An Unexpected Detour!

Brother towing us in to Cumberland Bay

Bob, Charlie, Rob  and Brother

MAGGIE in Cumberland Bay

An Unexpected Detour/ or the Way Too Long Passage

This past passage has been another lesson in being flexible and giving yourself enough time when sailing. We left Bequia at dawn Sun hoping to bypass St Vincent and get to St Lucia. The weather was forecast to get windier and wetter as the week went on with the worst days Thurs to Sat. The sail was great across the channel to St Vincent but once in the lee of the island there was almost no wind. When we started the motor it was making some alarming new noises and eventually started to smell like burnt rubber. After some exploring and a few hours changing an almost inaccessible impeller we tried again but the engine wouldn’t even turn over. In the meantime we were trying to sail in less than 5 knots of wind. Every so often there was a squall to help us move. At this point the plan was to sail overnight to St Lucia where you can sail into the anchorage and there are engine repair businesses.

By about 4 pm we realized that we couldn’t make any progress against the current with almost no wind. At times we were drifting backwards. Now the luckier part of the story. We were 3 miles from Cumberland Bay, a 15 mile trip from our start. Rob had a phone number for “Brother”, a boat boy we met on a previous trip. Instead of being in Kingstown where he now lives he was near the bay. He came out and towed us in to the harbour and helped to get the anchor set and the stern tied to shore. (It is too deep here to anchor bow to wind and shore.) He also brought his friend and mechanic, “Yellow”, to look at the engine. It took most of Monday to get it apart enough to find the problem which was a burnt out starter motor. Most of the wires to it were also burnt.

As we expected, there are no replacements on this island. Eventually we ordered one from Florida, that will come in to Grenada and then on to here. Surprisingly they expect it at customs in Kingstown later today, Wed. It is about an hour drive away so will likely (hopefully) be picking it up tomorrow and then the installation starts.

In the meantime, we are enjoying the anchorage here. We had already checked out of the country but customs is giving us an extension. They only asked for fishing gloves and a chocolate bar. There is a restaurant, The Black Baron, very close so you can swim or row in. You need to let the owner know ahead of time if you want something. He will turn on the internet for you also. It will be worth a beer to send this.

We walked in to Spring Village yesterday and picked up a few needed groceries, limited selection but a great bakery.  We enjoyed the many farm animals around and the beautiful rain forest scenery. Rob climbed the mast and put on some mast steps and radar reflector as this is a well protected spot from wind and waves. It has been raining some about every half hour so the laundry is still on the lifelines, well rinsed. We were all drenched after yesterday’s walk so those things are draped on lines all over. Barb says we look like a Chinese laundry! Inside is a mess also as the engine is under the settee around the table so everything has been moved out of the way for working.

After listening to the weather forecast today it looks like things will calm down some starting Sat. We are hoping the engine will be working by then! Then you will hear from us next from Rodney Bay.