St. Lucia

We left Martinique yesterday heading for St. Lucia, after the store 'Le Ship' in Martinique told us by phone that they'd get back to us regarding replacing our anchor chain we bought there a year ago. Upon opening email this morning, we have a message from them telling us to drop by. "Drop by"????? We sailed 6 hours yesterday leaving Martinique behind. I guess we'll head north on Monday and get up there and pick up our chain replacement! Arggggh...the hell here never ends!

Rodney Bay is full of our favourite people! We had dinner out last night with old time friend John Fallon. Everything is well in his world and his boat is continuing to get work done and he hopes to be in the water on the new and improved 'Stopp Knot' next season. He's thinking about keeping the boat down in the southern part of Grenada when she's finally launched. For those who don't know, John's boat suffered a serious fire in the boat yard while in storage over the summer months.

Laurie has left the boat this morning to 'chat' with a fellow who sold him an alternator that didn't last a season. The guy also kept our old one after telling us that it was toast and not good for anything. We have learned since that these 500 dollar items are indeed repairable, so let's see how this one turns out!

All for now...

Antigua pics with friends & we're in Dominica now

After the wedding at Sandals in Antigua, we met with our mechanic in Jolly harbour. He couldn't fix our issue with the engine, but it still works and hopefully we can get some help from a Yanmar mechanic when we get to Trinidad. We had sprung a leak in the hot water heater, so the boys repaired that. Also, when Laurie had removed the injectors last week for testing, we had sprung a diesel leak that needed attention. Both of the new issues were resolved and we were on our way to Guadeloupe on Saturday morning.

We arrived in Guadeloupe well after dark because of the trouble we had checking out of the country. There are 3 ladies working there and you must see all 3. The sadness is that there is not even enough work for one person, let alone three. One arrived at 8:00, but one didn't get there until 9:45. She wouldn't give Laurie the paperwork to fill out until she had completely finished with each customer...a bit of a control freak. Anyway, we wanted to leave right after 8:00 am, but we didn't get away until 10:15.

On Sunday morning, we upped anchor from Pigeon Island, Guadeloupe and headed to Dominica. Another beautiful sailing day! We were just in time to attend the Sunday night BBQ the boat boys put on. There were over 70 boats in the bay. Many of the boat boys told us that business has really picked up since Laurie wrote the great article about them in the Caribbean Compass, a publication all sailors love to read each month.

Tomorrow, we'll get up nice and early and head for Martinique.

The day after the wedding at Sandals, we took the bride, groom and their friends to Deep Bay. The next day we repeated the same trip with our friends from home.
Here you can see the bride, Lyndsey on the far right. Dara, her new sister in law is in the middle and Dara's husband is on the left.






The next day, we took our friends in our age group for the same side trip as the youngins' the day before.


After arriving at Deep Bay with our friends, we let them loose on the beach and offered up a nice little hike up to a fort for a million dollar view!


Bill and Lynn Cabel, still looking great after all these years!


Here is Jan Pelkey, mother of the groom. She and I worked together in District 18. In this picture, we are cheering Bryan Facey from home! Cheers Bryan! Wish you were here!


Laurie took the group back to the beach in two loads. The first group ran to the nearest bar and ordered up 2 chocolate monkey drinks for us and sent them out for our trip down the coast of Antigua. Many thanks!!

Wedding at Sandals

I can't seem to get this one to go into the blog rotated, so here it is. You'll have to turn your head to see this beautiful couple!


Here are a few pictures of the wedding which took place at Sandals in Dickenson Bay in Antigua on March 20th. Laurie and I enjoyed a full day inside the gates with a full day pass. We hung out by the pool until the wedding and ate and drank decadently all day long. Unfortunately, our pass ran out at 2 am, but we weren't able to stick it out past 10:00!

On Wednesday we took the bride and groom and 6 of their friends for a sail to Deep Bay and back.

On Thursday, we repeated the trip with our close friends, Bill and Lynn Cabel, Roger and Gail Moser, Gail's sister Brenda and her husband Blake and the mother and father of the groom, Darryl and Jan Pelkey on the same sail. We'll post pictures later for both of these events.

Roger Moser and his lovely daughter, Lyndsey


Sister of the groom, Dara and Taylor, the bride's cousin


The groom, Mitch Pelkey, and best men; Jamie and Mike, brothers of the bride and groom


Check out the back of this gorgeous dress!


