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Jan 09

Settling into to Colombian Lifestyle

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Tutty Lee

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View of the Marina, from the balcony

Leading up to the holidays, the winds increased as they usually do in this part of the world, so there wasn’t even white clouds in the sky. It was going to be a green Christmas.

Every place we visited, we have met very interesting people who we have became good friends with. Our first evening here we met Danny, a man who is visiting his son Stewart and his family. Many nights we meet him on the patio to watch the sunset, and play dominoes, always an exciting time of the day. Stewart, has welcomed us into his home, and at least twice a week we get together for what has become to be known as Curry Night on Thursdays and roast beef night on Sundays. We enjoy his company and his cooking. You never know who will drop in. Some times the table is full but Stewart always makes room for more. He’s a good man even though he talks funny…..LOL. My contribution to the roast beef nights, are usually Carrot cake. They seem to love it, so maybe we will keep getting invited. Natalie; is Stewarts and Yuris’ daughter, she is very interested in baking, so I have shared my recipe with her so she can continue to bake her favourite cake when I leave. She is a natural.

Dominoes on the marina patio

The view from their terrace has a 360o view of the city below. A relaxing place to spend time on land.

Looking east over the Sierra Nevadas

Ineke and Mike, aboard svConari, are three year members of the Stewarts curry club. They sailed in three years ago and have never left. Its home for them for six months away from England’s’ cold winter. They are a wealth of information, on where to get products or services in Santa Marta. They know, and have traveled most of Colombia. Every boat that comes in, is sent to them. They provide a great service. The marina should be paying them. Great people with amazing stories of their travels, all over the world.

New Years Eve we decided to go out for dinner and maybe some dancing. Here in Santa Marta the community spend the evening at home with their families. A large group from the marina went out. Most of the restaurants were closed and the others had waiting lists. We finally got seated. The restaurant had to borrow tables and chairs from a closed restaurant to accommodate us. After a few drinks we ordered dinner, the power in the area went out, no dinner for us. We walked around town till almost midnight before we found a burger place on the pier that could serve us. Happy New year was over a burger, a very good one at that. We all headed back to our boats. We learned later…….. the parties don’t start till 1am.

We have made so many friends, and I’m sure we will make many more it will be hard to sail on.

Oct 21

Santa Marta, Colombia

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Tutty Lee

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First off, let me say that the internet, or more the lack of internet has not been good to us lately.

We had planned to leave Aruba on the Saturday, October 15th, but the wind changed and was gusting 25 knots, a little too high for our first passage of the season. The Colombian coast is considered one of the worst passages in the world for sailors. It was forecasted to lessen, so we waited til Sunday. Everything depends on the wind and the direction which it’s coming from, so it seemed that we were checking the forecast every hour. We also had the help, that it was a full moon making it easier to see.

After completing some last minute chores, we moved over to the town dock to deal with the officials. When the paperwork was finished we were given 1 hour to leave, we were ready and just wanted to get underway. Off we set, the last islands of Venezuela 57 miles to the west, which we needed to go around, in the dark. As we closed in on the coast of Colombia we were give lightning show, with bolts streaking across the sky. 10 miles out, we stayed perfectly dry.

(Taken from Video)

Except for some countercurrent and wind off the headlands we had a nice sail all the way til the last island coming into Santa Marta Bay. There we met waves coming directly at us with high winds. Our speed slowed down to less than 2 knots, making little headway, we only hoped that we could make it in before dark.

The process of checking onto Colombia ended up being a 2 day affair, with us being confined to the marina property. The cruisers here had scheduled a BBQ, but the rain changed the plans. We did attend, sitting with new friend under a small shelter.

This morning we given the green light to go to town, mostly to stock up on food so off we went with map in hand to find the the stores.

We treated ourselves to a breakfast at a Panaderia (Bakery), 2 empanadas, Potato roll, a piece of something like a pizza, 2 Macaroons, washed down with beer………total price, less than $10 Canadian. Very easy on the monthly expenses to stay here. In the upcoming weeks we plan on doing more exploring, it seems to be a beautiful country.

This will be our home for the next 4 to 6 months while we explore the interior of the country.

Oct 04

Hurricane Mathew

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Tutty Lee

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We have had quite the week. After cleaning, sanding, and painting the bottom of Mistress we were advised that it would be safer if we stayed out of the water till hurricane Mathew blew past. It has been approx. 150 years since a hurricane passed over Aruba, so this was a very rare occurrence, and needed to be taken seriously. The marina was flooded with calls to lift resident boats out of the water. Two were spend securing boats.

As the storm got near the sky filled with clouds and the wind increased. The marina yard came to life with banging halyards and the sound of whistling rigging thank God for ear plugs. With the lack of sun, and the need to shut down the wind generator we set up an extension cord to power our fridge.tucked in behind a huge power boat with a concrete block tied to the predicted wind ward side we faired very well.

