Cherio to Curacao

 7/11/2012

Venezuelan floating market

                                                   

 With tooth fixed, basic shopping done, it was time to explore the island. But first, as always, there are the repairs to be done!

This time it was the UV strip along the foot of the headsail, plus a small hole requiring our attention. We had to drop the beast, lay it out over the deck, lash it down, and spend all day hand stitching it back in place… through all 4 or 5 layers of cloth, using the hand held sail/ leather sewing “dingis” to push through the one side, with Mary using a needle on the other, to pick up the loop…zig zagging our way along the foot.

Next it was sticky back sail repair along the weakened crease line. The poor headsail is beginning to look a little worse for wear now….. I should never have let Quantum persuade me to use the more expensive “Cruiselam” fabric instead of good old Dacron! Our 20 year old mainsail, is still in fine shape, and will see us home, I think! The 5 year old cruise lam Genoa might limp along for a while, but it hasn’t a hope of getting us back to RSA!

The genny looks better than she is!

 Our cruising buddies (Steve and Chris, on Scott-Free), had been loaned a car for the day, so it was time to explore. We particularly wanted to see the north coast, and the Westpunt anchorage, from which we hoped to set off for Aruba, some 80 miles to the west, when it was time to leave.

 

The after effects of Hurricane Sandy left big swells, and breaking waves, which enthralled the locals on the beaches, but did not make the anchorages look too inviting! Nevertheless, we had a fun day out, lunch at a local dive resort restaurant, and saw the outback of Curacao!

Sandy roughs it up

Our return trip to Willemstad, to check out, also gave us a chance to wander around the very attractive city, the shops, markets and canal side restaurants. The checking out process was also a lot less stressful! At least we knew where to go, and did not have to fill out the same forms, again and again!

Fish straight from the boat

Cafes on the canal

View from the ferry coming back from Immigration

Beers before the bus ride back to Spanish Waters

 We hauled anchor at 6am, but had not gone 300 metres before Scott-Free reported a jammed windlass. So it was an about turn, and Steve and I spent the week end getting the motor out of the anchor locker, and removing the top side section. The shaft between these two halves was totally seized, with the bearing a solid chunk of rust. It took patience and a Dremmel cutting tool, to remove the bearing, which had been replaced less than 3 years ago when Scott-Free’s teak decks were replaced. We suspect that the guys in Turkey used the teak deck caulking to seal the underside of the windlass to the deck, instead of a Sikaflex sealant, or  3M 4200, allowing the salt water to get into the works!

We then had to wait until Monday to track down the cir-clips, seals and bearing needed to re assemble and fit the unit back in place.  By sunset the job was done….. and so were Steve and I!

Having already checked out on the Friday, we decided to leave at sparrows the next day, Tuesday, as we were now “illegal”!

We enjoyed a pleasant sail up the coast, from Spanish Waters, passed Willemstad, up to Westpunt, which was calm and beautiful! A swim, a couple of beers, a light meal, and early to bed, and we were ready to leave at 5am for the 55 miles to Aruba.

Westpunt anchorage before we leave for Aruba

Flat seas, with very light wind on the stern, saw us motor sailing, wing on wing the whole way, arriving at the Barcadera check in port around noon.

STILL NO FISH !!