Tuesday 30 April 2024

As one might have feared, after external rewiring of solar panels, which needed to be done anyway, no charging. OK, checked internal wiring past suspect thru-deck gland.. good voltage. It's solid wire from there to circuit breakers. What Up??? Oops! Positive and negative reversed. Operator error. Waterproof connectors have male holders for female connections. Knew this so was very careful to do opposite when rewiring. Double faked myself and installed backward. What a maroon; what an embezzle. Now have a short stretch of wire from outside to inside that has red and black wires reversed due too lazy and cheap to install new connectors (maybe later), but we're charging properly.

Wednesday

After not being sick for awhile, have a bad sore throat with accompanying aches. Miserable night, but feeling better today. Probably good that trof over the area is making weather too ugly to head north, keeping us here for a few days. Probably leave Friday and meantime engaging in one of favorite deadly sins... sloth. Lost appetite so regrettably another one, gluttony, is suffering. Life is compromise.

When course is very high or very low on wind, we often use autopilot's wind steering to maintain highest or lowest possible angle, i.e. most direct to destination, while keeping optimum sail shape. During last few weeks wind information has been available on chart plotter, but not on autopilot. Since they're on same network that made no sense. Finally discovered menu item used to select data source was blank. Auto is default setting, but instrument perversely decided to go stupid. Electronics are often mischievous and enjoy trifling with our complacency. Anyway, all good and one more thing is working properly. Seems like last few years, equipment has gone bad faster than it can be fixed. However, think we have turned the corner and almost certain we'll have rainbows, lollipops and fluffy bunnies from here on.

Jack & Jan

Sunday 28 April 2024 Afternoon

For some reason there's nearly always an impulse to start every entry,
"so there we were...". It's resisted. Harkens back to a vintage pilot
story that starts: "There I was, flat on my back, out of airspeed and
out of ideas. All I could see on the instruments was the manufacture's
name." This can go a number of ways, but a favorite is something like:
"As I plummeted toward the ground I tried everything. Nothing worked.
It was an impossible situation." At this point the story teller shakes
his head sadly and stares at the ground. The listener, on tenterhooks,
anxiously asks, "well, what happened?" "I was killed, of course."

On a more upbeat note, we're safely in Puerto del Rey. Low shore power
voltage is running washing machine and is almost enough to charge
batteries - perhaps with enough time. Although we're at the furthest
extent from shore, wifi reception is good. Marina is far from
civilization, but there's a decent looking restaurant by the office.
Sun is shining. Several regional conflicts have not become a global
war. Nobody has used nuclear weapons. Life is good.

Monday

Battery charged overnight from fifty percent to eighty five. Better
than a kick in the tush.

Waiting for 8am to call generator dealer to see if he will show up at
9am as requested. Confidence is somewhat lackluster or possibly
flaccid, but you won't catch me saying that.

Tradie arrived early. Who knew? Young fellow, but seems to know what
he's doing. Removed tops from capacitors and hasn't gotten shocked.
Confidence has now stiffened.

Found two capacitors bad. Changed them. Voltage, frequency and output
back to normal. All is right with the world... well, except for all
the bad stuff, but for the moment we're pretending.
"The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool."
- Jane Wagner... Thanks for the affirmation Jane.

Now in act of rewiring bimini-top solar panels. If they begin to work,
it will signal that karma is catching up from last year or two. Might
then put some money on the lottery.
"I've done the calculation and your chances of winning the lottery are
identical whether you play or not."
- Fran Lebowitz... OK, nevermind.

Jack Warren

Saturday 27 April 2024

Having received all shipments and subsequently jonesing to get going, we had a very relaxed downwind sail Wednesday to Culebra where clearing in was just as for USVI: send a message, wait half an hour for confirmation and done. No face to face necessary. And Jan is a alien, a Canadian frostback. Obviously someone has overstepped his authority by making the process easy. Eventually Customs & Border Protection muckety-mucks will become aware of the flagrant audacity, fire his butt and fix this glaring gap in our bureaucracy before viral fear sweeps the country, keeping the population quivering in their caves.

After a few nights by town where minimal time was necessary to explore the place from the appropriately named Dinghy Dock Bar, we've moved further out to a more protected small bay. Entire Ensenada Honda lagoon seems to have remarkably good holding. Ground tackle could probably withstand a serious storm. Probably won't wait for hurricane season to find out.

Generator has decided that it will only charge battery at less than half output, so we stage tomorrow to Fajardo, east side of Puerto Rico, to have it looked at Monday morning. Best guess is bad capacitor. Puerto del Rey Marina, where we must go and which has recently changed owners, charges a fabulous amount of money for the privilege.

Sunday

Despite bit of sea from strong winds north, sail to Fajardo is beautiful. Enough wind to stabilize boat in meter and a half swell with excellent speed. This sailing thing can be fun. Perhaps we'll do more of it sometime.

Internet information indicated cost of marina would be nearly two hundred fifty USD per night, but turns out only eighty two including power and water. Color me green and call me an olive. Reserved two nights, which should allow swell to ease for nice ride to Grand Turk. Now if only the generator can be fixed in a day and a half with parts on hand. Stay tuned for further developments.

