Ensuenos
Ensuenos
David Charity
Fri 11 Mar 2011 21:33
|
13:00.223N 061:14.597
Dear All
We have now been in the Caribbean for almost 3
weeks and it is amazing how quickly the days are passing.
Our stay in St Lucia was much longer than we
expected resolving a problem with our steering which with sea trials to confirm
all was well again took almost 2 weeks to resolve.A "light" feeling had
developed within the steering which indicated that something within the
overall system was not quite right and under heavy weather conditions could
potentially become ineffective.Through a process of elimination we found
that 2 plates each side of the gears in the mechanical mechanism of the
steering had become worn and hydraulic oil was passing by them ! To resolve this
problem the plates needed to be very finely machined but to find precision
engineers in this part of the world is not easy.Fortunately Duncan who we met in
December and from England and who had been caretaking our boat for us
confirmed as an ex toolmaker he could re-face these plates by hand and 2 days
later it was mission accomplished !
We are now on our way again after cruising down the
west coast of St Lucia including an anchorage under the Pitons .We then sailed
to St Vincent and then down to Bequia where we are now.The St Vincent coastline
was spectacular the countryside quite dramatic and to see the areas where people
were living where the only access to there homes would be by foot or donkey was
amazing.Our intention is to stay in Bequia for one more day before heading
south to Carriacou and possibly on to Grenada before we turn north again via the
Grenadine Islands with the plan to return to St Lucia early April.
Hoping everyone back home is fit and
well.
With best wishes to all
D.J.C.
|