With great shock, I've just noticed that our last reported blog position stopped some 30 miles North of Grenada where Tilly Mint has spent the last 3 months. I have corrected this oversight, but wouldn't want you to think we have actually moved anywhere yet.

 

I woke this morning to the noise of a salvage barge which was moving into position 30 feet off the stern. After much positioning and scratching of heads it hauled up from the seabed a large keel. This it turned out was all that remainined of a yacht hit by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and was now being salvaged for it's lead. Apparently it has taken about 3 weeks for one guy to clear the mud from it, cut it out from the remains of the hull and attach lifting chains to it - lead must be very valuable at the moment!

 

Long time blog readers may recall the endless dinghy sagas - from sinking in Alderney, to chafing in Mustique, to not arriving in St Lucia. We had been due a new dinghy on arrival in St Lucia. It wasn't there, but we were assured that it would only be a couple of days. Alison was keen to get going so we left, asking for it shipped down to Grenada. Well, it was a good thing that we didn't wait, because nearly 5 months later, it has only just arrived and even then with an engine that doesn't actually fit properly - for now it can only be paddled. I think may be I should give up on my quest for the perfect lightweight, fast, good looking dingy and accept something simple like a lilo instead.

 

Anyway, what of plans. Skip is here without Alison and the nippers with just three delivery crew, Olivier our new part time skipper who is going to move Tilly Mint around the world and tend to her every need, and 7 very large tins of tomato puree. Yes, they are still here and I'm already salivating at the thought of tucking in to yet more delicious tomato puree a la mode specialities.

 

We plan a four day hop up to Antigua - first Bequia, then Martinique, Guadeloupe and then Antigua for Monday. There more provisioning, some rigging repairs and sadly I hop back on a plane to leave Olivier and crew to bring Tilly Mint back to Southampton.

 

High hopes for the fishing, although without Laurence, Hugo and Immy I have forgotten the names that each lure was lovingly given, so any catch will be duller - tuna on pink lure instead of tuna on "shiela".

 

Anyway, good night for now - 6am start tomorrow.