Friday night, as promised, Richard took me out to Ginger for dinner.  Absolutely stunning Asian fusion food – thoroughly enjoyed it.  Curious that this time round the naan bread really was naan – in August they were chapattis.  We had mentioned this to the chef when he came round the tables checking all was well and it looks like he took our feedback on board!!!  Wow didn’t expect that….    We had an absolutely lovely chilled evening – enhanced by the talented duo that performed.  He was clearly Spanish classically trained on the guitar and she sounded like Eva Cassidy at times….   Amazing.

Saturday morning we were up bright and early and headed off to the boatyard.  We were not going to be staying all day as we had a long list of things to do.  We visited Morphie – unpacked some more stuff we had bought from the apartment – patted her and said goodbye for the day.  Then off to the gas filling station and – hurrah, our new adapter worked – so we now have two filled propane tanks!!!  That’s a relief otherwise we’d have been living on sandwiches for a while….

Then we went off to the supermarket and back to the apartment to unpack.   The Christmas Fayre was setting up and we actually had to move one of the stalls to get through our front door – they were clearly not impressed at our impertinence!   Back out again to drop off the cute (but expensive) hire car and returned.   We were going to spend some time in the pool but the fayre activity was all around and we stayed put indoors whilst trying to block out the sounds of White Christmas coming from outside the front door.    After a lazy few hours we wandered down to Miles to meet our man in Curacao  – Michel – who was renting us the wreck again….    Spent a few fun hours with him over a beer or three and then wandered the Fayre.

A bit disappointed really as it was just stalls selling mainly decorations or jewellery.  There was face painting for the kids, a women’s choir, and some young talent playing in Ginger to the amusement of the little ones……

But we were expecting local food and at least a sight of Sinterklauus and Black Pete….  Nothing.  So we headed to Rock Beach for some food and it was average at best.  Shame – but we had a nice time anyway.  Not so sure some of the parents would have been amused when they got back to their clamped cars!

Sunday morning up bright and early and we were on board Morphie by 7.30 am!   We unpacked some more stuff we had bought with us – I started on the stainless and Richard had his head down the engine compartment doing useful things like changing the impeller and fan belt….  He also used his new tap and die set to replace our zincs… and put a new board on the stern of dink as the other one had rotted.   Amazing what you can do with an old plastic breadboard!!!!

We were busy most of the day and didn’t get back to our apartment until almost 5pm – but decided to cool off in the pool – only to find that Richard’s swimmers had been stolen from our patio!   He was not a happy bunny – they were brand new from M&S and he’d only worn them twice….   The citronella candle had gone too – this is a secure area but I guess the Fayre made it less so.   Irritated we still managed the pool for a while.   We then had a quiet time in front of the TV with a stir fry tea….followed by an early night.

Monday morning back to Morphie early again….. laden down with more stuff as we started to empty the apartment.    Unpacked and then got on with boat jobs again…..   I finished the stainless steel cleaning and Richard got on with more engine stuff and fixed the seized Y valve in the heads…..(he gets the stinky jobs!)….   We also talked to Curacao marine about our boot stripe.   This has got small ‘holes’ in it – only a year after being applied by Grenada Marine – and they have accepted verbally that this should not happen!

Curacao marine are giving us a renewal quote but are unable to do it for us at this time – so looks like we’ll have to put up with it until we reach Florida at the end of the season.   Hopefully Grenada Marine will stump up some cash towards it….   So I washed it down, polished it and then applied a protective coating, hoping that it will at least stay as it is until then.   We then returned back to Pietermaai to enjoy our last afternoon in the area and our last time in the pool….    Had a lovely bob and then  another early night.

Tuesday morning and we finished our packing…  then headed out for breakfast at Mundo Bizarro.   Great continental breakfast while we admired the unusual driftwood Christmas tree – although did note that it had been chained down to make sure it wasn’t stolen!  And then a final farewell to our apartment.

Back to Morphie and we are finally moving on board….. on the hard…  This means – for those non-sailors amongst you – that we live on the boat while she is stored on land and we have to climb up and down a ladder to get on / off, and that means we have to use the marina toilets and shower block too….   And of course there is little breeze…  Oh joy!   Can’t wait!  But we are definitely going back into the water on Thursday so it isn’t for long….  And there will be no distractions of pools etc as the marina is right opposite the oil refinery.

