11 February 1994 Prickly Bay
It blew a hooley last night. At midnight, I started to worry about only having one anchor out when we don’t have an engine. I just HAD to get up and sort out another CQR anchor and warp ready to sling it overboard if we started to drag. In the morning, I got out the fisherman which I think would get a better grip than another CQR if we were actually dragging.
I carefully cleaned up the core plug and put it in place with green hermatite. It went in really easily and, as expected, four hours later it leaked when I ran the engine. We had lunch and resigned ourselves to a four day stay in Prickly Bay. In the afternoon, I put the core plug back with silicone sealant in the hope that I can run the engine tomorrow for charging the batteries. The battery charging is going to be our biggest problem until I get the engine fixed.
Glenys continues her campaign against the cockroaches, she is now verging on being clinically paranoid and she will probably need therapy when we eventually move off the boat!
12 February 1994 Prickly Bay
School work and a few odd jobs (and a bit of windsurfing!) in the morning. Glenys went out for a walk by herself in the afternoon. The boys and I played Queen real loud while I made a chilli for dinner. I ran the engine for an hour at which point the core plug started to leak. At least we got one hour charge in the batteries. I feel trapped and it’s driving me mad!
13 February 1994 Prickly Bay
We managed to contact Horst on the VHF who came over to Secret Harbour and ferried us to Hog Island (bless his cotton socks). We lit the fire for the Sunday Barbeque and had a good time. A couple of beers, some red wine, a bit of rum punch and lots of conversation and I feel happy! We met Tolst and Vivi from “Drot” (Danish) and managed to bum a ride back to Prickly Bay with Chris from “Meniscus”.
14 February 1994 Prickly Bay
School work, clarinet and windsurfing. The core plugs are being dispatched from the States today so I will get them tomorrow or the next day. I ran ASAP in the UK and they tell me that the core plug should be 55.9mm which is 0.013” larger than 2.187”, so I hope the new one fits!
I told ASAP to order me a set of core plugs and a thermostat just in case! The anchorage is very rolly tonight, so Glenys and I have been considering trying to go around to Hog Island if the weather is OK tomorrow.
15 February 1994 Prickly Bay
School work, windsurfing and jobs. The core plugs didn’t arrive today, so I put the old one back in with a layer of aluminium foil and silicone sealant to try to keep it in place. “Wise Cat” arrived today and the boys and Glenys spent the afternoon on the beach with Robin, Coby, Nat and Callum.
I checked the domestic batteries. We went to “Wise Cat” for an evening drink. One annoying thing – my middle right hand finger has been sore on the knuckle joint for a few days. It’s finally swollen up and is painful to move – that’s put a stop to windsurfing for a bit (o miser!)
16 February 1994 Prickly Bay
I decided to walk to Grand Anse to get something for my finger and try to get some deionised water for the batteries. A guy called Bob stopped and gave me a lift. It turned out that he had set up a diving operation six months ago. I asked about doing a Dive Master Internship with him and he said yes all things are possible, and that I could do the Rescue Diver straight away ($250 US). He would evaluate me for Dive Master during the Rescue Diver course and we could negotiate a price ($400 US std).
When I got back, I discussed it with Glenys who said she wouldn’t mind staying at Hog Island for a month. This evening I rang Bob up and said that I wanted to do it and I arranged to go there first thing on the 18th. If the engine hadn’t broken, and my finger wasn’t hurt, and he hadn’t stopped to give me a lift … it must be fate!
I tramped all over Grand Anse and St Georges looking for deionised water and was told that I could probably get it from the Coca Cola Factory at $8EC/gallon (bring your own container)! I got back to Spice Island Marina and met Tolst from “Drot” who said I could get some from his water maker – I never thought of that!
I ran the engine in the afternoon. The core plug started to weep immediately but was contained by a strategically placed piece of wood. The engine started to overheat after about 20 minutes. Found that I had to add another three litres of water – could this have been an airlock in the system? The engine ran fine for another 40 minutes. Nat came to play with the boys in the afternoon. Tolst and Vivi came for sunset rum punches.
17 February 1994 Prickly Bay
I went to St Georges to pick up the core plug from Outfitters. I fixed it onto the engine with some gasket seal. It went in a bit too easy and I hope that it holds. Glenys had a major tidy up while I took the boys to the beach to play with the “Wise Cat” kids. The gang from “Wise Cat” came for a drink, ended up staying for three hours and drank all of our rum.
18 February 1994 Prickly Bay
I ran the engine for an hour this morning and it seems to be OK. Glenys went into Grand Anse to do some shopping. On the way back she was offered a lift from an elderly American gentleman. He looked safe enough so she accepted, but she still got her knee patted and had an offer of a drink. It must be her fantastic body!
I arranged to start the Rescue Diver course on the 21st. I ended up getting a lift with Bob to the Rex Grenadian Hotel and then getting a ride in their dive boat back to Secret Harbour.
Gareth and Fi arrived in the afternoon, but I don’t think that we will have much chance to see them since they are dropping off guests and picking up new ones on the same day. We went to “Drot” for drinks and then got legless by opening another bottle of wine.
19 February 1994 Prickly Bay
We are both nursing hangovers – it’s all Glenys’ fault! Lots of wind this morning, so I went windsurfing for an hour. My hand was feeling better, but I’ve probably strained it again. We ran the engine for an hour with no sign of a water leak, so we will go round to Hog Island tomorrow for the Sunday Barbeque.
20 February 1994 Prickly Bay to Hog Island
It took us 1½ hours to get the boat ready to move. We motored around to Hog Island without any mishaps. Gareth was anchored there and we had a short chat to him at the barbeque. I ended up lighting the fire again.
Gareth’s guests left some Sunday papers, which we acquired. We started reading them which I found disturbing because they remind me of a past life. I have managed to ignore the news and politics for about a year and the paper brought the terror of a normal life flooding back.