Trinidad

May 23 we cleared out with Grenada customs and by 1pm we were headed South for Trinidad. This is 80 miles and we will make it an overnight sail. We had to motor the first 15 miles as was a strong current and the wind was almost on the nose and we could just barely make our course. Eventually the current eased and the wind came around a few degrees and we had a great sail until about 3 in the morning. Then we picked up another current and were slowed down again and also about then a rain squall came through and we lost our wind and it never really came back as we approached the Trinidad coast. So we motored the last 20 miles into Chaguaramas, Trinidad.

There was a lot of ship traffic on this passage so the AIS prove very useful again. The AIS alarm only went of once indicating a ship on a collision coarse, I called him up and he said he would steer behind us and we to hold our coarse. About 8:30am we entered Chaguarams harbor after fighting the current through a narrow passage between two islands. We first went to a old cement dock that was meant for large boats and not for our small yacht. Went to Immigration and then customs and did the usual paper work that most poor country's seem to like to do. Had to put 2 pieces of carbon paper between 3 forms so they were done in triplicate.

There are yachts everywhere here, several huge boatyards have many many yachts stored for the Caribbean  hurricane season.   Lots more on moorings or anchored in the harbor here and others in the marinas. Most of the yachts we talked to are hauling out at Peaks boatyard or Powerboats. We are hauling out with one of them as well and will give more info when we get back here in Sept. There is several large Chandler's here and lots of tradesmen. I got a few boat chores to do. One is to replace the rest of my galvanized rigging. I replaced some of it in Australia and am now going to replace the rest. I will buy the ss 1*19 5/16inch rigging wire here and have the rigger swage the eyes on and then do the work myself, which means quite few trips up the mast. Will do the antifouling paint when we get back in Sept. Also going to buy a new anchor chain, got a good price here. Not from Budget Marine, their store name is a bit misleading as they often do not have the best price.  A couple of the bronze opening windows need to be rebedded as starting to leak a tiny bit.

The last 3 days have been doing the rigging. There is so much boat traffic that we bounce around alot making it hard to work aloft. Occasionally I have to stop what I am doing and hangon to keep from being thrown off the mast. Finally got it done by working a few hours each morning and by 11am I am knackered as it is hard work.

We met up again with some yachts we new.  We met our hiking buddies on Cats Paw4 and had a couple of dinners with them and another yacht we new.  Unfortunatley they were leaving in a few days for home.   There are alot of frigate birds around here and it is entertaining to watch them as they fish. Also a few pelicans come around to entertain us.


INFO

-1$ is 6TT dollars

-Customs and Immigration only cost $8 dollars US. They are a 1 minute walk from the dock which is near Crews nest.

-  Mooring we used in Chaguramas bay is at 10 40.76N   61 38.09W  in 35 feet.

- Is two fairly good grocery stores in the boat area and a pharmacy and a few other shops besides the marine industry.  Can get a phone sim card here as well without taking bus into town.  TheYSATT where you pair for the mooring ball also is like a tourist office for info. We us Doyles book for info on the area and also a free crusing guied to area is available of the internet.