Chapter 2 begins, or is it chapter 3?
Ten days. That is the amount of time from the day that we arrived in Martinique with one-way tickets, without a real plan, to the day that we left with our new-to-us boat. We’re pretty happy with that!
Our delivery passage to Grenada went like many of our other passages: a lot of good times interspersed with short bits of drama. As you can imagine, an offshore passage on a boat that you barely know is begging for drama. Our job was to limit that, and I think we managed ok.
With a favorable weather window in front of us, and reports of some potentially ugly tropical ugliness just west of the Caribbean, we left Martinique shortly after 6:00 AM on the 18th. The first bit of open water, between Martinique and St. Lucia, was as calm as we have seen it. With a reef in the main, full mizzen and genoa, we zipped along comfortably at better than 6 knots. Happy days!
When we entered the lee of St. Lucia we were still sailing nicely. In fact, as we were about 3 miles offshore, I actually thought that this might be the time that we get to sail past St. Lucia’s high Pitons. Sadly, it was just an illusion and the wind shadow was too large. With zero wind, and zero forward momentum, we were forced to turn on the engine to get us back into the next bit of open water.
Although it’s not my favorite, I do enjoy Soca music from time to time. One thing I do not appreciate about it though is that there is a high incidence of bells, buzzers and other weird noises played throughout the songs. That is not the kind of music that is best played while sailing offshore in a brand new boat! The boat is full of strange noises as it is. I don’t need to have other noise sources to make me think that there are alarms going off all over the place. Unfortunately, that’s pretty much the only music they were playing on the radio stations that we could pick up.
The passage from St. Lucia to St. Vincent was not quite the smooth ride that the previous one set us up for. The wind had built a bit and with it, so did the waves. By the time we reached the edge of St. Vincent, we had close to 30 knots true and waves to match. It was obvious that we were over canvassed but as the boat was not set up to be reefed any further, we just rode it out, running off under a deep broad reach, waiting for the lee effect of the island to take affect. Wow, did it take a long time for that to happen!
By this time, Rebecca and I were feeling the effects of the day and debated on stopping to grab a few hours sleep as opposed to soldiering on to Grenada. There are only selected anchorages that I will enter at night and unfortunately, St. Vincent has none of them. Bequia, some miles ahead, is such a place. With the help of our diesel engine, we beat our way to Admiralty Bay, arriving there at around 2:00 AM.
With the help of the charting app on my iPad, and with Rebecca on the bow with a light, we worked our way into the bay and found ourselves a suitable spot. As I mentioned in my last blog post, we do not yet have our systems figured out on this boat. This would be the first time that we have anchored the boat alone, and we were doing it in the dark, in an anchorage that I am only so-so familiar with. We managed OK with only a moderate amount of discussion. Since we weren’t able to dive the anchor to check its set though, and because this is all so new to us, I stayed in the cockpit to grab a few ZZZs, checking bearings every so often to make sure that the boat was still where we left it.
At 6:00 AM the next day, after completing engine and gear checks, we left again. This time however, fueled by the strong gusts in the bay, we left the main sail stowed and raised only our mizzen and genoa. What a difference that made! The open water sailing was a dream, and we were still zipping along at 6 knots with the autopilot steering.
- NOTE: A note about the Garmin Bluechart Mobile app on my iPad, which we used as our only source of charts for this trip (we had another handheld GPS with charts but did not get it out). Just after passing Carriacou, with Grenada in sight in the distance, it looked to me as if we were a bit off course. I kept adjusting the autopilot to take us more to starboard but the icon on the app did not appear to be turning. It also had our speed pegged at 6.5 knots which at the time, felt a bit fast. I know that sometimes a boat doesn’t appear to be heading where it actually is. In this case though, with Grenada in sight, it really looked wrong. I finally quit the app and restarted it and when it booted back up, it had our position in a completely different spot, and our speed once again being correctly reported. If this was in the middle of the ocean, without that land reference, that would not have been cool. And for the record, it was not operator error!
We had no further drama on the passage but we did have some beautiful views, including some whales that we passed (20 meters off our port side) just off Carriacou. When we arrived in Grenada, we were greeted by friends on the VHF and before our anchor was even set, we had another friend row over to welcome us to the island. So nice!
As you might imagine, after the passage we were pretty tired. We celebrated quietly with a simple meal and some red wine. We both slept like rocks! Today will no doubt be a busy one. First on the agenda will be customs and immigration but after that, we intend to start tearing into the boat’s lockers to see what all is on board. It’s time to start making this boat our own!
I sailed an ocean, unsettled ocean
Through restful waters and deep commotion
Often frightened, unenlightened
Sail on, sail on sailor
Awesome report, can’t wait to see the to do list. I can already spot items in the photos!
🙂
Thanks for the update, looks like you are well on your way in this next chapter!
It should be a good story!
I’ve seen the Garmin BlueCharts app do the same thing in the Bahamas. It seems to be an issue with getting GPS/compass updates since I’ve seen other apps get messed up at the same time but it only seems to happen when the BlueChart app is running.
Interesting. This was a first for us, but then again, we’ve never used it for an extended period of time either.
Haven’t seen a journal entry like this since..before that yellow boat. Your words and pictures show an enthusiasm I think you’ve been missing
I agree,, the One Love entries always felt a bit “commercial” although entertaining. Feels kinda like you got your “adventure” back. Keep on keepin’ on! More fun! Less suck!
The first delivery is always the hardest! Congrats your guys!
Thanks, John. Passages on an untested boat can be challenging.
Congratulations! Glad you got her back to Grenada.
We are very glad too, believe me!
I’m only up to summer of 2011 in my quest to read your story from the start, but I can’t help skipping ahead now to stay posted on what’s new! How awesome and exciting to be in your second boat. Looking forward to new adventures on your new rig!
