Hold the Press!!

 A New Day. Yet Another Plan…

Work on WJ3 is almost done and we’d booked to splash this coming Tuesday.  The generator looks like new (and it even works), WJ3 has been anti-fouled and sparkles like she has been spit-polished.  Meanwhile, "Bruce the Tender" is (almost) behaving himself.  Did we mention we now have Starlink set up.  Internet on the high seas and a brilliant bit of kit!  Whoo Hooo...  So it was exciting to think we were so close to getting underway.  

Now hold that thought!  With two days to go though, we had a major rethink. Ideas crept into our heads about lots more work that needed doing including a major service of the engine, replacing our very sad interior lining (vinyl) and finding a replacement glass top for the stove to name a few.  Trinidad is the place to do all this.

We decided that if we sailed for the US this year, then chances are we wouldn't come back to Trinidad.  Such a trip involves a lengthy 2-year commitment.  So why not stay in the Caribbean this year and make for the US in 2025?  It also means we’ll leave home earlier and safely make the US well before the hurricane season.  All good things.  The Cap’n jumped at the chance when the budget committee approved spending even more money on the Other Woman.  Stand by kids, your inheritance is dwindling fast!

View over Chaguaramas from Crews Inn looking over all the masts at Powers Yard 

So, the new & revised plan for 2024 is: to stay in the Caribbean!!  In essence we intend to:

1.  Splash in 2 weeks or so

2.  Cruise for 3 months staying close to Trinidad to get back if a hurricane threatens the Caribbean

3.  Haul out in Power Boats Yard early September & arrange for the next round of tasks to be done

4.  Fly home earlier, maybe late September

Cruising will take the form of gunkholing, perhaps as far north as Guadeloupe.  The Cap’n is tempted to try some diving in Dominica and sharpen French language skills whilst exploring Martinique; all places we bypassed last year.  Otherwise, we'll concentrate on stopping through the Grenadines (the weather might hold out for Tobago Cays this time) then head on back through Grenada to Trinidad. Yes, yes, we will endure it all as best we can...

2025 then becomes the year of hiking it back north to the US.  We can start earlier, we have visas and there will be a lot less stress about the weather.