It could not have been better!
Oriole
Sat 23 May 2015 01:26
It was Saturday morning and we were two days ahead of schedule but a quick phone call confirmed that a berth was available in the marina. Unlike the UK, mobile phones work well offshore! The welcoming dock staff took our lines at Crews Inn and we cleared with Immigration and Customs in double quick time. By the time John returned from the check-in formalities the phone call to our air conditioning purveyor had produced results and we were able to retire to the cool of the forecabin to recharge our depleted batteries. Everything had slotted into place and never had our arrival in Trinidad been so super smooth. It was just like coming home, and after ten years it really feels like a homecoming.
On Sunday morning we were whisked off "down the islands" to our friends' weekend retreat for a lubricated lunch and a swim and lots of chat - a TrInidadian lime!
That we were so far ahead of schedule allowed us to complete the laying up tasks in slow time. Our routine is to be on deck shortly after sunrise before the temperature gets into the upper thirties to do the miriad outside jobs before diving below for breakfast. Inside jobs are reserved for the heat of the day under the influence of the A/C. Afternoons - zzzzzzzz!
We gathered together a large group of Ocean Cruising Club members for dinner in Port of Spain to celebrate with Jesse James, the Club's Port Officer, his award of Port Officer of the Year which he had just been to London to receive. Such an honour is this award, that the Trinidad Tourist Board had paid for his trip.
Wash day at Crews Inn.
Celebrating with Jesse James OCC PO with his Flying Fish.
After two relaxing weeks in the marina we hauled out for three days of frenetic activity. Oriole is cleaned and polished and shrink wrapped (not by us!) to protect her from from the ravages of the hot humid wet season. In the attempt the remove any vestige of corrosive salt we scratch around in the nether regions of the boat and her equipment.
Little Oriole at 13 tons is dwarfed by the 150 ton capacity lift.
There is never a dull moment here. Although retired and off the Medical Register John has occasional requests for advice as he did today. There are many friends and new acquaintances to join for evening meals and after 10 years of coming here we feel we are known by almost as many people here as we are in Newton Ferrers after 36. The little yellow car which we are lent each time is well known and we get "Hey Cap, we knew you were back - we see the car!". At home lots of people don't notice we have left!
But Trinidad is not a bed of roses for everyone. Before we left for our rather curtailed sailing season a yachtie was found dead on his wreck of a boat after succumbing to long term alcoholic excess. Another with an unseaworthy yacht was thrown out by Immigration at two days notice because he had overstayed his time and was refused an extension. Three days ago the TrInidadian wife of an American yachtie was kidnapped, raped and murdered. Trinidad has a reputation for gang related crime but this sort of random killing is unusual and will probably go unsolved. At this moment there is a yacht disabled 75 miles south east of Trinidad drifting slowly towards the coast. The RNLI is a long way away and arrangements are being made to send out a fishing boat to tow them in from a place where there will be no yachts in the vicinity to help. This will be a long and probably arduous trip for both.
We are ready for home and the toil of our perhaps rather obsessional laying-up procedures have left us exhausted inspite of the slow pace. We love Trinidad and we will miss the vibrant atmosphere until we return again.
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