Jack & Jan

Saturday 20 April 2024

Last shipments shown arriving later today: dinghy wheels that were lost in post for three weeks between Illinois & Puerto Rico for which a refund has been given and heat tape for Ken, Scottish mate. Soon be gone, but want to visit with Tim a bit more. Probably pick up packages Monday. Could leave Tuesday, but then miss bingo night at The Shack in Hull Bay. Fun never ends.

Sunday

Met Tim and his three friends at Carigas for breakfast when An Hour Late didn't open for regular brunch. Afterward they took Meow to Christmas Cove to frolic while we went home to work. This doesn't seem fair. Rain coming by noon, so they'll finish early and we'll just procrastinate and lay about. OK, that's better.

Despite lackadaisical ambitions, fixed light in forward cabin. Jan, more conscientious than rest of crew combined, sewed on new plastic zipper to replace corroded metal junk on standup paddleboard bag. Lazy contingent, having resisted pressure from watching this unseemly display for awhile, may now check switch where new toilet pump can be wired. Actually installing the thing will require removing several panels in head and securing its fair bit of weight to prevent banging about and subsequent leaking of contents. Doesn't seem like it should take very long, but that's where these jobs fool you. It's not ever as easy as even most pessimistic expectations. This is exactly why beginning any job meets so much resistance.

Appears that switch by toilet has power, so project may proceed if someone can be found to... oh right, that would be me. Dang! (or stronger words to emphasize overflowing joy).

Nevermind. It's happy hour, tomorrow is another day, food is warming and Netflix will soon provide what occasionally passes for entertainment to accompany dinner schnitzel. Hamu nzuri. For you ignorant, benighted troglodytes who only speak eight or ten languages, that's 'good appetite' in Swahili. Not only that, but you probably pronounce it with an indecipherable accent. What's the world coming to?

Jack & Jan

Wednesday 17 April 2024

Wind eased so returned to lee shore anchorage near buddy Tim's charter cat and Budget Marine. Spent a hundred fifty dollars at chandlery and didn't even get diesel biocide, purpose of trip - sold out. Maybe Friday in new shipment. Since on shore felt obliged to force down a cold Carib lager at Cariga's Island Cafe - great folks we got to know while here for two and a half months in 2020.

Hoped to borrow Tim's car for wine run to Cost-U-Less while he worked on his boat, but suspension rehabilitation put it in garage. Maybe tomorrow. Meantime may attack a few boat jobs that would make me happy by going away. Hardly ever happens, but hope springs ... you know. If you wait long enough and leak-soaked bed not an issue, they seem to get less urgent with procrastination.

One repair involves broken brace on starboard side of large forward hatch. With only one side supported it may warp so, although OK for now, big problems could result. Very easy to ignore. Hate those.

Friday

Took Tim's car to ravage shelves in Cost-U-Less including pretty much all their wine (slight hyperbole). So much stuff for us and other Anthem had to make two dinghy trips. Confident we can last another week or so before starving to death or getting DTs.

Seat support on one side of dinghy pulled loose, so bought repair glue at Budget called Final Fix - we'll just see about that. Meantime trying to avoid inelegance of sitting on expected seat when not there. Yes, it happens. As soon as rain stops will get to work. FWIW, this is the dry season.

Have been using esim.net mobile data for nearly a month. Great... stopped working. !@#$%%^&*. Reinstalled... not working. !@#$%^&*. Starlink works a treat, but uses lots of electricity. Need immediate availability, every nanosecond, 24/7/365 or 6. Arrrrrrrrgh! Life is grueling, but we soldier on.

Jack & Jan

Tuesday 16 April 2024

Sent off tax forms and payment to Internal Revenue Serpents yesterday.
Always file honestly, at last possible moment and owe just below
penalty amount to enable using that money as long as possible before
it's coerced from my possession.

"We'll try to cooperate fully with the IRS, because, as citizens, we
feel a strong patriotic duty not to go to jail."
- Dave Barry

Can now sit back for a year and enjoy watching tax revenues, government
borrowing and magically printed dollars be used to influence virtually
everything everybody does while it decreases the value of our currency.
Particularly like supporting a hundred seventy thousand military troops
in a hundred seventy eight countries (2023) and supplying two hundred
thirty eight billion dollars in weapons to fifty eight countries (2022)
for "peacekeeping and world stability". Wonder if a couple bucks could
be used to buy someone a sense of irony.

Jack & Jan

Monday 15 April 2024

Despite valiant effort moving to three different locations, could not intercept dollar bus until eleven thirty yesterday and by that time storm clouds loomed. Stopped shortly for food truck snacks then returned to respective boats. Suspect dearth of transportation due location at University of VI with no classes on Sunday. No worries. May go another day from more active locale.

Returned toward Charlotte Amalie to retrieve regulators, not finished Friday because owner was in San Juan hospital (he looks a hundred ninety), and perhaps to retrieve last part for windlass that finally came. Rain in forecast for four days and last night wet, but this morning sunny. Motored into stiff wind for an hour back to Water Island to await Hi-Tec opening at 1000.