The happy couple



Gail and her mom and dad.

Antiuga - Sandals Wedding Bells

We arrived in Dickenson Bay to meet up with our friends from Fredericton for Roger and Gail's daughter Lyndsey's wedding. Here are a few pics to show how things are going so far. The wedding is this afternoon and Laurie and I will enjoy a full day pass to Sandals and all they have to offer. We'll post pictures of the wedding later in the week.

Jamie, his sister Lyndsey and her fiance Mitch.


Bill, Roger and Lyndsey (bride)


Scott and Roger bonding...


Bill chillin'


Scott, Roger, Bill and Lynn


Gail, Tina, Lynn and Dawn aboard Cat Tales


Lyndsey and Mitch (bride and groom)


Scott sharing...

Antigua and Catching Up

The trip to Antigua was a nice, 7.5 hour reach, not too close, but not on the beam either. The apparent wind strength probably averaged 18 knots, with numbers as low as 14 and as high as 26 being seen. We were reefed for as much as 24 knots, and, although we got a bit wet from spray, it was a normal sail.
Hugh and Liz got a bit of everything in their trip. We left Pointe-A-Pitre in a high 20+ knot wind, and had to point into 8+ foot waves for about an hour and a quarter. It was a little wet, and a little scary, but we were well reefed, and we got through it. We then turned downwind after clearing the east side of Basse Terre, and had a bit of a sleighride into the Saintes. While there, they got to enjoy this quaint, unique area, with fun shops and little beaches. However, the waves were bending into town, and Cat Tales literally rattled at the mooring ball. After 3 days, we did another sleigh ride downwind to the lee of Basse Terre, actually seeing the boat hit over 11 knots over ground in 33 knots of wind. The captain hid his nervousness.
Anchorages in Pigeon Island and Deshaies were calm, and we enjoyed beach time and beach restaurants in both locations. The Grand Anse Beach north of Deshaies was entertaining, as was a trip to the Deshaies Botanical Gardens.

Grand Anse Beach, just a 20 minute walk from our anchorage in Deshaies


Same shot, but a closer look at Laurie:




Same shot, but a closer look at Laurie:


Taken at the Botanical Gardens in Deshaies, Guadeloupe








Cat Tales has been having trouble, however. Coming into Deshaies, we hit a wind of 33 knots. We were under a reduced jib only, but it still seemed to be a strain. I opted to furl more of it in, but did a sloppy job of it such that the jib flapped so violently that bits were flying into the wind. Sunday afternoon, after Hugh and Liz departed to the airport by taxi, Dawn and I took it down and sat to our sewing in the cockpit. It had lost a velcro pocket that was part of the foot tensioning system, as well as some repair materials that were sewn on in 2011. With the UV strip starting to fall apart, and with quotations for the repair coming in at half the price of a new sail, we have some decisions to make.
Twice in as many weeks, the starboard engine has pumped all its lubricating oil out the dipstick hole and into the bilge. Today, I took the advice of a mechanic, and replaced the engine's fuel pump. The mechanic suggests that diesel may be leaking through a compromised diaphragm in the pump and into the engine oil. This expands the volume of oil until it overwhelms the engine's ability to deal with it and it sheds it out into the bilge. I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope this works, as it is a real mess to clean up each time. The same engine seems to be having some trouble with its alternator, but I'll work on that tomorrow. I replaced the pohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifrt alternator only 10 days ago.
We're also working on lights, engine checks, toilet issues, and general boat cleaning.
Regardless, we're off to a wedding at a resort in Dickenson Bay. We'll celebrate the wedding of Lyndsey, daughter of Roger and Gail Moser, to Mitch, son of Jan Pelkey. Also attending will be Scott and Tina Kennah, Bill and Lynn Cabel, and likely others we will know and enjoy seeing. We'll anchor in the bay and enjoy whoever makes it to the beach. For the wedding day, we have day passes at the resort.

For anyone not tired of reading, we have had another story printed in the Caribbean Compass. You can see it at this location: http://www.caribbeancompass.com/online.html You can find it on pages 34 and 35.

A few weeks ago, Laurie and I stopped by the tourist office in Deshaies to arrange a taxi to take Hugh and Liz to the airport. We confirmed a couple of days before the leaving date. As we sat on the step awaiting their driver, along comes this wonderful specimen. He hopped right out, spoke to us in English and teased us about the fact that he was 5 minutes early!