So it was a mammoth unpacking job along with reorganising cupboards and cleaning everything that didn’t move!   We were pretty much done by 5pm and we headed off to the supermarket to buy dinner….    Being out of the water means we don’t have a working fridge so we are using it as a cooler with ice cubes for essentials and buying the rest as we go.    Back on board we had tea and retired early…..    Wow it was hot!   Like sleeping in a sauna – with the constant hum of mosquitos as you try to keep everything covered…   I managed to get a bite in my ear and up my nose before I retreated beneath my sheet completely.  Sounds funny but with Chikungunya out of control here in Curacao this is one mosquito borne illness we definitely don’t fancy catching!

This morning – Wednesday – and we were up with the lark…. Very tired from lack of sleep but determined to get on.   Richard did more engine jobs like oil changes, oil filters etc…. and he got the outboard out onto the rail.  He also got the generator started again…    I spent most of the day under the boat cleaning the propeller – but doesn’t it look great against her new anti-foul paint….

I also sat under the boat for a while putting a hose up into the engine intake so that we could run the diesel engine and check no leaks etc….  Jobs done – well done Richard – and we are now relaxing.   We splash tomorrow so will be pleased about getting back into the water and getting the rest of the jobs ticked off the list.   Can’t say either of us are looking forward to sleeping on board tonight though…..    I think we might have a glass of wine first LOL!

Bye for now

Jan

Tuesday morning – 25 November – we were up virtually in the middle of the night for our 4.15 am ride to Heathrow.   Always feels sad to have said our goodbyes to family and friends and it was no different this year.   But we were also very excited about this season and keen to be reunited with Morphie.

Check in went fine – boarding passes for both flights in hand – and onto security.   Of course we carry all our electronic gear in hand luggage so the whole bag had to be emptied and x-rayed again.   Boring – yawn – but it happens most of the time so hey ho….   And Christmas has arrived in Terminal 5 to cheer everybody up!

To the gate – quick coffee – and we are boarding.   Settling back for the first flight to Miami we get served Buck’s Fizz and then lunch at 10.30 in the morning…    Guess BA are operating on Miami’s time zone rather than our own LOL.   But we hadn’t had breakfast so we’re happy until I found out it was chicken or pasta – AGAIN!   Really – please – stop!   Want something else!    Richard ate his while I pushed mine around.

We arrived into Miami on time and did the obligatory three mile walk to immigration.   Queues not too bad and we have a record – 45 minutes only.   Woo hoo!!!   Then straight through customs as our bags are – unusually – checked through to our destination.   Through security again – no problems with our electronics this time – and to the gate for our connecting flight to Curacao.   On the way we stopped for something to eat as we don’t get fed on this plane and I am, by now, very hungry!    After a snack we went to the gate – just as they are calling our names.   I went up and was told there was a problem with our tickets – what??   But I have a boarding card already issued by British Airways.  I was told that wasn’t valid as I needed a voucher.  I asked what a voucher looked like as I’d done everything on line and all I had was my booking reference.   So she decided she couldn’t deal with me and sent me off to the rebooking desk.  They were confused as to why I wouldn’t have a voucher but realised that I did have valid tickets as I was actually in front of them in Miami. Doh!!!!   Not really sure what was going on – they kept talking Spanish between themselves and way too fast for me to make any sense of it – so I was pretty relieved when they gave me two new boarding passes….

Problems averted we finally boarded the delayed plane – broken parts again – and then pushed off almost an hour and a half late.   Then we parked up just off the runway while the captain burnt off excess fuel because we had too much!   Thankfully we finally got underway and had a smooth flight into Curacao.   Picking up our checked bags we realise that the external straps on both are missing – what?   Oh well never mind – into the waiting taxi – and we were escorted to our apartment in Pietermaai by the security guard as it was late – giving us a total travel time of 26 hours.  Unpacking our bags quickly we realise that the American TSA have been through them all – which probably explains the loss of the straps….    Thankfully the tools and spares in the checked luggage arrived safely.   All a bit odd – the bags were supposed to be moved from one plane to another – having been security cleared in London – why did the TSA get their hands on them at all???   Grrr….. Rant over.    We felt better after a complimentary beer to help us sleep!

Up early on Wednesday morning and we sorted out a cute little hire car as we had been unable to get hold of our contact who rented us the wreck in August.  Over to Morphie by 11.00 am and we were very pleased to be reunited with her.   She’s pretty dirty on the outside but thankfully no mould or anything down below.   We spent most of the day sorting things out – including reinstalling our cockpit canvas – and headed back to our apartment for a quick bob in the pool at 5pm.   Definitely need to work on our tans!    A steak salad tea in our apartment and we crashed at 8 pm.

