Boat Repairs in Chaguaramas, Trinidad

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

The craziness in the tropical heat is about to end. John’s boat working fever finally has calmed down. Bad Bunny looks really shiny and sharp from the rub rail down. Unfortunately according to John, this just means we have to do more work on the deck to make it all match! (?)

We have been staying at Peake’s Yachting Services (boatyard) for almost three months. We like the ample space and friendly employees in Peake’s Marine. Bunny got a new paint job (Hull, Mast, Bottom, and Dinghy), also miscellaneous repairs and upgrades (Gelcoat Repair, Welding, New Bow Protector,

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Brightline, Fast Train Ride in Fort Lauderdale

Posted on by by Posted in Florida, USA, USA East Coast

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Taking a short break from the boatyard, I am visiting Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Flying from Trinidad to Fort Lauderdale is about a 3-4 hours trip, nonstop. Each time I visit my home and meet friends, I immediately see the fast-evolving technologies in our lives. It makes me feel somewhat outdated. However, I don’t mind living low-tech lifestyle because I have been practicing to live simple. I still prefer calling to texting on the phone.

It appears Fort Lauderdale is growing very fast.

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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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Internet SIM Card in Suriname – Digicel Prepaid SIM Card

Posted on by by Posted in Internet Abroad, South America

(January – February 2018) In Suriname, I bought a SIM Card from the Digicel store in Paramaribo, Capital of Suriname. SIM Card cost 30 Suriname Dollars (about USD4) and 6GB data cost 153 Suriname Dollars (about USD21) which is good for 30 days. I paid it by US Dollars and received change in Suriname Dollars. The store person setup my phone. There was no waiting line in the store.

We stayed in the Waterland Resort Marina near Domburg (http://waterlandsuriname.com/w/). There is Wi-Fi available at the outdoor café/restaurant in the marina. This Wi-Fi speed was good but the connection speed from the boat was not fast enough for me.

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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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