Captain's Log Page 6

Tideline Yacht Sales
17 Lockwood Drive
Charleston, SC 29401

PHONE: 843.813.3711
FAX: 866.467.8840
Email: glen@tidelineyachtsales.com

      After the ITCZ we experienced a deluge that lasted all night. Although we had no way of charging the batteries, the decision was made to use the radar for safety. It was somewhat comforting, but only showed bands of rain. Also, I am not in favor of relying on electronics, but trying to keep watch would have been a futile exercise.

The next day we approached the island of Tobago, which used to be a separate British colony. Today it is part of the independent country of Trinidad and Tobago. The island itself has its own unique flora and fauna, as compared to Trinidad. Trinidad used to be part of Venezuela, and geologically it is the same. The flora and fauna of Trinidad are the same as Venezuela. This is interesting when one considers that Trinidad is 25 miles away from Venezuela, and Tobago is only 22 miles from Trinidad.

We came into Scarborough, the capital of Tobago, in the morning. I had been calling the Coast Guard to request advice on where I could tie up, in order to get the injector pump repaired. Finally someone from the coast guard replied, and I was guided onto the dock where they are stationed. We sailed up to the dock under staysail only, and threw lines to the men on the dock .They cleated the lines off, and we had arrived safely in Tobago. After complying with the clearing in procedures, one of the men offered to take a look. He came onto the boat, opened up the plate over the pump, and proclaimed that he could fix the problem! He sprayed WD 40 into the inspection port, and the engine started! The parts had seized, and this was a temporary quick fix.

We enjoyed the hospitality of the island and its people for a week, and made the decision to go to Trinidad, which is far more developed and has facilities to repair anything to do with a boat. Trinidad has become a very popular hideout for cruisers who want to sit out hurricane season in safety, and don't speak Spanish. There are numerous facilities in Venezuela, but if one does not speak Spanish it could present a problem. Trinidad also allows any imports for boats to be brought in duty-free.

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