Back on board
Irie
Fri 16 Jan 2009 02:10
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Position 12 00.00 N 061 45.87W Prickly Bay
Grenada
Well, where have the last eight months gone. It
seems an age since we were enjoying a proper Christmas back at
home with frost, ice and a dusting of snow, and suddenly it's light years
away as the magic carpet sped us back to the boat. Gatwick disappeared into a frosty haze last Thursday as we Virgined our
way south and west. The previous few days were extremely hectic - seeing friends
and family, closing the house down and sorting all the last minute stuff that
had been pending far too long. Millie and Katie waved us goodbye on Tuesday, and
after training to Gatwick and dropping bags, there was time to catch up wth Tom
and Sarah for an Italian dinner close by Victoria.
The flight was due to leave at 9 on Thursday last,
but staying at the airport and dumping the heavy stuff the
previous night via Virgins twilight bag drop made life simple. Incoming delays
meant the flight left two hours late, but an hour was caught up and the door
opened to Grenada's 28 Celcius after a short detour via Tobago. A
temperature change of some 35 degrees is a (welcome) shock,. A night back in
True Blue preceded 3 very hot, grubby and tiring days sorting the boat out.
There's always a degree of apprehension before seeing what toll the ravages of
nature and possibly the yard guys has exacted on the boat, but all was generally
well. Water had got in via a blocked drain in the gas locker, so the first
few hours saw 30 odd gallons of filthy liquiud extracted from the bilges, but
thereafter it was plain sailing, and by Monday morning Irie was ready for
launching.
The launch was uneventful, though the Bay was being
blasted with 25 knots of wind, and within half an hour the anchor hit the
bottom, though not without a little extra excitement as the solenoid jammed,
theatening to dump all the chain over the side before a rapid dash to the switch
foiled its plan. It's great to get away from the yard - the boat's always dirty,
its extra hot and she seems lifeless. Now we're moored in a huge, warm, salty
swiming pool and Irie's rolling slightly and tugging at the snubber in the
occasonal gusts.
Tuesday we had visitors - Frank Esson and Karen
who'd had a few days in Grenada, and then chartered a boat from St Vincent. They
were brown and very windswept, as it had blown 5 to 7 the whole time. After a
slightly beery lunch on the boat and much discussion about sailing,the
subject moved on to skiiing before we repaired to the Dodgy Dock Bar for
cocktails and then dinner. In the morning there was time for a bit of sun and
some swimming before lunch in De Big Fish and a cheerful taxi hauled them off to
the airport and a Monarch trip back to London. It was good to catch up.
Today saw some serious priovisioning and a few more
boat jobs. Now its evening, the anchor lights are nodding soporifically across
the bay and the chirping of tree frogs serenades the time for bed. Aloft a large
but now waning moon climbs steadily through the silvered clouds.
Irie ready to go swimming
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