The eye passed over us around 12 midnight. We got the expected rain, thunder, and lighting, but the wind gusts were not as bad as forecasts. The ground is saturated with water causing the jack-stands sink. It is still 100% cloud cover in the sky, but temps still at 85 degrees.

We got a call from friends in the bay. Down the street from the marina they had a derelict boat drift into them during the night. With the help of another cruiser we were able to move it back to a safer distance closer to the mangroves.

I wish I could say that hurricane Mathew was going to blow itself out over the sea, but it is predicted to turn northward and threaten more Islands. Strange how it usually targets the places with the least amount of resources.

We can only pray for them.

Sep 26

Back in Aruba

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Tutty Lee

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After spending a great summer visiting family and friends we are glad to be back in Aruba. We are going to miss all our Grandkids, including the teenager that didn’t spend any time with us. We love you, but we live a sailors life. We’re also going to miss our 4 legged kids, Bailey and Hank.

The first day, we still had a rental car ( air-conditioned), we did all the running around getting supplies and groceries to restock the boat. When we left, we stripped the lockers bare to ward off a infestation of critters. In the hot, windy days here, Mistress came through a little bit dustier but no mold at all inside. Very Good. We did have for the second time, problems with the stove, the solenoid an item which controls the gas, just crumbled away. Funny, how they make things meant for a boat that can’t handle what the sea throws at it.

The Anti-fouling paint here is almost $500.00 American. a gallon so we picked a local favourite at 1/2 the price, we use 2 gallons. Early on the 3rd day we started our maintenance to get the boat ready to go back in the water. In the 95 degree weather it is slow going, water comes out your pores as fast as you can ingest it. I never drank so much water in my life., beer being my fluid of choice which only makes you feel sick.

We sanded the hull ,applied 2 coats of Anti-fouling, (everything will be smooth under the water), then scrubbed all the salt off before putting on 2 coats of wax. A great workout.

Launch Day ……..Tomorrow.

Jun 17

Last Post from Carriacou

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Tutty Lee

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Muriel and I both grew up in the heart of downtown Toronto. We chose to move away to another large city, Mississauga to raise our children. Our jobs were again back in the big city, seemed like we couldn’t get away from large urban centers.

When we retired, and set off to go sailing, we both had a vision of what the ideal spot would look like, to spend some time relaxing in the sun. Never did we imagine that we would enjoy the places we found to be so comfortable to live.

We have spent almost 2 years here in Carriacou, and we have never locked the boat. Our boarding ladder has hung on the side of Mistress since we arrived. It helps us get in and out of the dinghy, but could also help thieves board us, if there were any. We have never had any problems in this safe, friendly community.

It took us a while to adapt to the slow island life, known as “Island Time”, and to accept the way things are done. Almost everyone here has a name which they are known by, other than their given name. One of the first friends that we met was man who calls himself, Warrior. He paddles around the bay in his small slowly sinking boat. Even though, as he says, “ I’m in a rush” he always has time to stop bye for a chat. For pocket change he takes our garbage ashore to dump. He provides a great service, but only come out when he doesn’t have rum at home. He always has a good story,so we’ve sat many times on the side of the boat , listening to him over beers. A treat for him, the price of 2 beers could buy a whole bottle of rum.

One evening, he came to visit wearing one of my old TTC shirts, I told him I had worked there for 25 years, he said, he had never had a job in his life. “A job is a place where you go to expect to be paid, I’m only trying to make a living”. He then asked me if I knew who Kenny Rogers was, he says he’s like the Gambler.

We are sure going to miss Carriacou, and all the friends we have here. It is time to move on, so we are heading west towards the ABC islands. At 405nm, we will be at sea for approximately 4 days. We look forward to new adventures, Mistress is leaving Grenada for now, but we will return.

We have survived Kayak Mas, 2016 the Carriacou carnival.

Some places are perfect just the way they are, and Pure Grenada’s Sister Isle Carriacou lights the way for the traveller seeking an excursion off the beaten track. Thirteen square miles and six thousand people with no traffic lights, no fast food, no pollution, no tall buildings – the beauty of Carriacou is in all the things it is not.
Pure Carriacou highlights a culture where life is bound by community, nature and elegant simplicity. Filmed during the annual Carriacou Regatta, the creative team was inspired to use this unique maritime festival to capture the authenticity and beauty of the Caribbean’s hidden gem – the Isle of Reefs.

For more information visit: http://www.gopuregrenada.com

Goodbye Carriacou, we will return…………

S/V Mistress

Welcome to our Sailing Blog

Tag Archives: Sailing

Settling into to Colombian Lifestyle

Santa Marta, Colombia

Hurricane Mathew

Back in Aruba

Last Post from Carriacou