Much was accomplished during our day or so at the dock. Most importantly, the arch and solar panels were installed. Below is an in-process picture. More pictures for those of you interested in the photo gallery
New Arch, Solar Panels & Batteries
While the installation was in process, dock / shore power topped off the new battery bank which is great since the generator impeller went out this morning. This means the generator will not be adding energy to the batteries until it is replaced when we're back in Tortola. If all goes well, the solar panels will replace this energy source tomorrow.
An update on our household shipment. It has started its journey to St Thomas. Coleman American said it left Seattle Monday the 15th & is in-route to Miami. Their estimate is the shipment will leave Miami for St. Thomas on the 25th but wouldn't provide a confirmed St Thomas arrival date. Based on prior experience we know that shipments from Miami to St Thomas can be done in as little as 3 days but who knows with this outfit. At least it is on the way.
Itinerary update: We hope to check out of USVI then into BIVi and head to Village Cay, Tortola Friday AM.There we will address the watermaker issues, get replacement parts for the generator and collect the missing items we inventoried before we left a couple of weeks ago. We will then decide on a location close enough to the USVI to have AT&T cell coverage to wait until our household shipment arrives in St Thomas.
We were hoping to sail the passage from the Virgin Islands to Snt Maartin / St Martin in late November or very early December. Then after spending a couple of weeks there, and a bit in St Barts, continue onto Antigua in early Jan to arrive a few days before our friends Kurt and Barb Bosselman join us. If our household delivery is delayed into December, we will cut short our Snt Maarten stop and bypass St Barts in order to arrive in Antigua on or about the planned rendezvous date. Weather permitting of course. (Kurt & Barb, we'll keep you informed!)