Trinidad and Tobago

Madelein at Pigeon Point Tobago

 

Stig, Gina, Madelein, Linea heading into the sunset (very cool:)

Rob and Stig after a few Cokes and "Special water" (rum)

Synergi arriving in Trinidad, still in tow

Me and Wife

James, Alex, Linea, Madelein on the way to Trinidad

Madelein, Stig, Gina, Gerda, Linea, Me, Alex, James

Trinidad

Hi.
We are in Trinidad, at the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Academy.

We had a great ime with our friends from Norway, and managed to get them here safely, having towed them from the north of Tobago, to the south, and then finally across to Trinidad, whre we will do the repairs required.

Will add photos a bit later
Chat soon Rob

A bit of a rewind (James Barthday) and Stuff

When we left the Amazon, our first stop was at Ile du Salut and then up the Maroni River where we had James' Birthday on a small island in the river with the crew from Myriam. Jerry. Annie, William and Oliver

Ile du Salut Alex felt the monkeys needed bread

James and G behind bars. ;(

Collecting coconuts

James' Pirate party with the Myriam crew

My favotite pic of all time. G chilling under the dingy on the way to Tobago

A Gaol cell on Salut (poor buggers) didn't even get a roof

Birthday bash with cake and chips and hotdogs

Cake thanks to G

Shopping (big supermarket) 

ALL GOOD
R

Argyle Falls

We had a great day trip down to the Argyle waterfalls and Coco Plantation

With Tobago Haircuts

Pretty !

Gerda enjoying the Argyle Falls

Store Bay

a bit smaller than the fish in Ascension

Anchored in Englishmans Bay

James (not impressed) Haircut Tobago STYLE

Store Bay (Tobago)

Hi,
We have moved on to Store bay, an amaizing 20nm down the island. It has not been quick, as we are towing some new friends who lost their rudder on their crossing across the Atlantic. First their rudder broke, then they had engine failure. We have built a temporary rudder, but have not managed to get the engine running. The plan is to get to Trinidad this wednesday, and then get all sorted out.

We had a few stops along the way to Store Bay, from Man of War Bay. Namely Bloody Bay, Englishmans Bay, Castara and Bucoo Bay. Each one with their own Charm and beauty. And all fantastic anchorages.

Caught Welding. Rudder repairs for our friends.

Leaving Charlotteville with Sinergi in tow.

Another of our friends Sean, Says he never touches the stuff "Mon"  ....MMMmmm

Captain Rob "Margie" and Captain Stig "Sinergi" perhaps had too much Coke and "water"

Galley Slaves Gerda and Gina

Englishmans Bay

Store Bay

We have been invited for coffee. will carry on later
Cheers
Rob

Tomorrow (a little late I know) ;)

Hi, Well here we are tomorrow. A full 8 days later.

We have been in Charlotteville in the north of Tobago. It is the most laid back village on Tobago. and Tobago is laid back. In fact they invented a new word for Laidback. (Lime in Tobago). Well we been liming
A few trips down to Scarborough by bus to collect hardware items we needed, then a 4 hour wait for the bus to come back here.
The plan is to move down the island toward Buucoo Bay by friday, and then across to Trinidad.

Lancois to Soure' (Amazon)

We left Ila du Lancois to head for the Amazon.
This was a last minute decision. Jerry, Annie William and Oliver on Yacht "Myriam" had planned to sail through the delta, and it has always been on the cards, however I was too chicken to go alone. Their route was also not too ambitious. I had a few reservations as the stories we had heard were quite scary. From being eaten by piranhas, or anacondas, to Pirates or Bandits cleaning out your boat while you sleep. I also had some reservations to the ability of my little 1968 VW motor.

Jerry assured me that we would take it slow, so off we went.

The first leg took us from Lancois , to the mouth of the Rio Para, and up to Soure'. This leg is quite tricky as you have to time your arrival in the mouth of the river at the turn of the tide as the current starts flowing up the river. As it happened we got this right, but our speed was a little slow, so the 50nm we had to cover to Soure' saw the last hour against the current, which can get quite nasty. It builds up to 5 knots, which is our motoring speed. We got there just in time.

Soure' is a really wonderfull little Village. Really relaxed. The deliveries are done with carts pulled by buffalo.

 

Slow delivery guaranteed

Fishing Harbor in Soure' and all really friendly

Soure'

We are anchored in the background.

We stayed here for 3 nights while we raked up enough courage to carry on. I also had to whip my darling Gerda to fill the water tanks

Working for Room and Board (Food optional, JUST PUKES IT ANYWAY!!!!!!!!!!..........;)

 When we left Soure, we had a good 50nm the first Amazon day, except for the tornado which almost sucked us up.

Photo taken from Myriam by Annie (about 80nm up the river from the mouth)

 This is fresh water. here the river was about 25nm wide and obout 20m deep. Quite fantastic!

Entering the amazon. Jerry climbed to the top of Myriam's mast for this photo.

Jerry has the most infectious energy. Great photo. Thanks!

Birds (like you didn't know)

James next to some of the Rosewood logs on a Barge

 We saw possibly 10 barges a day. each about 40m long loaded with trees this size. And up every little creek we sailed there were many sawmills.

 

The Van's on our little overloaded "Margie" 

 The fresh water reduced our waterline by about 10cm :( Sorry Russell 100mm) Made me feel like we were sinking. At least the fresh water killed anything that was growing on the boat. By the time we left the Amazon there was not a single bit of growth anywhere.

Canoes expecting "gifts" Sweets, pens or pencils, and paper always wanted and asked for.

Alex Skurfing up the Amazon. Must be a first

Once we arrived at Breves, we had entered the Delta maze of rivers. Each one different to the previous, but fascinating. We were lucky to have Jerry who has great charts along with us as, we did not, and much of the time sailed where there were no rivers marked, or sailed right over islands.

One of the canoes full of kids needing something

Our 3rd Anchorage. 5 min after we arrived

I had a Taxi ride to Myriam. Longboat stylr

Heading up the Amazon

Some of the hazards. Floating islands and logs

Palm heart from a local.  Each palm heart is one tree less.

Jerry, Oliver Alex and Me on Myriam, testing the palm heart

Will carry on tomorrow
Chat soon
Rob

Lancois

Lancois is a small island home to a number of fishermen who live in a small village among the dunes. We were anchored in the canal with 3 other yachts.
Our Dutch friends Martin and Suuz on yacht "Saluki", a French yacht "See you Later Aligator" and our friends Jerry, Annie, William and Oliver on Yacht Myriam.
After Lancois we sailed with Myriam up the Amazon.

Alex really Happy to be here

Hows that for a Lovely Anchorage

Suuz, Martin G and Me

Main Road Lancois

Wonderful sunsets

 

            

 

 

One of the Villages on the island. All built from Palm trees (very chilled)