowing. We had the anchor up by 6:15. The wind was around 15 knots and a reach until turning into Cul-de-Sac du Marin, but then it was right on the nose. Passing Diamond Rock the wind was still 15 or so, from the east and the waves were mostly small with an occasional 7 footer. Not to bad really, for motoring into the wind and waves. We got to the marina complex around 9:30 but were still trying to decide if we should take a slip or anchor. We had called Tom and Steph on the radio and they came out in their dinghy to greet us. Hi guys! They gave us the scoop about the marina and showed us the docks. They also went into the office to get the marina staff to come out and show us which slip we were to get. We hadn't really decided about taking a slip yet. We thought about saving the money and just anchoring but when we found out it was just $12 per day including water and electricity, we couldn't pass it up. While circling around though, trying to decide about a slip or anchor, we ran aground - not hard but enough so we could use help getting off. Tom pushed with the dinghy while I did a hard reverse and we were free. I had tried going through a mooring field, but obviously it was for smaller boats. Tom and Steph then helped us get into the slip, a med moor type. The difference was that the mooring ball was REALLY far from the stern, and required some kind of help getting in. Normally the staff does it, but Tom helped us in the dinghy while Stephanie caught our lines. It went relatively easily thanks to their help. Once in, Diane went to the office to pay and get some croissants and a baguette. We hadn't eaten breakfast and we were pretty hungry. We had finally gotten in at around 10:30. I straightened up the boat and adjusted the lines a bit and then we just relaxed for the rest of the morning. Tom and Stephanie had invited Second Tri and us over for dinner at 5pm so Diane started making a dessert. The marina staff brought over a large step down transformer for us to use so we could plug in to the shore power and it worked well. I hooked up the hose and washed the salt off the boat and we were set. We both took nice long showers with unlimited water just a hose away and felt pretty good. When Diane came back to the boat, she said that she saw Patrick and Teresa from Kajsa, who we had met in Anse Mitan the first day. We decided to invite them over later in the week. We would probably be there for at least a week. After visiting with Second Tri, Tom ands Stephanie came over again in the early afternoon for a brief visit; we would see them again a bit later. Dinner was a really nice time. It was the first time the three couples had been in one place at one time and we had a very good evening. The roast Stephanie made was outstanding and we came home feeling good. The next day I was busy doing boat chores for most of the day, although I did have a drink with Second Tri and Mima at the little restaurant in the afternoon. We were having them over for dinner later and Diane had gone shopping for some things. I went over to Mima later in the afternoon to help Tom lift the cabin sole so he could give me a spare bolt for the alternator bracket. Once we got the sole (floor) out and the box containing the bolts and spares open, he had, unfortunately, a nasty surprise. The plastic storage box was full of salt water and all the mechanical and electrical spares, including 2 expensive high capacity alternators, were destroyed. It seemed that a problem with the bilge pump had caused a minor flood on the bilge some time ago. They had cleaned up everything but forgot that this box could also get flooded. I must say that they took it better than I would have, very minor swearing. Well, although Diane was expecting me back to help prepare, Tom needed someone to have a drink with so I stayed awhile. When I did get back, I got some nasty looks. I apologized and explained the situation. I helped out in straightening the boat and Jack and Joyce arrived. Tom and Stephanie came a bit later, and we poured them a stiff one. Jack and I both said that the only good thing about it was that they had discovered it before they really needed any of the parts. At least now they knew what they really had on board. After commiserating, we got down to enjoying the evening and a really good dinner - Penne ala Vodka and brownies for dessert. Tom and Stephanie left first and then Joyce and Jack. As they left, we noticed that their dinghy engine wouldn't start. I was starting to get my dinghy ready to go out to get them but it took awhile because the engine was still on the stern rail and the dinghy itself was locked. By the time I was ready to lower the outboard on, I couldn't see them, even with the powerful flashlight I keep on board. I found out the next day that they paddled part of the way but finally got the engine started. On Thursday, Second Tri stopped by on their way to clear out and say goodbye. They were going to stay overnight in St. Anne and we probably wouldn't see them until Grenada, Trinidad or possibly even Venezuela. Again, the downside of the cruising lifestyle hits. They were planning to cross the Pacific sometime next year, so if we didn't see them down-island, we might not see them for years. That morning I finished checking the steering system, which I also cleaned and regreased. That job consisted of removing everything from the port lazarette and climbing down inside to reach the steering cables and quadrant. I had already done the other side of the system; the chain and sprocket gears inside the binnacle. Mima had decided to stay another day in the marina to reorganize and recover from the discovery of the day before. We invited them over for drinks later to help the "healing" process. When Tom and Stephanie came over that night, Tom brought a drink he made called "vanilla rum." It was a resealable bottle that had been made up as follows: half rum (he used Brugal from the Dominican Republic, which is very nice and slightly sweet), about another fourth of sugar cane syrup (very popular here to make Ti Punch), a couple of "dashes" of vanilla extract, and the rest was water. It was very smooth and quite delicious. We had that for the evening. |