Thursday morning and we started anti-fouling.   And we have lined up someone to make us a new cupboard where the microwave lives – which we never use and are going to dump – and to cut an access hole in one of the panels below the port saloon cushions.    We’re still cleaning and sorting stuff out too – but Morphie is looking tidier with some canvas and even a new Ensign!   A long hot busy day so we ended up back in the pool for a quick bob around 5pm and another salad tea – with chicken this time.    Was going to go out but we crashed again around 8 pm!   But slept really badly….

During the evening we heard the devastating news that Aurora – a large Island Packet in the Island Yacht fleet was smashed to pieces on the rocks off St John.    Details are yet to be confirmed but it looks like the charterers on board got a line propped and were unable to sail away from danger.    They were lucky to escape unharmed thanks to the bravery of the emergency responders and the U.S. Coast Guard.   Terrible photos courtesy of Sea Tow Virgin Islands….   Our hearts go out to the poor owner – what a tragedy.

Friday morning and up early – wood guy behind schedule – obviously on Island Time.   But stuffing gland repacked – yay!    Anti foul finished too…..

But we’ve spotted problems with our awl grip paint on the water line – which is coming off in places….  As this was done fresh last year in Grenada we are not happy!   Richard currently drafting an appropriate e-mail to them but, as a result, we are going to have to spend some time (and money!) on getting this repaired – so will probably end up having to sleep on the hard until we splash, as we check out of the apartment next Tuesday morning.    Not ideal – but what can you do?   Hoping it will not be long and we can splash on Thursday.

We have a long list of jobs to do this weekend so we’re going to take a couple of hours off this afternoon to work on those tans again……  and to cool down of course!!  Richard is going to take me out to dinner tonight as a treat – so hoping for a later night and a proper night’s sleep.   And tomorrow evening there is a Christmas Fayre in the area so we are looking forward to joining in and eating lots of street food!

Bye for now

Jan

Well, the time back here in the UK has flown – I can’t believe that we fly back to Curacao on Tuesday to be reunited with Morphie.

The time at home this year didn’t turn out quite as expected….  Richard went back to work straight away on a short-term contract to top up the sailing kitty while I prepared for a social whirl of catching up with friends and family as well as domestic duties.  Unfortunately very soon after arriving home I ended up in hospital having pretty major abdominal surgery – thankfully that is now behind me and I’m on the road to recovery, but it has seriously curtailed my fun!

Saying that, though, there have been some special sights, particularly the beautiful, moving, ceramic poppy installation at the Tower of London – with almost 900,000 poppies, each representing a life lost in the First World War.

We are now heavily into preparation mode – and piles of spares are starting to appear in corners of rooms.   And, of course, we are socialising a lot too….   Phew – busy, busy, busy!    The paperwork that needs to be done never fails to amaze me – all insurance related – but I’ve finished all that now so feeling a little more relaxed.  And Richard has retired again so we’re working hard to bring it all together – no pink or blue jobs while we are at home you know!   Some sadness though as we say goodbye to everyone…..

So we are now planning the route for next season.   After putting Morphie back together again in Curacao we plan to run north east to the Virgin Islands, hopefully in time for Christmas.    We have got help this time – it will be an upwind slog into wind and waves and I’m not really physically up to solo sailing yet, particularly if we hit heavy weather.  So this is our insurance policy.  I feel personally disappointed that we have an extra pair of hands on board – but I know it is the sensible thing to do.  Anyway, we are looking forward to welcoming Blaine back on board and the reunion may well involve some partying!

We plan to hang around the British and US Virgin Islands until about the end of January – then we are going to head west towards Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, through the Bahamas and then across the Gulf Stream to the east coast of Florida.   This should be a downwind sail most of the way – but of course the wind is always fickle!  After arriving in Florida we hope to work our way down the coast to visit the Florida Keys – and then sail up the west coast leaving Morphie there while we come home.  We haven’t sorted out the details yet though!

This season is all about exploring – both on land and on / under the sea – as this is all new territory once we leave the Virgins – so pretty excited.   And Richard is hoping for some good fishing along the way too….   Yeah right!

So bye for now and see you next in the Caribbean!

Jan