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Carriacou Capers

 We made our way down to the Lazy Turtle with the crew on Plane Song, a boat we know from Trinidad, and had lobster and lambi (conch) pizzas, carbonara, and all other sorts of yummy things as we watched the sun set over Tyrrel Bay yesterday. The dock at the Lazy Turtle is awesome…it is half poured concrete, broken in large chunks, and layered so it steps down to the water. Then, in about 2 feet of water, it ends. Tied to the end of the dock with discarded rope are two car tires, and to that is chained a floating dock, which floats tilted at about a 30º angle.…

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What Lara's Been Up To…and Pretty Mas Pics Are Up

 Carriacou is a spectacular dive destination, so we figured it was time for me to start my dive cert. We picked up a book from Arawak Divers, one of Carriacou’s best recommended dive shops by cruisers, and John has begun with my written quizzes and review of course content. I finished the book last night, so I’ll be doing my final written exam today, and them we’ll do the swim text and confined water exercises. John and Jean have known the owners of Arawak, George and Connie, for years now, and they were one of the primary reasons for our visit. Jason and John will do some diving with them…

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Position Reporting

 Just before leaving Trinidad, we got our position reporting configured and began reporting. We will be updating our position every day or two, or as possible while underway.  Keep in mind that just because we don’t update our position for a few days or so, it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong, we may just be busy, tired or ??? You get the idea. Check our position using Shiptrack or just follow the link in the right hand column of the blog. The red dots are where we have been and the large marker indicates the location of our last report.  Most reports will be delayed somewhat just so it’s not…

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Second Day in Carriacou

 We’re finishing our second day here. Ordered caulk for the leaks, did lots of internet work, and going to the Lazy Turtle for pizza for dinner. Also, Lara has begun her PADI certification work. I ordered caulk from Grenada; it arrives tomorrow afternoon, so Thursday, we will attack the leaks in full force. At least they are all above waterline, so far!! They make for a mess but don’t endanger the boat. We’re getting more organized each day and look forward to downwind sailing after the trip here, which really isn’t as bad as many of the crossings we’ve made earlier.

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We're off!

 Saturday at about 3:30 p.m., we finally left Trinidad and officially began our journey toward the Pacific. Our first leg was the 100’ish mile trip to the island of Carriacou in the Grenadines where John plans on visiting some old friends before saying goodbye and heading west. The first 70 miles or so were mostly upwind in 15-20 knots of wind and 3-6′ seas.  Fairly unpleasant sailing conditions, as Lara can attest, she spent most of the 24-hour trip seasick. We arrived in Carriacou around 3:30 p.m. today safe and sound. We all went for a much-needed swim in the crystal Caribbean waters, and after a freshwater rinse, John cooked…

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Jason's Passage from Hell

 The return trip from Tobago back to Trinidad was promised to be cake. According to all reports, it is all downwind. Supposedly you just point the bow at 240° on the compass, pop the spinnaker, crank some tunes, and crack open a beer. If that’s how it’s supposed to go, I’ll have to try it again some day. Here’s how my trip went… The night before returning to Trinidad, I was asked if I would help an injured sailor (he broke a couple ribs in a fall) deliver a boat back to Trinidad. I agreed, and since the boat was something smaller and less comfortable than the boat we came over…

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Tobago Carnival Regatta

 Before leaving the states, a Trini J/24 sailor asked us if we would crew for him during Tobago Race Week. Having sold my J/24 months ago and knowing we were going to miss our usual winter regattas back home we excitedly agreed. Let me be the first to say J/24 racing in the southern Caribbean is nothing like J/24 racing anywhere else I’ve been.  Most notably, no one drives their J/24s to the racing venues. Since there are no roads between the venues the boats are sailed “up dee road” to regattas. The shortest distance for any J/24 to reach Tobago is the 70 nautical miles from Trinidad.  I know…

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J'Ouvert

 It’s been almost two weeks now since J’Ouvert, the official early morning kickoff to Carnival Monday and Tuesday. We met our taxi at 2:30 a.m. Monday morning not really knowing what to expect. Here is what we did know: We would be marching around the streets of Port of Spain following a truck full of speakers with a DJ blasting Soca music. We would be painted There would be another truck acting as a moving bar, and possibly a “wee wee truck.” I’ll let you guess what that one was for. It sounded like fun to us. As it turns out we WAY underestimated the music and the paint, but…

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Passage to Tobago (aka Lara Can’t Hang)

 Approximately a week ago today, Jason and I took off from Chaguaramas on the 43 ft. race-modified Beneteau Wayward. We left under cover of night, both to time our arrival with early morning sun and to minimize the beat upwind as winds in Trinidad tend to subside at night. The preferred course from Trinidad to Tobago dictates that you hug the uninhabited and mountainous north shore of Trinidad for 40 miles or so until you reach Toco at the northeast end of the island, then turn left and head approximately 20 miles north until you reach Store Bay, a beautiful, palm-lined shore in Tobago. It’s fairly simple really, so long…

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Passagemaking Plans Update

 Since arriving back from Tobago, Jason and John have been focused on getting the last necessary bits checked off the list for departure to Carriacou in the Grenadines. We had initially planned to leave Thursday, but with a couple of final touches still waiting on parts or time, we’ve settled on a tentative Saturday shove-off. I spent the majority of the day yesterday researching and planning provisions lists and cabinet organization spreadsheets, while John and Jason shopped for boat parts and pieced together the final touches on the Aries wind vane setup. Jason also did some fiberglass work to fix a stanchion on the starboard side that had been damaged…

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