And then there were two!
Stream
Darrell Jackson and Sarah Barnes
Wed 8 Jan 2014 01:17
5 am is an ungodly time to be up when you are not dragging your anchor or in immediate danger. So it was a surprise to see all Stream's crew up and in good cheer at this time. Adam had to be at the airport by 6 am to catch his flight to Antigua and then on to London and the taxi was booked for 5.30. Darrell frisked him for: sail ties, shackles and other sailing paraphernalia that gets put in pockets before he left the boat. Then checked all his Christmas presents and souvenirs were packed before he was granted three months extended shore leave. His sailing experience can't have been too bad if he still wishes to return for another leg in April. Unfortunately, at the airport there was no plane and he had to wait. However he did manage to get flights and last we heard he was on his way to watch that local football team that play in red and white, wonder if he stayed awake or the jet lag caught up with him.
Darrell and Sarah retired back to bed for more much needed sleep, only to resurface about 9 am and went off in search of breakfast. Marigot Bay is on the French side of St Martin and has many excellent patisseries, that Sarah is determined to sample, especially those with wifi so she can What'sApp everyone, much to Darrell's frustration and reminders of 'not at meal time rules'.
We explored the area, much as usual when Sarah and Darrell are away on holiday were closed due to Epiphany. So it was a chilled day, but with more sticky notes appearing around the chart table, luckily on Island time the jobs can always be done tomorrow!
Tuesday 7th January.
Up bright and early to make a start on all those jobs, well after croissants and pain au chocolat at another patisserie, Sarafina's is rather good and we will be going back as the cakes look rather fab.
First job removing the genoa sail from the furling mechanism. Ensuring that we did this in a gap between wind gusts and good preparation meant that the sail landed on the deck and not in the water. Actually it went smoothly, which was a blessing as we had an audience of several cruiser crews and passer bys who offered sayings rather than advice or help! Once packed we plonked it in the dinghy and went off to find the sailmakers. We soon found him and he came out of his hole in the floor where he was busY stitching another sail to have a look at ours. The horror on his face and the looks he gave Darrell as he examined the sail muttering repeatedly and shaking his head: 'Mon dieu, Il est mort!'
Holding Darrell firmly responsible for the state of the sail, which he would gently pick up and then tear as if to emphasise how evil Darrell has been in the treatment of this precious object. He looked as if he would like to hit Darrell. 'C'est le soleil' he said in way of explanation. Luckily, his wife came in to calm him and explain to us, that it was a big job to mend the genoa, as the leech side was in bad shape. The sacrificial strip was ripped in several places (many added by the sailmaker) and had been weakened by the sun and the crossing conditions in the Atlantic. At least a week but he would be able to revive it by adding more strips of sail material to reinforce the back edge of the sail, for a price! Nothing else to do but agree, which means more time to tinker on the boat and explore the island. Hopefully, Stream will look better and be in tiptop condition when we re-rigg the Genoa. Not sure what we can do about the scrapes and bashes on the blue hull though. Darrell just mutters and shakes his head, it's just cosmetic he assures me, but I did want the blue hull so it shows up.
Next job; find an electrician! We must get the windlass mended and the fridge/freezer checked over before moving on. The mundane side of sailing.
Between bouts of cleaning and mending we have been amusing ourselves by people watching. As we are surrounded by large motor vessels and very expensive large sailing yachts, all of which have crews in smart uniforms and carry radios for instructions, there is a lot to watch as they prepare their boats for owners or new customers. How they make them shine! Flowers, champagne and boxes of expensive food arrive at intervals to be carried up the gang planks by these minions. All who look similar, talk in a variety of languages but are definitely well educated young people and non have tattoos. They spend a lot of time taking off shoes and washing feet before they can go onto their boats, as well as polishing. Then the arrival of the guests, some who wouldn't be out of place in TOWIE, or the mafia (Russian?) or well healed French/American families. It has provided a lot of entertainment and distraction for us, especially as none of these vessels have left the marina with their new guests.
While out in the dinghy we also did a tour of some of the beautiful sailing yachts that are anchored. To suddenly be surrounded by several (at least a dozen) bright yellow inflatable dinghies on a safari. It was like a mother duck being followed by her chicks in a nice evenly spaced line as they went around the bay. But without exception every pair on each of the dinghies looked miserable or perhaps they were just concentrating.