Three Fourths Perfect
20 June 2021 | St. George's, Bermuda
Sunday 20 June 2021
Beautiful weather descended on Bermuda just before we did Friday afternoon. Clear-in at customs dock, which included cotton-swab-rammed-up-nose-into-brain covid test, was otherwise painless, but after anchoring had to remain aboard until negative results available next morning. Since we've had vaccines, moving about now is unrestricted.
While inbound talked to seventy eight year old Australian on SV Pawnee, an eighty foot double headsail sloop that he's single-handing to Azores. The boat has no communication except VHF so he was looking for tropical activity information. Made unscheduled stop to fix rig problem an hour before our arrival. Came over to Anthem yesterday afternoon for a nice, long chat while awaiting clearance into Bermuda with no prior notice or preparation. Local authorities seem in no hurry to get him tested and cleared. Interesting fellow who spent much of his life in Vancouver, he's been most places we have around the world so fun to reminisce and swap tall tales.
Spent early Saturday in tete-a-tete with generator. Short swim with long screwdriver cleared thru-hulls that were indeed encrusted with crustaceans, but Panda still overheated. Subsequent replacement of raw water impeller, which was almost finless, then allowed normal operation. Broken fins remain in trap which is awkward and time consuming to access, so will be left until enthusiasm peaks - could be awhile. Assuming destruction of impeller was due acutely silty, barnacle infested water in Gulfport anchorage, may rethink otherwise good location if ever again passing through.
Despite clearing outlet forward toilet remained plugged so may require addition of harsh, environmentally unfriendly chemicals and eventual removal and cleaning of hoses. In rating the panoply of maintenance jobs on a boat this is number one on the "poopy" scale. Hopefully, poisonous solutions will have deactivated virulent pathogens before any hands on (or in) work is necessary.
St. George's looks the way one might expect - narrow streets called alleys fronted by British colonial era buildings. It's clean, attractive and very expensive. Two fish taco dinners with a side and two libations apiece at famous White Horse Pub cost a hundred fifty dollars. Bermuda money is par with US. One review of local sailmaker indicated any customer should "leave your wallet on the floor" in anticipation of astronomical bill. Well, the guy has to eat doesn't he? Don't want to quibble about that. The place is five hundred fifty NM from Cape Hatteras, closest land, and quite beautiful with a wonderfully protected harbour and free Wifi. Three out of four ain't bad.
Jack & Jan