Update 1 - 2nd season.
Out~Rageous
Derek & Lynn Giles
Wed 16 Dec 2015 18:41
Dear All,
After a not too special summer in Cornwall we have returned to
Out- Rageous and the Caribbean.
A quick resume of the end of last season.
Unfortunately as most of you may know whilst on the island of Dominica which was our last destination before laying up the boat in Trinidad, Lynn fell and sustained a broken wrist which involved returning to Cornwall and under going surgery.
Three weeks later I returned to Domnica to sail the final 300 miles to Trindad where we were being hauled out for the summer hurricane season.
Fortunately during our stay in Dominica we had made many friends both yachties and local.
A local Dominican, Andrew and his partner Mait, sailed with me on Out-Rageous to Trinidad and for whose help I was so grateful in helping me lay up Out- Rageous.
Cornwall.
Toward the end of our season and before Lynn's accident I have to say that home was beckoning, the thought of a home that did not rock, that could not be blown on some rocky shore whilst you were sleeping has certain appeal. The release of responsibility, a cuddle with Molly, gardening, pottering in my shed, Betty Stoggs proper bacon etc etc.
Family and friends we have not seen for nine months, a new granddaughter Alice for me and the Marriage of Lynn's son Tom to Jo together with a visit from John and family, Lynn's granddaughter, oh so many delights awaited us.
Lynn's recovery has been difficult, the reconnection of tendons and nerves within her wrist has required many visits to the hand therapist.
There has now been a good recovery and strength is returning.
I returned with Gary a trans Atlantic companion to Trinidad in mid November three weeks prior to Lynn and Gary's partner Kate joining us in Grenada, expecting to see all work that we had ordered completed by the boat yard, we even had hoped to have time to explore Trinidad!
Who was I kidding!
Job 1
Replace the galley work surface and bathroom vanity unit which involved taking out both sinks, we turned on the water.
Every fitting leaked! The waste pipe sink washer was laying in the sink obviously a part left over and they did not quite know what to do with it!
Job 2
Because of Lynn's weak wrist we decided to convert the main winches to electric. One went one way the other the opposite way,now that must have taken some doing, despite several visits by the so called electrical technicians! It took the plumber who although was unable to reinstall the sinks without leaks could however make the winches go the right way!
Job 3 Paint.
Upon leaving Falmouth we tried a new type of anti fouling which is a paint that stops weed growth to the hull. Unfortunately it could not cope with the vigorous growth of Caribbean marine life and the company who supplied it agreed to replace it free of charge.
As it was classed as hazardous it had to be shipped by sea to Trinidad which took approx twelve days, it arrived a little late but no problem so far. I was informed of its arrival and awaited to be advised when it would be unpacked from its container (unstuffed is the Caribbean term) and I could then collect it and then present it to Cutoms for clearance.
I waited Nine days for the paint to be "unstuffed" the new paint needed 48 hours to harden before we launched Out-Rageous, we were literally on the last day in order for us to sail to Grenada to meet Lynn and Kate on the Monday.
I duly was summoned to collect my paint from the airport? Where else, when it had arrived by sea.
The contractor who was going to help apply the paint gave me a lift to customs, we arrived and after passing through security we sat and waited, in the Caribbean you do a lot of that.
An officious looking man finally came up to to me and said that I would not be allowed to pick up my paint today!
Why I asked? with a little emotion.
" because you are dressed disrespectfully"
I quickly looked down suspecting the worst, however all was secure in that department.
He pointed to a sign on the wall informing people collecting packages, in my case paint, that there is a dress code and because I was wearing shorts I was dressed " disrespectfully" I didn't know I had to dress up to collect my paint!
The red mist slowly descended, my words interpreted for the more deserving blog reader informed him that should I not be able to collect my paint today and that by the very nature of its non stick properties he could go and paint his toilet with it!
I was promptly seen by a very over weight customs officer lady who I guess by the nature of her uniform she must have been at least a Brigadier General with campaign medals to suit and was told that because I was a foreigner I was excused the dress code regulations!
Finally we were launched on the Friday and were free of the boat yard and its contractors, free from Trinidad beaurocracy and back on the water heading for Grenada to meet Lynn and Kate, what else could go wrong?
After arriving in Grenada the big clean up of the boat started, it was in a real mess so with one day to go we set to work once again.
We decided that an arrangement of flowers would really impress, so off to the florist. We decided on an arrangement featuring the " pleased to see me flower " which we thought was appropriate considering the length of time that we had been away.
Lynn and Kate duly arrived, the flowers were a great success.
Gary and Kate went off to the beach for an early morning swim only to return to the boat a short time later with Gary limping.
Whilst in the water he had stood on a spiny sea urchin.
Various remedies were suggested to remove the spines.
Gary decided upon using a local method, which I have to say that upon reflection he may have had an ulterior motive, and that was to soak his foot in a bucket of maidens water!
As you can guess we had difficulty in locating a maiden, so Kate was the obvious choice. She drank copious amounts of water and disappeared below with the biggest bucket we could find
( to accommodate Gary's size 10).
Well the magic has not gone, we have reacquainted ourselves with the special places and friends that we had made last year, our Cornish flags are still flying in Vanessa's bar in Chatham Bay, the immigration man in the airport still sings his gospel songs whilst signing you in.
And the sea is blue and the sky is high!
Derek & Lynn