Boat Repair and Life in a Boatyard in Trinidad

Posted on March 7, 2018 by by

Kay Chung Posted in Boat Projects, Caribbean Islands, Sailings

S/V Bad Bunny in Peake Yacht Services, Chaguaramas, Trinidad, The West Indies

We are living in a boatyard in Chaguaramas for now, to get “Bad Bunny” repaired and enhanced. This place is a main boat repair center in the Caribbean. All is easily accessible by walk or bike-ride here. We hired contractors for painting, pulling out the mast by a rigger and a crane, welding, repairing sails and new windows in the dodger, making a new stainless bow protector, and more. We haven’t seen the final results yet but we feel optimistic.

Life in a boatyard is somewhat dusty and sweaty. To improve it, we rented an A/C to stay cool and bug free when we stay inside of the boat. All of the plumbing system on the boat has been disconnected. No freezer. We keep drinks cool with ice.

The Calypso “Rum and Coca-Cola” was written, composed, and sung by Calypsonian Rupert Westmore Grant in Trinidad in 1943.

Not cooking, we often order take-out food from the excellent food vendors just outside the boatyard. Unlike John, I have tried a various type of Trinidadian food: Oxtail Soup, Cow-Heel Soup (literally), Provisions (Boiled Root Vegetables), Callaloo (made with okra and dasheen or water spinach), and Doubles (flat fried bread with curried chickpeas). I liked it all but I limited myself to eating the oxtail soup or cow-heel soup because of the high fat contents and cholesterol. I want to look good and healthy at my age.

Fresh Produce Market, Port of Spain, Trinidad, The West Indies

Every Saturday morning at 6am, some cruisers go to a produce market together in the capital city, Port of Spain. When returning, everyone carries a handful of vegetables and fruits.

Last Saturday, I bought the best Spinach Leaves from a happy Rastafarian man. The Spinach Miso Soup I made, transferred his happiness to me. One Saturday, I felt so sad seeing many baby hammerhead sharks for sale in the fish market. I was relieved I didn’t see them again on the next Saturday.

One day, we took a break for a bike-ride to Chaguaramas National Park. Going up the hill passing through the “Bamboo Cathedral” we were out of breath. On the way down, the sound of Howler Monkeys stopped us. Later, we visited a “U-Pick Vegetable Field”. In there, John met an ex-neighbor by accident, who used to live next to his house in Florida, decades ago. Wow…

We were also happy to meet some cruisers whom we had seen before here. We previously met a couple in Saint Croix and another couple in Curacao, about three years ago. On Sundays, a group of cruisers play Mexican Train Dominos. On Thursdays, we go to a Cruiser’s BBQ. I am off for two weeks visiting Fort Lauderdale, carrying a luggage full of stories to share if anyone is curious.