Week ending 28 October 2007

Monday

Today we went into Port of Spain for a few last minute bits, I did not really need anything.  Jimmy came in to join us after lunch and so I gave him the quick tour and we were much later back than usual, but the traffic was not any worse.

Tuesday

I went to the vet with Mike and Ricki, she was pleased to see me, but I don’t think it upset her.  It maintains a bit of consistency.  We are like a divorced couple, being nice because of the child. 

I am still trying to get the top off the diesel tank, Jimmy tried brute force with a hammer and a punch, but got nowhere.  Brio had charged up his drill and so we drilled two holes which did not work with the tool I had made up, but I think the principle is on the right track.  I gave Mike the angle grinder and in there is a tool that might be strong enough, he is going to drop it off before 7 in the morning and I can try that; although it might mean drilling more holes.  It is difficult to imagine how ths filler cap can be so stuck.  I am trying not to remove the entire fitting at this point in time as it will not come up easily and is right down there with the water.  I still have options. 

I did run the engine for an hour from the 2^nd tank and the fuel that goes in but is not used up drops back into the 1^st tank, so I can fill it that way and then fill the 2^nd tank before I leave.

Non Linear have joined us on the anchorage and when the wind picked up John got on the radio to check on his boat.  One minute everything was fine and the next the boat with no mast was heading straight for the side.  I did not want to worry John as he would not get there in time, but I advised him to come back.  I phoned Bluewater Cat and Jimmy got in his fast dinghy to put out some fenders.  The boat was well out of the way by the time John got back, but soon came heading straight for him again and Jimmy held the other boat off while John took the anchor up and moved forward a few metres; no damage was done. 

The abandoned boat is a real nuisance as it moves completely differently to real boats with masts and windage.  There followed the usual discussions on how much chain to put out and where people put out 200 feet and take up too much room when they swing.  I did not like to say that I had 185 feet out and was going to continue to do so after last week when the boat took itself for a ride.  The boats either side of me have the same view on plenty of chain and so we have no problems and are happily swinging without bothering anyone. 

Wednesday

Today I received my parcel from Steve with a guide of the islands, that is all I was waiting for and I will leave the anchorage tomorrow, my fees run out tomorrow.  I will fill up with diesel and get some petrol for the outboard, I might put it on the dinghy one day. 

Bluewater Cat and Cheetah 2 are heading out today to Scotland Bay or Chacachacare and then off to the river.  I only have to find out when Good Time Charlie is planning on going and then I can sort myself out.  I have to attend my visa extension interview next Tuesday or sign out of Trinidad before then.

Thursday

My month at TTSA is over and I set off for Chaguaramas Bay.  My anchor shackle jammed sideways and I could not get the anchor up, so had to leave it dangling all the way round.  Mike came over and helped me onto a mooring and put the shackle straight.  I have not looked at the bow, but it is only gelcoat and I should probably consider having a stainless steel cap made for the front of the boat to take this kind of knock.

I gave away the TV/DVD as I do not have the room or the power supply for it.

Mike was determined to get  the filler cap off and he brought his generator over and we drilled through the cap and tapped the holes and put in bolts.  A crowbar on the bolts would not budge them and so I got out the 4lb hammer and a cold chisel and with a lot of force the bolts bent, but the top moved.  I got the top from the water tank on the bow and put it in the diesel fitting.  We cleaned up the threads of the battered top and with new short bolts it is in the water fitting.  The water fitting is under the anchor locker lid and so it is protected and I can open it by hand using the bolts.  So that was a very good job.  We got two lots of diesel, 60 litres each time, and I filtered it into the tanks.  I have two jerry cans full under the saloon table and one partly full on the platform under the helm seat.  120 litres of fuel for about £15, including a gallon of petrol for the outboard.  If I had waited until after I had checked out then I could have got the fuel Duty Free, but the saving is not really significant at these prices.

I went to poker and was back on the boat and settled down at 9.30.  By 11.30 I had to get up and check the boat.

Friday

There followed nearly 12 hours of bad weather.  5 foot waves in the bay, lots of boats rolling and pitching and some getting very close.  Some boats left by choice and others because they could not risk staying.  Big boats left the side pontoon at Crews Inn and one 52 footer smacked the dock and nearly sank in Power Boats.  I did manage to put out an extra rope onto the mooring buoy and have taken it back to my mid cleats in the hope that it will help.  Luckily I have a good stomach for this and managed to eat as I was very hungry.

Bob came in from Scotland Bay just before lunch and Mike and I helped him onto the dock at Peakes.  We will be delayed a few days by this weather, so maybe I will check out on Monday.  The weather did calm down in the afternoon.

Saturday

Still the swell gets up and it is extremely rolly.  I did a small amount of washing and used up half my extra water supply and so took the bottles to fill up at the dock.  I checked on Bob and he had computer problems.  The computer needed sorting, but he was feeling stressed that he was not getting on with his boat preparations, so we took the computer to the wi fi spot where I could work on it.

Bob went off to do stuff and I was left to play with his new laptop.  It took me 2 to 3 hours to sort the laptop.  It is Vista and I downloaded and installed 29 Windows updates and 1 for the wi fi adapter that would not work with Vista.  A few bits of tidying up and I was done.  I still need to get his mail onto Windows Mail so that he can go through it when not online, but that can wait until another day.  

I got the water back to the boat, high tide is well over normal levels and the swell started again.

Sunday

Took the three dogs for a ramble with Mike, still trying to decide what to do with Ricki.  I do not get any sleep thinking it round and round.  Is it fair to keep her on the boat all the time, realistically will I be able to get her ashore all the time even if she is micro chipped.  We think the best solution is to ask the Rescue Shelter to find her an adoptive home on land, we will ask the vet when she goes for her next shots.

This morning we were told that one of the maxi drivers was attacked on his way home yesterday and is in the hospital and may lose 3 of his fingers.  He is the second local that we know who has been attacked, on top of the yachties.  It is a very bad situation here.  The elections are very soon, will the next government make a difference?

I am making some chelsea buns for a change, before setting off for dominoes.  I shall be going by dinghy now that I am on this side of the bay.