St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Martinique
St. LuciaWe headed out of Mayreau, the Grenadines and headed towards St Vincent where we would spend the night. The goal was to get to the most northern anchorage so we could get an early start crossing over to St Lucia. Genesis had other ideas. The temperature gauges on the starboard engine started to rise so I slowed down the engine and told Ernie to turn off the engine. On the Port engine we cruised into Bequia where we found a very torn up impeller. Easy fix. Put in a new impeller and off we went. Within 10 mins. the gauges were reading hot again and the same process was regimented.
We decided to take the southern anchorage of St Vincent at Young Island cut and determine what was happening. Young Island cut is lined with restaurants and bars so there was lots of traffic.
The new impeller was intact and the hoses were gone through. A piece of the old impeller was found in the system so it was determined this must be the problem.
The next day we headed to the north anchorage on St Vincent. Chateaublair harbour. Chateaubelair lies at the southern foot of Soufriere. The volcano. Unfortunately there was too much cloud coverage and the cone could not be seen.
Finally we were headed towards another country in our count down to get to Florida. The passage between St. Vincent and St. Lucia as written in the guides say to expect a very turbulent crossing. I am very happy to report the guide was wrong and we had a nice voyage except now the starboard transmission was heating up. Not a good sign. We traveled on 1 engine until we could anchor and re-examine. We arrived at Rodney Bay on the Northern Coast. Rodney Bay is a mile long with lots of protection from sea conditions. We were so far behind we did not visit St. Lucia as we wanted to continue while we had favourable weather. Some day maybe I will return as it appears to be quite beautiful from the sea. It was determined that the cooler was not large enough to cool the transmission properly. The starboard transmission actually pulls more due to the gear ratio than the port so it was decided to swap coolers until we could get to Martinique and possibly buy a new, bigger cooler. It worked. The transmission was no longer heating up. However we were back to the raw water intake and exhaust problem. By this time I am doing what all girls would do CRY. I figure that I have been tested enough and where were the angels not to mention the Big Guy. No one should have to endure this. However on the bright side I was given Ernie and Kenny to help me do this voyage and together they found a couple more pieces of impeller and figured out that an air lock had caused the problem.
Onward to Martinique where we would tour in the same manor as Ken and I usually did. LOOKING FOR PARTS! We went to several chandleries without success. Finally we rented a taxi and headed to Marin, where a wonderful lady had a bigger than our original oil cooler. She said" I see by your smile you are happy". Yes indeed except it was metric and my fittings are standard. We figured it wouldn't be hard to get the proper fittings. Yeah right. We went to several different places until our taxi driver got upset and decided to head back. We had to tell him to drop us off where we were because to go back would not achieve what we needed.
Martinique is French and not a single french word could come to me. My brain didn't even think English it was determine to continue in the Spanish form. I am telling this man in espanol to stop, let us out, etc. I could only think gracious not merci.
Well the piece had to be machined and we picked it up the following day keeping us in Martinique an extra day.
You can get almost anything done in Martinique. It is part of France and to some degree it feels like it. It is very prosperous with a thriving economy. Fort de France is the capital and is walkable. It is the largest and most liveliest city in the Windwards. Fort St Louis watches over the water front. A catholic cathedral adorns the city square and park. A library that was built in France taken apart then reassembled is a masterpiece in design.
We choose to anchor in a very picturesque town across from Fort de France. Trois Ilets. We could take a foot passenger ferry over to Fort de France at a very inexpensive charge. Trois Ilets is a charming town not yet over run by tourist. It is in the mangroves and the water wasn't something we wanted to swim in but it was quiet.
We had left over tickets for the ferry and gave them away only to be rewarded with big smiles and gratitude. With the exception of the taxi driver we found the people here very friendly and more than helpful. Something that is not expected out of the French. An example of the best in people. We were looking at a map to figure out where to find a fitting. A gentleman stopped asked where we wanted to go and took us to the spot then continued to take us to the bus stop and explain in broken FFrench/English how to get back to Fort de France. Another perfect example of what we have encountered while boating. The best of humanity.
We left Trois Ilets and travelled 1 1/2 hours up the island to get a good jumping off point for Dominica.
Well I didn't cry but we were tested again.
Genesis and the crew were in 30 - 35 knot winds when the starboard engine cooling system went but again. So on one engine we motored in 8-10 ' confused seas subsiding to 6-8' seas . Between Ernie and I we steered and just kept thinking it had to stop. When we got in the lee of the island still blowing 20 to gust of 30 at least we didn't have the confused seas. Once in calm water Ernie and Kenny got the engine running again and we made it to the north of the island where we currently sit. Portsmouth is the name of the town. We will be here for several days as the weather is going to be bad for 3 -4 days. Well we hired a guy and we will tour the country and enjoy. We deserve it.
During this trip I am having to learn a lot about engines and my boat however the biggest learning curve is to trust my own decisions. Ken and I were a team and therefore we bounced ideas between each other. I ask Kenny and Ernie their opinions as they keep the boat going but my judgement calls are now important and I am more than determined to get us and Genesis back to Florida so she can get home. It is Ernie and Kenny that have been sent to me to make sure it happens and for that I am grateful and can never repay the gesture. And to their wives I am more than grateful. And thankyou big time.
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