18:02.455N 63:05.554W

 

Still in Simpson Bay Lagoon, St Martin. Its still blowing its socks off and we are still not getting a decent full night's sleep each night, for fear of the boat dragging its anchor in these gusts. Some have been around 35 knots!

 

Despite the weather, we have busy getting on with jobs. The liferaft is now installed towards the front of the boat, behind the forward hatch. Its fairly out of the way there and stops the hatch from slamming against the deck in big gusts of wind! We have installed big U-bolts which go through the deck. This should be easy, but being a boat, took forever to make sure we were not going to drill through beams, light fittings and various other bits and bobs that seem destined to get in the way!

 

Also, we now have our chartplotter installed and working. After much deliberation we installed it just to the side of the companionway. So still inside the boat and out of harm's way, but also still viewable from the helm station. We are really chuffed with it, and it should talk to the autopilot for at least the next couple of months to follow a route we give it!

 

Today work began on installing the solar panel. We have been drilling the stainless sprayhood supports to take the bolts for the panel. Should get that finished tomorrow, then we need to put grommets in the sprayhood and sort out the electrics. How difficult can it be???! Haaa-haaa. Time will tell.

 

Anyway, just a quick update this time around. Take it easy, one and all.

 

Lots of love

 

J and Ems xx