SailBlog

Yes, we know it's been a while since we've updated the blog! In our defense, we've been slaving away on an equipment refit on the boat with its attendant problems, incompatibilities, etc even between equipment of the same manufacturer! Specifically, the electronics- who knew that corporate marketing would get ahead of the programers for our system?!? Turns out the chartplotter we installed won't talk to the rest of the system until the new software update (of course due out any day now...) In the process, Ron and I have learned more about how the electronics talk to each other than we ever wanted to! I'll save you the laborious details, but we managed to come up with a temporary work-around that included making up a couple of our own cables which gives us the info we need at the helm station. Ryan is coming to visit us next week, so we will be out for a week or so sailing to some of the islands around here. We're looking forward to that. Yay! A Starbucks resupply! AND, it looks like the weather is going to be very cooperative as well. St Maarten is gearing up for the Heineken regatta (boat race, for you land-lubbers) next week. It's 4 days of racing and parties and craziness. Hmmm.... While the boys are busy slaving away on the boat, I stay busy as well. Our friends from Australia were here for a week or so. Gillian and I shopped until we dropped. We went to Phillipsburg, (several times) which is a busy place when the cruise ships are in, and deserted when they are not. They have alot of fun little shops and the native markets which have a ton on stuff. We girls went to Marigot (on the French side) and spent a day over there as well. I was happy for the girl time. The boys would wander the shops with me, but, as we all know, they don't really enjoy it. Other days I lay in the sun, clean house occasionally, cook dinner and wash dishes. We have an open boat and we enjoy having people stop by to visit, on the dock that happens quite frequently. All in all, aside from missing my people, it is a great life. We have more pictures to upload, but who knows when the lousy internet connections will allow that to happen. Stay tuned!