- Later

Scotty still not done with regs. Maybe after lunch. Took delay as opportunity for breakfast ashore, involving a two nm dinghy ride across Charlotte Amalie harbor getting deluged from a wind blown wave. Soaked pants bestowed same experience as wetting oneself, but without the accompanying warm glow. Return is downwind, so less chance of reprise.

Original plan to move after getting scuba gear was abandoned due comfortable location, increasing waves in main harbor, noise from town and congenital sloth - a persuasive combination. Return to boat was lively affair as wind picked up. We were shaken, but not stirred, and remained tolerably crisp.

Despite dire warning from weather weasels sky remains clear so we can leave hatches open for fresh air. One small advantage of rain is that radiant heat is usually blocked by clouds. Unfortunately here sun often shines during rain so more heat, more humidity and no ventilation. Arrrrrrgh! (a little pirate lingo that may be upgraded at one's inclination to more evocative expression)

Jack & Jan

Sunday 14 April 2024

Perhaps yet a third explanation of a previous blog title is in order. We do not explore virgins. We have no interest in virgins. We do not understand historic obsession with virgins. We try to avoid virgins. We rarely discuss Queen Elizabeth I. Once we leave here there will be no more talk of virgins. OK, we go next to Culebra in the Spanish Virgins, but after that, NO MORE virgins!!!

Just installed new Sirocco II fans on either side of bed in aft stateroom. These are very quiet and move lots of air. They are also very efficient. Batteries supply power to them through copper wire by moving electrons from negative to positive poles, spinning fan motor as they scurry by. Although fewer are needed than typical it still takes an enormous number to do this because they are incredibly small. In fact they are so tiny you cannot see them moving through the wire unless you've had at least a dozen rum punches. Haven't made it past eleven, so rely on testimonials from more persistent friends.

Today we hop on Safari bus, also called dollar bus, for a wide-ranging tour of St Thomas. We'll play chicken with storms coming in this afternoon as transportation may or may not come when needed. Living life on the edge... with raincoats.

Jack & Jan

Saturday 13 April 2024

Perhaps explanation of previous blog title is again in order. Some of you, you know who you are, have a naughty idea of what was meant. We do not do virgins, we do Virgins. Did you notice the difference?.. OK, not you Cal, but perhaps many others. For example, we do the Eastern Caribbean. We do Lagoonies and Stir It Up Coffee Shop. We will do the US East Coast again, then maritime Canada. We do not, to emphasize, do virgins. English is a subtle language that must be approached with intelligence and caution. Do not be fooled by your own twisted imagination and sick thoughts. Or by Cal.

In the science section today we review cicadas. This year for the first time since 1803, particular 13 and 17 year broods coincide - over a trillion of them. These guys have lived underground eating tree roots for well over a decade and will emerge for about a month starting in May to 'date' - if you get my drift. They don't bite, but do create sufficiently loud high-pitched mating noises to cause brain damage. The infestations, which normally have separate territories will atypically overlap in central Illinois this spring. The Audiology Promotional Association, Neuro-surgical Marketing Committee and Earwig Hearing Aid Company encourage you to go there for this once in a lifetime event.

Having rebed partners (where mast goes through deck) and screw holes in leaking hatch, have exhausted enthusiasm for further productive endeavor. With Aussie Anthems expect to make our way ashore in awhile for pate and one or more refreshing beers at Kimba's Food Truck. After miserable, rainy and windy day Friday, today is beautiful and calls out for exploration.

Jack & Jan

Friday 12 April 2024

Perhaps an explanation of previous blog title is in order. We are
decent people and do not switch virgins, even if we could find one and
he or she had been really, really bad. We don't completely condemn
corporal punishment, but don't find occasion to use it ourselves. The
intended message is that we changed to a different virgin... This does
not mean we had a virgin and tossed him or her out for another. We
would not cast aside a virgin just to obtain a different virgin even if
we were looking for one. We are not. Anyway, this is irrelevant as we
lack a first virgin. To be clear we are referring to virgin islands
that always remain where they are and will not be discarded. This does
not imply that the islands are themselves virgins nor are they noted
for having an unusual quantity of virgins. Although they were named by
Christopher Columbus for Saint Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins (for
reasons that remain obscure) there are certainly none left of the
original cadre and likely few modern ones. These statements, as they
ethically must, are about adults and ignore children, which we try
always to do especially at bars, restaurants and coffee shops whenever
possible. Hope this explanation provides sufficient clarity to
eliminate any confusion.

Tracking guidance for last windlass part, a spring, originally
indicated delivery by USPS sometime from 12 to 17 April, a six day
spread that implies a low opinion of its own competence. This
information has subsequently been updated by it to show arrival
yesterday, then today and now tomorrow. In fairness, although dashing
our hopes for reasonable timing (it was mailed from US on 5th),
tomorrow is within original commitment. Have confidence that post
office is so embarrassed by slow delivery and false promises that it
will spare no effort to get it here this month.

Jack & Jan