… for a while at least, courtesy of Port Louis Marina, St Georges, Grenada.  But more of that later.  For now, an update cobbled together over the last two days.  Have also sloshed up a small backlog of photos in the blog gallery (the connection is that good, am making say while the hun shines etc.)  So, with the ether humming co-operatively once more …

Wednesday – Thursday 24^th -25th June

Up earlyish. Weighed anchor at Tyrrel Bay about 9 am and set off for St Georges Harbour, Grenada. Excellent sailing weather – winds 20-25 knots most of the way on the quarter or beam – just the way we like ’em. A lively, thoroughly enjoyable romp. A trio of Boobies (who names these poor birds???) provided terrific entertainment – fishing and playing all around the boat as we winged along. Close to, they are the most striking of sea birds – head shaped like a spear, a stout bullet of a body – so dynamically designed for plunging into the waves to catch fish. Not pretty, and certainly not dainty, they have, instead, an aura of impressive power and dignity – of being built to last. These soaring, plunging, water skimming feather-coated rockets certainly deserve a far more dignified moniker.

Where were we? Ah yes, Grenada – where we arrived, at lunchtime. Before dropping anchor in the bay outside the harbour, we took a quick varda inside the lagoon and marina area first. A lot of work has been done here to provide the new marina, which looks promising – although it’s not quite finished as yet. Tomorrow we plan to take a berth there for a few days, so we’ll find out more in due course.

The wind here is hellishly gusty at times, funneling down through the hills and valleys. And it was just a little too gusty for mooring comfortably at the marina. The marina was also very, very hot despite the frequent vigorous blows – so we opted to anchor outside in the bay until things were calmer and enjoy a cooler night to boot.

But just the one. For we really, really need to reprovision properly now and we have a lot of repairs to organize, for which we need a good chandlers and a reliable internet source, at the very least.

Something like 28 items still remain on the TBF (To-Be-Fixed ) list, despite having already knocked off a goodly number ourselves. This week alone we’ve cured five leaks, numerous patches of veneer water wicking, the galley fridge saltwater supply problem and, as mentioned last post – got the Mastervolt Inverter remote switch working properly again. One persistent leak that has proved frustratingly hard to source, let alone cure – and which has driven me nuts with the dank smell it generates throughout one hull – is, as of today, 11.30 am, Thursday 25^th June2009, now officially off that TBF List. Hallelujah and praises be! But then perhaps only another boat owner would understand how curing an elusive, persistent leak, properly and permanently, makes the sun shine brighter and the heart sing.

And the great thing is, as we re-seal, re-fit and re-plumb – and apply sealant and/or gaskets where originally there was neither  (was it ignorance or laziness, AfricanCats?) – so little by little, Butterfly is coming into her own.

But hey, that’s not to get cocky – an unhappy Tohatsu outboard is (again), the latest item to rejoin that list. Despite Dick’s earlier attentions which appear to have succeeded, it threw another wobbly (and a lot of petrol everywhere) yesterday and is obviously still not well. Which means with no petrol power and being more-or-less unrowable, the rib is out of commission (again) – if you drop in here regularly, you already know about the problems trying to even paddle the thing. In short, we’re boatbound.  Which is another reason to hole up in a marina for a while so we can go about our shore-based business without relying on water taxis.

(As an aside),  if you’re planning on visiting St George’s and want to swing off the hook outside in the bay as we have done, be warned the holding is fickle. With gusty winds and poor holding (it’s thin sand on a lot of rock and coral rubble), today, three yachts began drifting swiftly and steadily out to sea. One, whose owner was away, having only this morning, been rushed to hospital after smashing his finger in a winch (poor soul) had to be rescued in his absence. (The boating fraternity is a staggeringly helpful one and his boat is now secure and we’re all keeping an eye out on it.)

Even as I type this, the wind swirls and roars with gusto and I can hear our anchor chain crunching over the sea bed – and the view from the boat is ever-changing.

Mercifully, our anchor – a 40kg Rocna, that allows us to sleep well a-nights – is still holding tight. So on that happy note, time to turn in and wish y’all a very goodnight.

Or, to get a little naughty-cal here: May your hook be firm and your bottom sandy … Sweet dreams!