Heading for Antigua

Hugh and Liz are waking up in Miami, and rushing for their next flight home. It was great having them on Cat Tales, and the tour of
Guadeloupe went along with usual efficiency. We were beat about by wind and waves half the week and enjoyed great, quiet anchorages the second half. More later.

Cat Tales came through in usual shape as well, we've been bailing oil from the bilge, and hand stitching sails. More later.

Today, we're raising sail to go to Antigua. Weather reports suggest 10 to 15 knots which may mean a little slow, and the wind angle having a bit of north in it which may mean some tacking. We'll be fine, and so will our repairs. We'll try to put up pictures and more information when in Jolly Harbour tonight or tomorrow.

Shopping...Swimming...Sailing!

Hi Folks, Liz and Hugh here relaxing in the warmth and sun in Guadeloupe with Dawn and Laurie. We arrived on Saturday, March 3rd at met them at the marina in Pointe-a-Pitre. After relaxing in the marina with a cold beer we toured a wonderful aquarium. The next morning we sailed to the Saintes. The winds were averaging around 25 knots. The first third was a bit wet but once we turned downwind the ride was fast but dry. Waves were 8 to 10 feet.

While we were there Hugh and Laurie visited Fort Napoleon on the top of a very high hill while the women shopped the streets of the small town.



We also spent a wonderful afternoon at the beach and spent our last night eating the best pizza in the world. One would think curry, chicken, onions, cheese, and eggplant in a cream sauce would be an odd combination for a pizza but it is absolutely delicious!


On our fourth day we sailed to Pigeon Island for a two night stay. On the way we hit 11.5 knots in a 30 knot wind, with 10 foot seas. It was a wild ride but remarkably smooth because we were going downwind. Kudos to our captain and his trusty crew.






We spent two nice days on the beach. The food is excellent here. Baguettes, soft cheeses and inexpensive red wine ... pure heaven. To top it off Dawn bought Nutella so the boys are eating baguettes with the equivalent of chocolate sauce on it for breakfast.



For most of the trip the winds have been very high. One night in Pigeon Island the wind howled. We hit 34 knots at anchor, 150 meters from shore. This is what a mariner would call "blowing a hoolie".

Liz had her first successful snorkeling experience at the beach in Pigeon Island. She stayed close to shore but Dawn and Laurie got some great shots of turtles and barracuda.




This barracuda was about 4 feet long. Laurie and Dawn swam back to the shore rather swiftly!

We have arrived in Deshais, which is our last stop before we head home on Sunday.
We visited the local botanical garden and will be heading to shore in a few hours for a creole meal.
Cat Tales is a five star resort. We heartily recommend it and will be sorry to leave.


Liz drying off after a swim!

Visitors in Guadeloupe

Sitting in the harbour at Point a Pitre in Guadeloupe while awaiting our company from home, many large ships passed by giving us lots to look at. Here is a nice little cruise ship sneaking along behind us all sitting at anchor! Though a member of the Costa Line that has had trouble of late, this one stayed in the channel and left without incident the next day.


On Saturday afternoon, we met Hugh and Liz at the dock in Point a Pitre. We tossed their luggage into the dinghy and Laurie and Hugh ran the bags out to the boat. We then took the opportunity to visit the aquarium only 10 minute walk away.

Here are a few pics I took while there:
Nurse sharks laying around at the bottom of the aquarium


Queen trigger fish


Tarpon: No where near as dangerous as it looks.


On Sunday morning, we headed over to Les Saintes, just a 3 hour sail mostly downwind. We are now on a mooring ball here in the bay, where all boats are required to pick up and pay for mooring balls. Only last year, one could anchor anywhere. We find it a bit rolly out in the bay since we're used to sneaking up close to shore away from the swells.


Hugh and Liz walking the beach on the windy side of the island at Les Saintes


Laurie and Hugh walked up the mountain to view Fort Napoleon while Liz and I poked our noses into all the little shops in the town in Les Saintes. Both of us agreed that 'one size' does NOT fill all!

Tonight, we go in to town for chicken pizza.


Hugh taking a photo of a couple of gals at the fort.


Hugh snooping around at Fort Napoleon


Tomorrow morning, we let go of the mooring ball and sail in the high winds and giant waves over to Basse Terre. As it is downwind and only a little more than an hour away, it should be fine, although exciting. We'll spend the next few days in the relative calm of the west side of Guadeloupe, sailing, swimming, and doing the tourist thing.