Grenada 2018 Un-Jamming The Main

Under sail

January 2018

We really enjoyed our time in Grenada.  It was fun exploring new areas, trying new things and limin' with good cruising friends.  But it was time to go.  We wanted to go to the Bequia Music Fest again.  It is always held the third week of January.

Before we could leave Grenada we needed to sort our our jammed main.  With a furling main, we have to be sure to furl it in at the correct angle.  At the end of our sail from Trini we didn't exactly have the proper angle when we furled it in.  We attempted to fix it at anchor in Grenada one morning BEFORE coffee aka being fully awake.  We made it worse.

Luckily, our neighbor at anchor was a sailmaker for several years.  Tom asked her if should would mind giving advice / helping.  She said she would be glad.  "I have had to deal with jammed sails many times through the years of working as a sailmaker."  We also got help from Paul off sv Kelly Nicole.

We put sv Honey Ryder on a mooring ball so we wouldn't have to worry about sailing around at anchor or un-anchoring ourselves.  We didn't think it was too badly jammed and it didn't look that way but let me tell you what, it did not want to come undone at all!  I ran the winches and halyards.  They all pushed and pulled and pushed and pulled some more.  And the wind pushed the sail this way and that.... we hoped it would help pop it out.  No.  Tom eventually had to go up the mast.  Even then we could not get the last 5 ft so we dropped the main.  Surely that would do it.  No.  It was still stuck.  It was folded over on itself at the very, very top.  OMG!  Tom had to take off the plates on each side of the mast and they had to work it around from the inside.  Seriously.....what a pain in the arse but they finally got it.

HUGE thank you to Bronwyn off sv Sea Swan and Paul off sv Kelly Nicole.  We could NOT have done it without them.  *Sorry Deb if we caused you and Paul to be late to the dinghy concert.

Going forward, we are super careful that we have the proper angle and all things are lined up for furling.

It Is Not What But Who You Know

March 2018

It is not what you know, but who.  This phrase is timeless and well proven.  Not to brag but I think I have a pretty good talent for connecting people.  I enjoy it as well.

I have told you before how terrific the cruising community is - 99.5% are tops.  Ask and they will help.  This is true for Sherpa duties as well.  Need something brought down from the USA, cruisers are willing to schlep stuff great distances.  Examples - 1).  SV Casa Blanca brought a couple of small packages from the USA to Trinidad for sv Blue Blaze.  We then took those with us to Grenada to deliver to them.  2).They had purchased a used dive tank for me at a greatly reduced price from a cruising boat selling it in Grenada.  3).  We left two gifts for a solo cruiser Robin with cruiser Dan in Grenada because we were going to miss her by a day.  4).  We rendezvoused with sv Asseance in Bequia because they needed Raymarine parts and we had just replaced ours and didn't need the old ones anymore.  5.)  We left the rest of the Raymarine parts in Trinidad with sv Cape to give to cruiser Terry when he returns to Trini.  6.)  sv Gabriel found out we were in Grenada but going to Bonaire eventually so Kim asked for a big bottle of Nutmeg Syrup, only found in Grenada.  7).  While in Bequia, the island ran out of butter completely. NONE to be had.  None expected for several weeks.  None from the mainland of St Vincent.  I knew sv Aaventura was sailing down from St Lucia.  "If it is not too much trouble, can you bring us some butter?"  "Sure.  Is a pound enough?"  "Yes, thanks."  8.)  sv Cape is now unexpectedly in Martinique.  They do not like French rhum and asked "Do you know anyone coming north or south that can bring normal/real RUM?"  I reached out to sv Freedom and BOOM - sv Cape is getting RUM soon.

So.....as Saul Goodman (Breaking Bad fame) says, "I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows another guy"...... or something close to that.  Anyway, this is how life goes if you are smart enough to get it.  And you aren't generally a jackass or worse.

Grenada 2018 - Nature's Lawnmower

January 2018

The first stop on the shopping bus is the bank so everyone can hit the ATM.  This bank has lovely manicured grounds.

No doubt their lawn mowing machine plays a big part in keep things looking good.

Interesting, because we have seen first hand the damage goats can do to an island if left unchecked.  However, this goat seemed well trained.  He/she munched along for a bit and then moved on, as if carefully trimming here and there.

It was funny to see.