Just call me "Shake"
When people hear you have Parkinson's, they generally respond with a story about their uncle who lived to be 85 with PD. In St. Lucia, I was repeatedly regaled with the story of a person with Parkinson's who went swimming as usual off the back of the boat and when the wind blew the boat a few feet away – he drowned. Of course, a cripple here is known as "Stick" for his cane. Not articularly PC but life is uncertain and here that is taken as a prosaic fact.
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| Pulling exhaust seacock
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| Valve out
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We had the usual start up issues: failed thermostat on the refrigerator, small outboard wouldn't start and a scheduled change of the exhaust manifold. Unexpected was the the stuck seacock on the exhaust. Every time before launch, we start the engine to make sure we won't be adrift after we splash. This time, opening the valve just resulted in the handle coming off, After much struggle and a little jungle engineering, we got it repaired just in time to make our appointment with the travel lift.
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| Pulling exhaust elbow
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| Old, clogged exhaust elbow
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We sat out in Rodney Bay for a couple of weeks sorting and cleaning and putting the boom and sails back on readying ourselves and the boat for the trip to Martinique. I have to admit a little trepidation at seeing how I would do sailing but it turned out to be a glorious ride. Deep indigo seas, puffy white clouds and little rainbows twinkling in the mists blowing off the jib. Despite the crashing seas not a drop of water in the forward cabin! That leak was conquered. A little palsy is lost among all the shimmy and shaking of a sailboat charging through choppy waters. Plus, nothing happens very fast.
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| Ste. Anne, Martinique
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Ste. Anne Martinique was lovely and restful and a gathering spot for several friends who are also moving north. We had to start moving on sooner than usual as in December we are leaving the boat in Antigua for an airplane trip to Jamaica where Emma and Leighton will be holding their marriage celebration for the Jamaican side of the family. I was still a little worried about my stamina for longer passages and we were both reacquainting ourselves with Queen Emma. The trip north was glorious. Each passage better than the last. Much sailing in the lee of Martinique up to Ste. Pierre in the north which is often not possible. A fast and bouncy trip across the passage to Dominica (with still no leaks in the forepeak).
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| Provisioning at the Leader Price
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Dominica recently had a single storm which carried so much rain down its steep mountains that bridges, houses and cars were swept away. Damages are estimated to be close to the annual GDP of the whole country. Deaths number more than all the recent terror attacks in the US and that out of a population much smaller than San Bernadino. No offense meant - just a perspective from the small islands. I took no pictures of the troubles in Dominica but I thought you might like to see some from the other side of the tracks: the Charter Yacht show currently in Antigua.
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| Water toys on offer
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| Relax in style
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The trip to Deshais in Guadeloupe was equally smooth although with a lot of motoring in the lee of Guadeloupe. It turns out the exhaust seacock replacement weeps just about a quarter cup of water an hour so we are now mopping up the back of the boat instead of the front. That only happens when we are motoring so it is quite tolerable and I'm sure our guests will be pleased at the change. The penultimate trip, to Antigua from Guadeloupe, was fast and furious with the well balanced Queen Emma driving herself hour after hour at 8 knots and more. Not very fast for a horse, but plenty fast for our home and contents. We were greeted about five miles out of Antigua by the first representatives of the clouds of pretty little yellow and white butterflies who are swarming the island. Apparently they too can go 8 knots but they were tempted by a little rest in the shelter of our dodger.
All is well aboard Queen Emma. Low stress, eating well and being very careful swimming off the stern.
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| Eos: 304 foot schooner
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| Lauren L: 296 foot motor yacht
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| When did you last scrub the ceiling?
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| More scrubbing
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| Sitting in the boom
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