Pros & cons of being stuck in Trinidad...

Yes we're still in Trinidad... we've been on the hard for the last 5 days; when the boat came out of the water we found some damage to the gel-coat of the rudder which meant water had got inside and the problem needed to be fixed. The boat also needed desperately to be anti-fouled - judging by the lack of paint left on the hull we don't think this has been done for a very long time! So all in all it's a good job we came out of the water.
One of the pros of being in Trinidad is that the facilities here are excellent, certainly by SA standards. We came out of the water with Peak Yacht Services and we must say they are completely professional and extremely well organised. The yard is probably one of the biggest here and there is room for in excess of 100 yachts and catamarans of all different sizes - it's quite impressive.
Some of the companies here do work on 'island time' but everyone seems to know what they are doing, but some know what to charge too (we were quoted US$45 per hour on one job just for the labour!!). We were also quoted quite a ridiculous price for anti-fouling so out came the rollers and brushes and Jan managed to do the job with my input of course!


So apart from getting some work done it's also been very boring having to wait for the rudder to be fixed and there's not much to do here in Chaguaramas. It's really too hot to do much; temperatures are in excess of 32 degrees with about 90% humidity - a reminder of why we don't visit Durban in summer!
The one highlight though is that it is turtle season here in Trinidad. We took advantage of this and went on a 'turtle watching tour' the other night and I must say it was a fantastic experience. Matura Bay is about a 2 an a half our drive from Chaguaramas so we went with Jesse James (the local cruisers' hero who can organise just about anything!). It was a stormy night with rain coming down in torrents. After standing around in a shed in the dark for over an hour we had written off the evening as a bad job - after all turtles are wild animals and you can't guarantee a lion sighting in the Kruger!
Suddenly radios came to life and the signal went up - a female turtle had been spotted on the beach. Luckily the rain eased as we trekked roughly 3km down the beach in search of the turtle.
To cut a long evening short we had the most amazing experience of watching the whole process of a female laying her eggs. Quite humbling to think this has been going on for millions of years.



Anyway we're back in the water tomorrow which will be a huge relief from the heat and the killer mosquitoes - at least there is a breeze on the water!
Hopefully we will be leaving before the end of the week and let's see how far we get this time!

back in Trinidad...

Yes we're back in Trinidad... it's proving harder to leave than
antcipated! I'm starting to think we will never get out of here...
After we left last week we hit bad weather (strong winds, squalls and
lots of rain) and a strong current against us. After sailing north and
south for a couple of days and not making and headway east (in fact
the strong wind and current were pushing us back west and we were
losing ground!) the weather made the decision for us to head back and
wait for some better (lighter) wind.
Instead of going through all the paperwork (and beaurocracy) of
checking back in again we ducked into a small bay (Scotland Bay) just
a few miles before the main harbour. This is a beautiful quiet bay
surrounded by mountains and virgin rainforest; very secluded and
peaceful except for the howler monkeys who woke us up in the mornings
sounding like something from a horror movie!
Anyway as mentioned we were waiting for better weather, but now the
owner has decided to take this opportunity to take the boat out of the
water for anti-fouling and to have the rudder checked (as there seems
to be a recurring rudder problem with this model of boat!). We have
now officially checked back in and we are booked to come out of the
water tomorrow and expect to be on the hard for the 5 days. Hopefully
all will be fine and we can plan to get underway again soon... why is
sailing never straight forward??!!

----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.

Martinique

We are currently in Martinique; delivering a Hunter 420 to Durban.

You can follow us on the owner's website: http://www.panalt.co.za/hunter

Things don't always go to plan...

 

After spending quite some time preparing for our next delivery to New Zealand the boat proved not fit to do the task.

We left Cape Town only to discover some quite serious problems, pulled into Mossel Bay and after some makeshift repairs headed back to Cape Town in the next available weather window.

It was a difficult decision to pull out of the delivery as it is the first time we have had to do so. Obviously the owners were extremely disappointed, but in the end it came down to our safety and there was no other choice – the boat unfortunately was not up to such a long crossing in the Southern Ocean.

We have been quite stressed and down about the whole situation, but out of every cloud there is a silver lining.

We now have a new delivery this time from Martinique in the Caribbean back to Durban here in SA – at least we hope to be a bit warmer on this trip!

Indigo's 10 commandments for a successful yacht delivery.

Delivering yachts is a funny business. Youngsters who have just obtained their fancy yachtmaster certificate might do your yacht delivery for free. Bad idea! If you want to hear some horror stories, we can tell you a few. For G*&%$'s sake; it's YOUR yacht we're talking about!

What you need is EXPERIENCE; loads of it.
So we came up with the 10 commandments for a successful yacht delivery:

1. SAFETY
Make sure safety is not just a ‘marketing term’. Safety of your yacht and the crew is Indigo’s number 1 top priority.
If your yacht has no EPIRB we will supply one for the duration of the voyage, at no extra cost.
We get regular weather updates and carry our own PFD’s.
We will never push your yacht unneccessarily and will endeavor to sail conservatively.

