Thursday 29 August 2019

Thirty one miles up a creek is a gracious long way, depending on which creek and whether one has a paddle. Not a worry at the moment, however, as ripping, five knot current has pulled Rocna anchor through the silt and us onto a large fishing stake that was not close or directly behind us last night. Secured ourselves to the pole using winches and tightened anchor chain (with lines and round hitches to relive pressure on windlass) to hold boat in position, stern to current, so dinghy won't be scraped off and whatever fishing nets, gear or new rudder won't be damaged, at least not further. Awaiting tide change in a couple of hours. Denouement of situation to be revealed in the fullness of time.

Seems like we've had more calamities this past year than previous ten combined: rudder, shrouds, engine and less severe others besides the self-induced ones. Six and a half years of hard sailing can do hard things. Major refit to come partly this year in Trinidad, then more next summer. There goes the kid's inheritance.

Well, time for breakfast. Jan just recovered from freezer what is referred to as "thin, streaky" bacon, the real stuff that she found in Cape Town and a rare find outside of N. America, so brekkie is particularly interesting this morning.

Time is topped, Coda complete. As tide eased we backed into the current, but because chain, which was wrapped, was holding us from further backing we swung around pole the wrong way and subsequently below it, bow forward. With power we moved up enough to throw chain over pole by standing atop pulpit, but were still held by smaller, shorter one that we had previously dragged over taking chain to its far side and helpfully removing any barnacles from bottom of keel. Motored up beside it to get chain over that, then free anchor and Bob's your uncle.

Unfortunately a late start, continuing outbound current and lower engine revs will not allow arrival Wallyland until after closing. No worries. We'll anchor off Domburg for the evening (with regrettably a dalliance in the night with generator for battery charging) to sample food and drink at the Harbor Resort, get Euro and/or Surinamese dollars at ATM and scope the place for future reference. Probably anchor or moor there for awhile before footing (perhaps not possible in a boat) to Bridgetown, Barbados.

Jack & Jan