So we are both in the UK and enjoying some quite sunny and warm weather – shorts and T-shirts no less.

However a brief update on post-Grenada activities.

Stephane and Ann on SAS3 arrived in Clarke’s Court Bay and with them and KARMA we left for Trinidad on 31st May. This was supposed to be a bit of a doddle – we were doing the “three safeties”: travel at night, stay to the east of the gas platforms and travel in company. We motored out of the bay at 1630 and were on a close reach in 14kts easterly wind. All pretty benign and doing over 6kts. We had discussed slowing down for a dawn arrival after the 87nm trip … and the avoidance of paying overtime to Customs and Immigration.

Well, we had nothing to worry about on that score as there was a very strong west-going current which meant we were sailing more and more close-hauled and it was slowing us down by over 2kts at times. The wind eased down to less than 1okts and we had to do a bit of motor-sailing in the middle of the passage but then it was back up to 12kts and sailing. We arrivied at the Customs dock, Crews Inn in Chaguaramas at 1000 on Thursday 1st June.
Clearance was quick and easy, so after some grocery shopping and buying a SIM card and data/phone package we scooted round to Trinidad & Tobago Sailing Association to anchor – it was quite busy but eventually we chose a spot at the head of the bay with enough swinging room. We like the atmosphere at TTSA – it has a good bar and the water is cleaner than in Chaguaramas Bay – albeit there is a bit of a trek to the chandleries and services.

However, we hauled out at Peake Yacht Services on Tuesday 6th June and were given a good spot that drains quite quickly in the frequent torrential downpours and is handy for the chandlery.

With an aged mother moved into a care home to visit and associated sorting of her house required, Norma returned to the UK on Sunday 11th June while Phil stayed on to put MINNIE B to bed, organise various service providers and get on with some much needed painting.

After eleven years we have quite a few paint blisters – aluminium and paint are not the best of bedfellows – so sanding and preparation required scaffolding around the boat. Unfortunately this was yet another occasion when ambition exceeded skill level and once the filling and sanding stage was reached more expert help was required. So Kirwin was hired and proved his superior knowledge and skill on the band of paint at the top of the topsides and over the toerail. More painting will resume on return in November.

We had a replacement carcass built last year for our small fridge, but the half-wit “professional” did not use marine plywood and it delaminated within a month of installation. We got a partial refund from him eventually, after he tried to blame the wood supplier. A poor workman always blames …. So we now have a new guy who is operating under the watchful eye of Mark who did a very good job for us replacing the keel bearings and bushes last year and does project management.

So, Phil returned to the UK on 1st July for a splendid weekend in Teddington with daughter Julia and her husband Tim, then up to Yorkshire to stay with daughter Anna and husband Neil, and the happy reunion when Norma flew in from Northern Ireland.

We are looking forward to our few months visiting family and friends, and then back to MINNIE B at the end of October and a new series of adventures.