250 miles to go to the Windward Isles and it feels like a grand Caribbean tradewind morning. Indeed it does! A month at sea from St Helena and racing for harbour.
Dawn finds our barque romping along at 6.5 knots off the mouth of the Orinoco River, Venezuela, bound for the southern Windward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean. Fair winds on the starboard quarter at Beaufort Force 4-5. The 4-8 watch re-setting royals and flying jib after fresh squalls overnight had them in. Re-reeving a royal sheet that parted as well. Some keen mates in the past have wanted to make a wire sheet for the royal so it never parts but I am perfectly content that this minor piece of gear might part from time to time instead of blowing out the sail, breaking the yard, or worse. Good to have a weak link there.
As much as the islands are extremely attractive and we are all keen on visiting them as much as we can, we also have things we must do on the ship in this time frame while at anchor. This is the planning we will be doing with senior staff today. While at anchor: painting, tarring the rig, oiling decks, rigging, sparmaking, carpentry, sailmaking, boat overhauling, provisioning, what’s going on in the engine room? What supplies do we need? Are we going to run out of toilet paper? Did that once mid-ocean. That’s funny story! Bunks ready for those joining soon? And of course have our boats ready for active duty. The skiff is ALWAYS ready!
The new topgallant yard is now fully shaped. Tapered and rounded beautifully. Kudos to Clara and Dan. That makes it about half done. Next it needs a nice yoke, iron-work of bands and jack-stays, and of course, many coats of varnish. The famous Lunenburg dory Sea Never Dry is getting sorted for sailing soon here in among the islands of the Carib. She got a new bottom in Cape Town, a great job done by Dan. Centreboard, mast step, rudder, mast, boom, gaff and sails and rigging, all getting looked after. A lick of paint and she is ready for launching and sailing vigorously.
Coffee station aft on the fan-tail (aka “aloha-deck”) got a good overhaul.
And this Friday afternoon the crew are holding a “Spa Day” all over the ship. Curtis has taken charge with vigour. I am told you can get a manicure, a pedicure, a foot massage, shoulder and back massage, masques, facials and other such spa-like activities. In the meantime we are making 7.8 knots under all plain sail bound for the nation of Grenada 203 miles away to the NW here at 13:25. Winds have picked up since earlier this morning and the ship (and crew) are loving it!
