Archive for November, 2013

No Crocs, Frogs or Flippers

Sunday, November 24th, 2013

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Looking at photos from the early 1990s, when we first visited the West Indies, I detect a clear change in the way people dress. Particularly when you look at the footwear! Below is a photo of our family and our very good friends, the Lindqvists, in Philipsburg Sint Maarten. Everybody wears proper sailor’s shoes. No cheap plastic crocs, frogs or flippers in those days (remember, you can click on the image to see a larger version).

I’m Fuckin’ Retired!

Sunday, November 17th, 2013

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I could certainly not imagine, 21 years ago, when we arrived in the West Indies the first time, that I would meet retirement in these islands.

I’m not one who normally advertises his birthday, but as we are presently crusing down Memory Lane (see report here) more than two decades since our cruising lifestyle started, I am experiencing some emotional moments. As 63 years is the age when one can retire in Finland, I guess I am now officially retired. Although I prefer to use the expression ‘senior citizen’ instead – it sounds a lot more distinguished.

Actually, I wasn’t at first quite sure what it is I’m retiring from, having been a sail bum for twenty plus years. But then I realised that, now that we have decided to swallow the hook and sell the yacht, I am actually retiring from cruising.

I realize that things could be worse; some people wont go cruising until they get retired. At the age of 42 I decided to live the cruising life because I had no guarantees I would ever reach retirement age.

However, until the boat is sold I guess I will continue the life as a soon retiring sail bum.

Do not have too much fun – not on my steps

Saturday, November 9th, 2013

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Some proprietors are obsessed with signs. I have commented about signs a couple of times before in this blog, but recently in Chaguaramas I found one of the worst examples. At the docks of a boatyard called Powerboats there is a small building, convenience store, where most walls are covered with restrictive signs.

I couldn’t understand the reason for all these signs, but I guess every proprietor has the right to decide what people are allowed to do on his premises. Or maybe this one just happens to have a sign-maker son in law. Neverteless, although I know the meaning of fishing, sitting, loitering, parking and so on, I wasn’t sure what liming is. And, as I didn’t want to break the rules I went in and asked what I should refrain from doing.

The girl at the check out explained that it means “having fun”. I found this surprising as I had been given the impression that Tribagonians loved to have fun. Yes, she said, but the sign says that you can not have too much fun here!

Return to Prickly Bay, Grenada

Saturday, November 9th, 2013

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Our first visit to Prickly Bay was in the early 1990’s. It was one of our favourite Caribbean anchorages and we returned there on several occasions during our time in the Windward Islands. After almost a decade we briefly returned at the end of the year 2000 on our way from Europe to the US east coast. There had been very little change during those years. It was still one of the prettiest spots in the West Indies, with usually less than a dozen yachts at anchor and a cozy little restaurant.

Today, 13 years later, the small, informal, charming marina, with fresh green lawns, dotted with palms and almond trees is gone and instead of the dozen yachts of yesterday there are probably a hundred now at anchor, with an additional two hundred on the hard. However, there is a now a modern marina, with better docks, a good dinghy dock and probably a much more efficient shipyard and better services for yachts over all.

Unfortunately, I much preferred the old days. I fear what more changes I will discover when we move further north through the islands.

Splash – Finally

Saturday, November 9th, 2013

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On October 31, after several postponements of our bookings with the travelift, Scorpio is finally back in the water, ready for yet an other sailing season: 2013-2014. We had to cancel our launch several time because contractors didn’t show up to start or finish their jobs and then when we were finally ready the lift was scheduled for a yearly over haul.

But now Scorpio is back in the water. We hope to be ready to leave Trinidad on Monday, November 4, and sail to Grenada.