3rd April 2012
Independent Boatyard St Thomas USVI
photos in new album in photo gallery - click little camera

Ok no pretty pictures and glowing comments in this entry. Independent Boatyard is one of the most difficult boatyards we have experienced around the world. After arriving with no engine yesterday morning, expecting to be hauled out as arranged, we had to wait due to a racing boat being dismantled for shipping to a deadline. Ok fair enough. We waited tied to the dock with no information given to us when we would be hauled out. It is hot and noisy here and Bill needed to stay with the boat in case we were being hauled out at any moment. It was not to be. Other boats went in and out while we waited. 'Tomorrow morning 'said the helpful Daniel. We ate on board after visiting the well stocked and economically priced supermarket. Mosquitoes and midgies (no-seeums) plagued us. Lee caught the ferry and bus back to Coral Bay. I wish I was there now.

This morning we were prepared once more waiting expectantly to be hauled out. Waiting waiting. Anpther boat went in and more came out. Finally Daniel and Calvin said it was our turn. Late morning with sweat dripping from our bodies Bill showed Calvin the drawing of the boat underneath so he knew where to put the straps. Manoevering Lati with ropes as she has no engine remember Bill and the working men got her into the slip. Just as Calvin got into the dirver's seat to operate the travel lift, he was called on the public speaker to call the boss. Lati was not to go up yet but a motor launch who just arrived did. We had to get Lati out again by ropes and tie her up to a big shiney motorboat with our inadequate fenders. Another boat went in and out. Then another expensive boat had to have it's mast put on and rigged.

Sweat sweat wait wait wait. No communication. It was now 3pm. Bill went to the office to ask what was happening, 'We're after the boat getting it's mast put on' Now we had sent 2 emails last week booking Lati into this boatyard and communicated each day of our progress. We phoned 3 times yesterday morning as we sailed towards Benner Bay. Our emails were not acknowledged. The phone calls were only mildly encouraging but we were definitely booked in yesterday morning. Two days wasted hanging around not able to leave the boat with no communication has been very trying to say the least. To top it all off we have been placed at the far end of the boatyard near the road a very long way away from the amenities block and not near the other live- aboards. The first thing I saw as I looked outside from our perched view was a man urinating after he got off the bus in the street. Our view of the road includes the petrol station and the supermarket. Horrible position and I don't want to sit out in our cockpit. Bill says he will get the work done as soon as he can and get out of here. I will go to Coral Bay tomorrow to stay with Lee. But first I will try get a few things for Bill as in tools, a mattress etc . It is very uncomfortable here but the workers are amazing. These guys propped the boat up fine and gave us a sturdy ladder. And after all we are here to work. Another whinge - there is only one operating shower at the amenities block. The other 3 are padlocked. The remaining one is also locked and I was lucky enough to get a key after a day of harassing. However when I finally got my turn in the shower, I stood there naked not able to get the tap to work. Then I noticed a money metre in the wall.I had no money of course. Get dressed again and lose my place in the queue for a shower. Why didn't the office lady tell me I needed money for the shower?. I've almost finished whinging...

Lati looks wonderful out of the water with her strong big keel. She looks like a real ocean sailor. We have met the very nice Morgan who is the woodwork man who was recommended by one of the Coral Bay yachties. He recognised the type of boat Lati is straight away.He thought she was a Rustler which is very close - the fibre glass version built after the timber Holman 31 which Lati is. We also met a nice young Dutchman with dreadlocks who came to ask about the windvane. He is here doing up a timber boat with his girlfriend from New Zealand. So let's see how tomorrow goes. Bill has lit the mozzie coil and I hear cars driving past and music coming from a bar across the road. At least the big industrial shed behind us will give some shade in the afternoon. The bucket will have to be my loo again at night as I cannot climb down the ladder and walk miles across a dusty boatyard by myself in the middle of the night.... But that's life in boatyards I guess!