A month in Trinidad.
Oriole
Fri 14 Dec 2012 15:13
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Tyrrel Bay Carriacou,
Grenada.
12:27.50N 61:29.17W
Returning to Trinidad to extract
Oriole from the boatyard and get her back into cruising trim gives us the
prospect of some hard work in temperatures in the 40s. The blow is
softened by the hospitality and friendship of the Kelshall, Pantin and
DeVertieul families who make us feel extremely welcome. Don's little yellow car
gives us enormous flexibility. It is rather basic, but is a collectors item and
hardly a day passes without a shout of "Hey Skip, are ya sellin" ? There
is a long queue of expectant purchasers who seem to think they have a
chance! We enjoyed Sunday lunches Trini style chez Pantin and
DeVertieul. These are alfresco affairs with lots of grandchildren and the
three generations and last from midday until dark, of course with generous
libations . Evenings with Don and Cathryn are a wonderful contrast to
fitting out and Cathryn put on a memorable afternoon tea complete with cucumber
sandwiches and banana cake before the Marionette's lively and talented Christmas
concert. We have lots of yachtie friends all getting their boats ready and
there is a great camaraderie in Chaguaramas as we get together after a hard days
work.
 Don, proud grandfather.
 No posing, its all
chat!
During the days Oriole has been fettled from stem to stern and this year the work has included replacing a damaged deck plank, new teak outboard bracket for the new more powerful outboard and through deck mountings for the new RIB (rigid inflatable boat). This will mean that John no longer has to pack up, deflate and reflate our collapsible dinghy every time we go sailing and we should be able to go whizzing around the anchorages at an antisocial speed. After 16 years of hard work the anchor windlass has been refurbished and given a new motor and gearbox and control switch gear. All the brightwork has had a couple of coats of varnish and the old rigging screws replaced which means we have now completely replaced our standing rigging. We have done a lot of this work ourselves, but we have had prompt and expert attention from carpenter, electrician, rigger and varnisher. "Can't you even apply a couple of coats of varnish", I hear you cry. Hmm! you try doing it at 40C when the varnish dries almost instantly; it takes great skill and practice in these conditions, and we have failed the test.  Chris with Oriole and the Yellow Peril.
 "Go check for leaks Skip when she goes in".
Many yachties moan that the tradesmen do not come on time or do not finish the job, but we have managed to collect a loyal and reliable group of experts who have given us great and friendly service at very reasonable cost. The yard crew at Peakes are also extremely friendly and efficient. Life on board in Trinidad would be impossible without the air
conditioning unit which sits over a deck hatch and keeps conditions down below
cool and dry. This runs for the entire time we are back in the UK and on
return the boat is fresh and free of mildew.
The weather gurus had been predicting unsettled weather for
our passage north to Grenada and the dockside Jonas were telling us we were mad
to leave. In the event we had light winds and moderate seas with a few
short vicious squalls (one taking the wind instantly from 10 to over 30 knots,
but just for three minutes!) For the first time ever we did not see
another sail at sea all day! Weather forecasts can be a mixed blessing and
keep boats glued to the dock.
We are now at anchor in Carriacou, there is a cooling breeze wafting through the boat, the sky is crystal clear, the water 27C, outside air temp 30C at 0830, and Chris has just returned from an early morning swim and I am just about to have one. It makes all that hard work seem worthwhile. If you have managed to read through this lot, please do not
despair, it covers nearly five weeks and future blogs should be MUCH shorter!
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