The trouble started when we bought the boat with a badly installed second rate marine generator, of which much has already been scorned.

Not only the gene went in the skip in our fit of frustration but so did the Sea Recovery watermaker. Unfortunately, one follows the other because without the the gene we can't run the AC watermaker.

Not to overstate it, the generator has been the one uncertainty in the boat. The watermaker was just power hungry. If it wasn't the fuel in the gene it was the air or the water cooling. After a new fuel pump we thought our problems were over, but then a week into our Atlantic crossing one of the capacitors exploded. Then in Bequia the alternator packed up. Finally it was the fire that broke the camels back! The alternator and battery cables caught fire when the alternator jammed and I couldn't  turn off the engine. The powder fire extinguisher came into use for the first time with great effect. Luckily, we were alongside in Rodney Bay marina and no real damage just a lot of cleaning.

Our refit in Nanny Cay in the BVI's saw the demise of the generator, after a struggle it was unceremoniously thrown out of the boat and into the skip! The water maker followed suit but luckily didn't end up in the skip but the second hand market, it is still worth many bucks and we have it advertised at the moment.

There is now a space nearly big enough for me to sleep in, which it might come to if I don't buy a wind generator soon.

I told Jen it wasn't a holiday and the last two weeks in the beautiful BVI's has confirmed that cruising can be hard work. 

The boat yard at Nanny Cay deserves another chapter on it's own. A new experience after eight months of sailing. As boat yards go, this one was in the most ideal position over looking the beach with cafe and pool and all the services. The staff are fantastic, the engineers very professional, and all in all we couldn't ask for a better deal. However, living and working on a boat 20' high in a noisy, dusty, mosquito ridden atmosphere was a challenging time. A week of long days with mechanics, fridge engineers, sail makers, passers by and not to mention the polisher. You see to get a free lay day (cost of day in yard) I had to use the local staff to do some work. Polish the hull I thought, so the one man band arrived on Sunday morning with rag and bottle. After an hour he was gone - I thought he had fallen off the scaffold but no, he had finished. There was shine on the hull but not what I expected for 420 $. Anyway the guy got sacked and we got off with paying 50$.

The whole experience was brought to an abrupt end when the crane arrived to lift us back into the water. With Richard and Ali's help we raced to get the final patches covered of anti fouling. It was just as well the engineers arrived to check the engine and stern gear because as soon as we were in the water and in gear there was a loud clanking noise. Tim and Hugh said the boat has got to come back out to fix and off came the prop and cutlass bearing again.

Not finished until late in the evening so another night in the yard, this time in the crane slings. Next morning, early, Tim & Hugh returned for a test run and although there is some vibrating in low revs more use will ease prop shaft.

I forgot to mention the other important job whilst in the yard and that was to put another bracket on the hydrovane. For some reason we were advised to have a straight two bracket brace but needed three really. After more expense (another £500) the extra bracket which Charlie brought out in January, we fitted the new bracket with Richard's help.

Now in Virgin Gorda, we are starting to explore the islands, relaxing and soaking up the beautiful surroundings.

Little things like overstaying our entry visa in the BVI's and nearly having to terminate our stay have tested us but being in the yard gave us the excuse we needed. Still in search for American visas which now look as though a visit to the Dominican Republic is the better bet. So after retuning to St Maarten for that D 400 wind generator it is off to Dom. Rep we go.

Lots of love and congratulations to Dad on his 90th year on the 14 April.

Photos

Ali painting the prop - with a magic touch

Going back in

Robbie's new pit