Launch, Cricket and a Hurricane

Date: 2nd July 2021

Location: Port Louis Marina, Grenada

I'm writing this as the first Tropical Storm (TS Elsa), now just upgraded to a Hurricane, passes just north of us. It's grey, overcast, very rainy and humid. Although it is due to pass just north of us we are pleased with our decision to come into this well protected marina for a few days. Our friends are out in the south facing bays which might or might not see big swells rolling in later today and tomorrow. You can see the storm approaching here. We are the yellow cross.

It's started.

Treat 'em mean and keep 'em keen!

A week ago we finally launched but first we had to recover the barrel we sent out from the UK in December when we expected to return in January. Luckily Paul, our Grenadian friend, had stored it for us and we made short work of hoisting the contents on board. Just like Christmas all over again.

Unloading the barrel.

We also made sure that other key supplies were loaded aboard.

Vital supplies!

Finally launch day was with us. The picture below shows the process. We had already been moved from a welded cradle to props in anticipation. First the props were removed and reinstalled tilted to make room for the flatbed transporter. That picked us up on big hydraulic rams and trundled us to the travel lift. Once driven in, the lift took our weight and the transporter retreated. The travel lift moved over the water and finally dropped us into the water where we were allowed to reboard. Always a bit exciting/stressful but Spice Island yard were very professional and all went smoothly.

A quick check for leaking sea cocks and a working engine and we were off, gently motoring out to the Prickly Bay anchorage accompanied and encouraged by Roland and Lea (Victoria's Ghost) in their dinghy. A bit of excitement as the windlass stripper caught the chain, then we were settled. Hurrah!

There followed a week of sorting out. We had put Mehalah to bed VERY well when we left in August and there's still lots to do. But on deck things now look well under control despite one of our sacrificial lines being sacrificed as it dropped down inside the mast. Thank you Turbulence for a quick lesson in rope retreival and to James and Shelley (Carina) for extra hands to reinstall the main sail.

We're quite far south now though still well north of the equator but far enough south to be able to see the Southern Cross low in the horizon. I have to admit this is not my photo but we see it clearly enough on a cloudless evening.

The Southern Cross in all its glory.

It's also cricket season here, and with the T20 West Indies v South Africa series starting, Tony (English Rose) went into town to get tickets for the first match.

What a game. It was held at the Grenada National Stadium where we had previously seen a football World Cup qualifier between Grenada and Puerto Rico. The dog from that match made another appearance at the cricket and West Indies won the match in typical swashbuckling style. We even made it onto worldwide TV (caught by one of Jenny's friends in the UK who just happened to be watching and recognised us!). It's now 2-2 in the series with the decider tomorrow which we are hoping to watch though it does clash with England's Euro match with Ukraine. We shall see.

Another 6

That's about it for now. And whilst I've been typing the storm has passed by and things seem to have calmed down a lot.

Postscript for the animalphiles...

Green Iguana (80cm long) and Frangipani Hornworm (15cm long)