Saturday, January 21, 2012

Flying Back To Trinidad

Flying over the Atlantic always get me thinking of the different in speed of a sailing yacht compared with a jet plane. The plane takes about 10 h from London to Trinidad, whereas New Dawn took a good three weeks to sail the journey. Also looking down from the plane to the Atlantic, it appears enormous with no land to be seen all the way and it looks well organised and calm, whereas from the deck of New Dawn, the ocean appears smaller and the sea is more rough.

We arrived well in Port of Spain, Trinidad and on schedule on 6 January 2012, after an hour stop in St Lucia.

We were met by the humid heat Trinidad is well known of and also by the driver we had book to take us to Peake Yard in Chaguaramas, located on the north-west coast of Trinidad. There we found New Dawn very dirty and for the first time ever we had black dust inside and Mildew, especially in the aft and lower parts of the boat.

Thus, after a good nights sleep - after a long day, Trinidad is 5 h behind Luxembourg time - the work started the following morning, where the cleaning inside and out was performed by Chris and I tried to get the workers organised, as we had a long list of jobs that needs to be done. Prices were negotiated and things checked and timing done (which always gets delayed).

Today, Saturday 21 January, we have been here 2 weeks and have passed the planned launch time by 1 day. We hope the polishing and anti fouling, as well as raising the waterline can be completed by end next week so we can be launched the following Monday and I can service the engine, generator and water-maker, as well as installing the sheets (ropes) and the sails, etc., etc..

We have ordered a new AB 10.6' RIB tender at Budget Marine and it should arrive around the planned launch time. A RIB should facilitate the hoisting on the Simpson Davits, rather that the Bombard fold up tender we bought in Malta. Chris is trying to sell the Bombard tender.

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