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Susie and Turtle at Tobago Cays
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When last we wrote, we were waiting for new fuel injectors and a new propeller that had the correct size and pitch. Inboard Diesel has since put in the new injectors and swapped the loaner propeller for one that is smaller and less sharply pitched. The injectors cured the smoking and the engine will now rev up to its rating. It is still quite noisy (tappets) and still leaks out the aft main bearing. The new propeller makes a dreadful whining noise when we pass 6 knots of speed while sailing.
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Cleaning the diesel tank
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In addition, we have had a number of breakdowns - still under favorable circumstances but not contributing to peace of mind. Like throwing the propeller in front of the Volvo dealer, we had the autopilot suffer severely from Alzheimers just by Diginav, the only Caribbean shop sophisticated enough to do a brain transplant. Hours before the skipper's briefing for the Around St. Lucia race, we discovered that the bracket holding the alternator had broken. Fortunately, the discovery was made while we were in Rodney Bay Marina where we could get the bracket welded. Unfortunately, it was four o'clock on a Friday before the three day weekend celebrating St. Lucian Independence and the machinists were no where to be found. We had to cancel our trip around the island and get things fixed in time for guest arrivals on Saturday. Mission accomplished but we are now seriously planning for a new engine and folding three blade propeller. The new injectors and propeller will serve as valuable spares. Plus it will take several months to ship and install the new engine so we can baby this one along until then without total atmospheric destruction.
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Trying the whisker pole |
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Soft corals at Anse Chastanet |
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Susie and Lucius hiking into the abyss at En Bas Saut Forest |
Are we unhappy with Queen Emma? Most of this stuff was fairly clear in the survey. A boat which is about 14 years old and has not been regularly sailed must undergo a major refit. Standing and running rigging becomes stiff and brittle. Electronics rusts and becomes obsolete. This engine at 4700 hours is at the end of its life. The stuff we would have had a great deal of trouble ever doing has been already done. All new upholstery and mattresses. Renewed cabin soles. These tasks, though cosmetic, are very difficult to undertake when you are already on the boat. The other projects we can do as we prioritize them and we can enjoy learning how the boat works while poking into its darker corners. Had this been the first boat, we probably wouldn't be cruising right now. It would have seemed catastrophic. Now that we are a little more knowledgable, we realize such is to be expected and budgeted for. Our major gripe is the thing is noisy! Hopefully a folding prop will fix the whine. We are working on quieting the wind generators (new bearings and blades) and hope to restore the serenity aboard. We tried poling out the jib and discovered we have decent downwind sailing ability. We are learning how a water maker works and getting this one producing drinkable water. This latter task has taken on new urgency since the Windward Islands have been suffering from a failed rainy season and a prolonged dry spell. We will probably get the refrigerator re-insulated while we are off the boat for our visit home.
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Petite Piton has burned for 3 days
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Meanwhile, February has largely been given over to touristing around with guests. This is surprisingly fun even though we have been hanging around the same old islands for quite a few years. We've managed a mix of old and new sights and our guests keep reminding us why we enjoy the West Indies so much. Plus, we have to get out from under the TO DO list and just play. We've snorkeled the Tobago Cays - something everyone should do once in their life and of which one never can tire. We've seen the view from between the Pitons and we've wined and dined in the French West Indies. We've done enough sailing to come to love Queen Emma's performance and are beginning to learn how she works and what she needs.
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Deco fish |
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Wahoo and Lance
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March has seen the sale of Eaux Vives! This is the second time she sold, but this buyer had actual money. We've managed to exchange the papers and put the money in the bank all remotely and the paper chase has in itself proved interesting. For example, you may well not be aware that Notories Public are chartered at the state level and a complex web of agreements govern their recognition. As an international transaction (I count at least 4 jurisdictions), the Notarization of our signatures was governed by an agreement to which St. Lucia and the EU are signatory. This requires that several ministers in the St. Lucian government "Apostille" the document. Essentially, the Notary embosses the documents with a kind of medieval stamp to attest that we are who we say we are. The government which granted him the franchise then affixes a more Renaissance style ribbon to attest that he is who he claims to be. The governments then agree among themselves that they will mutually recognize each other's ribbons and stamps. Later this month we will find out if the whole procedure really worked. However, the new owner is on the boat, the money is in an escrow account and we have worked out a great number of ways to spend it on Queen Emma.
We've become,
your one-boat-owning sailors ,
Lance & Susie
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