3rd boat,,, wait until you get to 2014. lol
We may stick with this one for some time. 🙂
No cheating by skipping ahead. 😉
Yay!!! Welcome back to the ‘cruising world’!! Looking forward to this new chapter! Hugs to you both!
Thanks, Katie!!!
Specifications
General specifications
Builder: Amel
Origin: France
Designer: Carteau
Length: 45.3 ft (13.80 m)
Beam: 13.1 ft (4.00 m)
Draft: 6.6 ft (2.00 m)
Keel: Fixed keel
Material: Fiberglass
Weight: 22491 US pounds (10200 Kg)
Rigging: Ketch
Sail area: 1032.96 ft² (96 m²)
Engine: Perkins : 4154
Horsepower: 1x 60 horses (Diesel)
Engine hours: 3000 Hrs
Transmission: Line shaft
Water capacity: 285 US gal (1080 l)
Fuel capacity: 126.6 US gal (480 l)
Number of cabins (except salon): 2
Number of washrooms: 2
Number of main berths: 4
Number of secondary berths: 2
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Configuration
2 double cabins, in forward cabin separate berths
2 X showers & 2 head
Big salon
Galley to port
Forward cabin 2 single beds convertible into a double bed
1 Bathroom with toilet
1 Wardrobe TB
1 aft Cabin including double bed, sofa, desk and large side storage. safe
1 Wardrobe
1 Bathroom with toilet
1 Fan
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Galley and equipmentsMain cabin
Kitchen portside
2 SS sink with hot and cold pressurized water
Stove / oven with 2 burner ENO
Fridge Vitrifrigo 80 L
3 kg Candy washing machine
Microwave
Watermaker Livol 70 L/H 220 V
Water capacity: 1000L
Square to port with seat in L convertible in double bed, folding table length 1.65 m. integrating 4 drawers and a bar
Seat / berth with comfortable articulated navigator anti roll to starboard
Large side and funds storage
CD Library
Fans
Chart table + library + drawers and cupboards
Hifi chain, 4 stereo speakers
Flat screen TV, TV antenna
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SecurityEngine
Main anchorage : Delta anchor 36 kg with 80 m chain
Secondary anchorage : flat anchor with 20 m chain and 30 m cablet
Roll of 200 M mooring line diam 15
Hand bilge pump
Electric pumps drying up emergency X 2
1 inflatable lifejacket with harness
Boat hook with rapid mooring hook
Perkins Engine 4154 3000 hours
Many spare parts: propeller, complete engine gasket kit – valve – valve spring – thermostat – required pump cooling system – 2 seawater pumps – 2 injection pumps – supply pumps 2 – injector pipes
Exhaust elbow changed in June 2015
Gazoil capacity: 500 L
40L water heater, heated by the main engine
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ElectronicsElectrical system
Gps Furuno GP31
Furuno Radar 1623
Icom VHF
Wind indicator Raymarine
Ultrasonic wind sensor has CV3fF
Sounder and loch vdo
BLU Kenwood with box of SG 230
Pactor PTC II EX
Autopilot Neko + 2nd complete autopilot
Engine batteries: 2 x 105 A (2011)
House Batteries 4 x 105 A AGM (March 2015)
Alternator for engine batteries
Alternator for house batteries
Propeller shaft alternator
Dolphin 60 amp charger
Solar panels 2 x 100 watts on arch
Wind generator Aérogène 6
7kwa Generator (Kubota) 1877 H
Converter 220 / 12V 500W
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DeckSails and rigging
Electric windlass
Stainless steel security grilles on each deck hatch
Cockpit cover with collection of rainwater
Removable cockpit table
Cockpit cushions
Cut ladder doing gateway
Platform on the back
Arch with dinghy davits
Various covers
Wind pilot Aries on steering wheel
Electrical winch handle (Magicwinch)
Genoa 55m2 (2010)
Genoa original good condition
Battened mainsail, full batten Incidences 34m2 (be)
Mainsail original 27 m2
Booster like new 100m2
Asymmetrical spinnaker with sock like new
Jib 1 and jib 2 on forestay larguable like new
2nd Jib 2 serving staysail
Mizzen sail of origin
Poles x 2
Rigging replaced in 2008
Forestay (rod) and profile furling Reckman replaced in 2010
2 lower shroud + 1 Moroccan nine in stock
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Additional equipmentMaintenance
Dinghy Caribe Light 10 ‘
OB Yamaha Enduro motor 15 HP (Well state)
Yamaha 4HP outboard engine
YAMAHA Parts
SS Scale bath lift special dinghy Caribe
Toolbox
Deck Shower
Forced ventilation and heating (Elberspächer D4L)
2 FISHING RODS DAIWA Reel
Meticulous servicing
Woodwork and linings in good condition
Saloon flooring changed
What to done :
Life raft
Deck Painting
+1 for Googling.
We’re “toasting” you here in Maryland! Cheers!
Thank you. Would have loved to have had you aboard for the delivery trip.
Hi guys
This has made me more than ever want to set sail now .
Im looking at a Columbia 45 to do my round the world sail in she,s old but looks to have what it takes .
I know I will have to fabricate larger Fuel & water tanks but thats part of the excitement .
Well will keep a weather eye on the horizon for your report so enjoy the write ups you give .
Cheers Mal
Let us know how that goes, Malcolm.
Congratulations .. she looks like a beautiful boat!
Thanks, Cheryl!
Very well done. You can build confidence etc now.
That cockpit looks very nice and safe.
Cheers!
Mike
Love the deep protected cockpit!
Congrats. The boat looks to be a tank. I love it. Any comments on the sailing abilities vs a cat? Did you get a rail in the water?
Perhaps a bit early to judge. As for rail in the water, we are much to conservative for that.