2. EXPERIENCE
All skippers involved in the yacht delivery business must have the right certificates and qualifications to deliver your yacht. What is much more important is experience that comes with the amount of sea-miles. Forget the young ones who have just obtained their yachtmaster diploma; they might be great sailors, but they often lack the experience of ‘being on the water’. Be wary of some delivery agencies; we know, because we started as one many years ago. They too often employ young skippers with the minimum nessary mileage, so they can pay minimum wages. In the end, the important question is, who will sail your yacht?
With Indigo you get experience; tons of it!

3. COMMUNICATION
Make sure your delivery team carries a satellite phone. They have to be able to contact you with their progress and information about the boat and its where-abouts. For peace of mind, you want to know at all times, that you are able to contact your yacht.
Indigo not only phones the owner on a regular basis, we are also able to send and receive email while on the water.

4. CREW
Most deliveries fail because of crew problems. Crew often leave the yacht halfway on the trip because of tensions on board and character clashes. Most skippers choose their crew in the yachtclub, and hope it will all work out. Skippers seldom sail with a permanent 1st mate or crew. Indigo’s delivery team is just us; the skipper with his partner of many years; so no crew hassles! We also have references that you as an owner can contact directly. If it’s necessary to have an extra crew member we will only employ someone that we personally know and trust.

5. KNOWLEDGE
Besides delivering your yacht, a skipper needs to be a hands-on technician. Your yacht has to arrive in a better shape than when it left the harbour. Daily care for your yacht and problems that arise have to be dealt with immediately. Small problems on a boat can quickly become a disaster!
Besides delivering yachts, Indigo does yacht surveys, so we have got tons of experience with the technicalities of your yacht.
You will receive a written report of the state of your yacht before and after the delivery. We assist you with recommendations, repairs and fitments.

6. COST
Make sure the contract stipulates what is included and excluded in the delivery price. Too many deliveries go sour after the termination of the delivery, because of disputes about money. You should always be able to ask for an ‘all inclusive’ quotation for the delivery of your yacht.
Indigo makes sure that all parties involved are happy with the agreed price. We are definitely not the cheapest, but make sure that you get the best price/quality deal.

7. PEACE OF MIND
A proper contract should be in place, stipulating not only the price, but all aspects concerning the voyage and your yacht.
Indigo has often been praised for our professional contract.

8. FLEXIBILITY
You want to get to know your yacht? You want to join on a leg during the trip? You want some sail handling lessons after your yacht arrives? Make sure it’s possible.
Indigo will welcome you onboard and teach you the ropes of your yacht.

9. EQUIPMENT
Indigo carries laptops for weather updates and routing. We carry our own GPS and weatherstation. We have navigational software onboard, and are able to phone and email you with our satellite phone.

10. TESTIMONIALS
Make sure that the crew you choose has solid references.
Indigo can give you personal details of previous clients that you can contact personally.

Back to Mauritius

We delivered Winddancer 2 to Mauritius. The 2 boats are now lying next to each other in Grand Baie (north Mauritius). They're definitely an eye-catcher with their orange branding. You'll find more info about them on http://www.passionoceane.com/.


Back in Cape Town, we enjoy lots of sun-downers, and are preparing the next boat for a long delivery to New Zealand.

Indigo is proud to present you a unique world sailing &kiting expedition.

While the economy seems to loom rather glumly we have some great news to cheer the mood. Rather than spending your hard-earned money on piles of silly gizmos and quickly-forgotten material goods this year, why not invest in true happiness?
Why not invest in an experience you will never forget?
This year, make an investment in YOU!

In September 2010, we will embark on a 5 year worldwide itinerary with a limited number of carefully chosen individuals. We are men and women with a sense of adventure, who are passionate about exploring some of the few remaining untouched areas of the world- and we're doing it in style. Style to us means doing the things we love while contributing as positively as we can to our environment and the communities we visit. We are looking for others who share our sense of style and quest for adventure, who are willing to take risks with us, knowing that each sailing adventure will be a unique experience and well worth it. Ownership shares in The Indigo Adventure are offered on the basis of sharing the expenses and benefits. Each season we'll design a selection of 14 day Adventure trips that are each unique and crafted around serious exploration. Professional crew, a beautiful catamaran, breathtaking places all add up to a truly wild expedition. Don't miss your chance to join us!
The trips will be 14 days of expedition based adventures. 14 days of kiting in paradise, exploring the unknown, surfing where none ever have, or sailing passages across the big blue. The focus will be on kiting places and waves that have never seen kites, pushing personal boundaries and taking the sport to new levels. You decide what you're after, pick the trip that suits your pleasure, then join us for an adventure of a lifetime. Our Adventures to remote and windy locations around the globe will be the opposite of Cabarete and Hookipa. No crowds, no rules, no limits. If you can dream it, we can do it.
Want to surf breaks only accessible by boat? Make a blue water passage to remote islands? Kitesurf an uninhabited atoll? No two adventures are the same - you will have to choose wisely.Contact us for more info, brochure and financial's.