26th March 2017 - Sailing the Windward Islands

Sunday we leave to head North through the Windward islands, Grenada to Carriacou, Tobago Cay, Mustique and out favorite Bequia, before bypassing St Vincent to St Lucia where we will first rendezvous in the beautiful anchorage of Marigot Bay and then a short sail into Rodney Bay marina to complete our 3 year World ARC circumnavigation.

 

16th March 2017 Port Louis St Georges Grenada

Arrived mid day after a busy overnight around Tobago due to traffic and weather. No issues with the reported pirates that have operated off Tobago but the last reported 3 incidents had been some 18 months ago. Port Louis is a Camper and Nicholson marina of the highest standard with fabulous beaches just 5 minutes away - so we are settled here and Pats sister Terri has come and joined us for a weeks break. We are docked just along from a 10 x billionaires yacht the Mayan Queen - a mexican owner of Gold and Silver mines.

​

The first night all boats were in we were entertained by the Yacht Club, following the speeches everyone decided it was party time as we are now nearly complete on the World ARC with only 120nm to go. I am not sure the Yacht Club had seen anything like that nights entertainment !

​

10th March 2017 mid leg stop in French Guyana

We crossed the equator on Monday the 6th March with both Pat and I asleep and Josh and Laura on watch. It was good sailing after the first 30 hours at sea which was rough. We were to have  wind all the way to Grenada mostly on the beam although we did motor a few hours when we had wind directly behind as we did not want to stress the damaged V2 stbd rig. We stopped on the 10th at Isle du Salut - Salvation islands of French Guyana where we did not have to check in. It was a delightful and informative stop for two nights which broke the journey leaving only 700nm to Grenada.

​

Cabedelo - Brazil 1st March 2017

Following a fabulous 3 day sail North we settled into Jacare Marina near Cabedelo. A busy 10 days of socialising, carnival and boat fixing and prep ready for the 2000nm plus leg to Granada. We can see here many green shoots of economy growth percolating throughout Brazil, with modern cities and a lot of industry. But still that massive difference in wealth for the majority. But music and dance costs little and this being Brazil's carnival week we had a great time. Tomorrow we leave for Grenada with a few problems on BriZo that we will nurse into Grenada hopefully. We have Josh and Laura from 'Into the Blue' with us to add a 3rd watch and some good experience and youth ! (Gives Pat someone else to talk to !)

 

Return to Salvador

Following Christmas in the UK we are busy preparing for our return to BriZo now in Salvador. But first a family wedding in South Africa on the 24th Jan so we expect to arrive in Brazil on the 5th Feb 2017.

​

As of the 2nd Jan BriZo is now in Salvador. Brazil generally and Salvador in particular does not have a safe reputation - The Yachtie press has many reports of Yachts being boarded and going outside of the marina after dark makes you particularly vulnerable and is not recommended. So we have planned to ensure as much cover on BriZo while we are not there as possible.

 

PYD have handed over to friend Glenn Harman who is more than qualified to start arranging the list of repairs and preparation ahead of our arrival. But importantly is there for security of BriZo .

​

Glenn worked through the list of repairs including importantly the installation of the imported Lewmar Mamba Auto-pilot. This seems to have solved the problem and we will test fully on our way up to Recife.

​

Meanwhile we managed this and work from South Africa, flying on the 20th Jan. We had a great time first at the Drakensburg and my brothers farm, then Tegan's wedding followed by 3 days with Lloyd/Maria and the grandchildren and Murray and Kim over from Morzine in Nambiti game reserve at Ndaka lodge in 'tents'. We managed to see the big 5 including a short sighting of the Leopard.