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Boat Repair and Life in a Boatyard in Trinidad

Posted on by by Posted in Boat Projects, Caribbean Islands, Sailings

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.

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Watch – Pulling the Mast out of S/V Bad Bunny

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Boat Projects, Caribbean Islands, Movies on YouTube, Sailings

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Sailing from Suriname to Trinidad

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Boat Projects, Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America

(February 13 – 16, 2018) From Suriname (South America) to Chaguaramas in Trinidad, we sailed a total of 565 miles in 77 hours. On the second day, even including the slowdown for the autopilot repair, we still made our fastest daily trip, 184 miles.

Motoring out of the Suriname River, we scheduled our departure time with the tides. Not wanting an incoming current slowing us, we left the Waterland Marina at 6:50am, about two hours after Paramaribo high tide. It might have been better if we left one or 1.5 hours after the Paramaribo high tide, but we waited for daybreak.

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Relaxing in Waterland Marina in the Jungle and Driving in Suriname

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America

Suriname is not well-known as a travel destination yet. It is an easy going country. A massive river flows through it, and thick green forest are all over Suriname. It offers jungle tours and a unique mixed cultural experience. Most of the sailboats and travelers are from the Netherlands.

Driving on the left side of the road was new thing for us. We managed quite well even while avoiding lots of pot holes and slowly driving over the Drumpels (Speed Bumps). With a non-Suriname Driver’s License, we can drive for two weeks. John applied for a ‘Suriname Driving Permit’

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Entry Clearance, Roti Curry Chicken and Saoto Javanese Soup in Suriname

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America

The Customs and Immigration clearance took us only a half day because we hired a special taxi service through the marina we are staying at. The taxi driver took us to the right locations: (1) the Maritime Authority Suriname (MAS), (2) Tourist Visa Issuing Agency, (3) Suriname National Bank (30 Euros or USD35 Tourist Visa Fee/Person), (4) Back to Tourist Visa Issuing Agency, and (5) Military Police/Border Patrol (for Passport Stamp).

Suriname is for me the most harmonious melting pot country among all the countries I have visited so far. Some people were originally from Africa, India, Java/Indonesia,

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Visiting Salut Islands in French Guiana and Sailing to the Suriname River

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Sailings, South America

(January 9 to 10, 2018) The ruins of an old French Prison on the Salut Islands were interesting, especially the solitary confinement. I watched the old movie “Papillon”, as this is where he was imprisoned, and finally escaped. I understand many prisoners died because of the hardship in the tropics. Despite of seeing some cute jungle animals during a half day strolling on the island, I had enough of the island because it was hot and humid. We went to back to the boat.

A loud horn woke us up when we just started taking a nap in preparation for night sailing to Suriname.

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No Rental Car and No SIM Card in French Guiana

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Sailings, South America

(January 10, 2018) Upon arrival in French Guiana, we cleared our entry at the Main Port (Degrad des Cannes). The Harbor Master near the anchorage kindly drove us to the French Customs Office. He also showed us a series of animal pictures we can look for in French Guiana: Jaguars, Monkeys, Birds, Snakes, and more. We were excited to meet the exotic jungle animals.

On Saturday, we hitchhiked to a town (Cayenne) to get a rental car. It turned out we needed an International Driver’s License. With a US Driver’s License, we couldn’t rent a car. We didn’t have enough time to get a SIM Card because they were closed for their long lunch hours.

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Sailing from Cabo Verde to French Guiana and Suriname – Day 14 (Arrived Safely! Huge Applaud Goes to Bad Bunny and Mother Nature!)

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America

(January 4, 2018) No words can fully describe our current feelings. After safely arriving in French Guiana, South America; John asked me how many people I personally know who have crossed the Atlantic Ocean by a sailboat. I took a moment and said “Nobody except certain cruisers I have met.” Thank you all for wishing us a safe journey crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

From the channel entrance to the marina (Degrad des Cannes) is about 8 miles on the Mahury River. The river water looks like milk coffee or yellowish chocolate milk. It is so thick and creamy looking as it is mixed with a tremendous amount of soft yellowish silt.

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Sailing from Cabo Verde to French Guiana and Suriname – Day 13 (Losing Speed by Equatorial Counter-Current and Guiana Current)

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America

(January 3, 2018) Finally, we have a nice angle of sail. No more rolling and no more pounding of downwind sailing with the unaligned wind and waves. Waking up, I found myself well rested and fully charged. What deep heavenly sleep can do for me!

According to our Garmin Charts, there can be a strong current running in this area. John didn’t think it would affect us much. We learned it the hard way. We have been sailing against the Equatorial Counter-Current and the Guiana Current. These currents flow toward West and North Westerly. It reduced our sailing speed 2-3 knots.

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Sailing from Cabo Verde to French Guiana and Suriname – Day 12 (French Guiana and Old Movie ‘Papillion’)

Posted on by by Posted in Atlantic Islands, Caribbean Islands, Sailings, South America

(January 2, 2018) The boat has been rolling even more than ever last night. It occurs vigorously especially when large waves from one direction meet big swells from the other direction. Trying to sleep on the boat was like trying to sleep while riding the Disney Rollercoaster Splash Mountain. I gave up sleeping and made a cup of coffee and went to the cockpit. Recently, the nights have been so beautiful with a soft full moon beaming on the ocean. I sat in a salty corner holding one hand on the cockpit entrance handle and keeping both legs on the corners of the stairs so I don’t slide side to side.

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