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| Milly going back to sea. She made it clear that she was a little peeved at being on the hard for five months. |
Grenada had experienced a sharp spike in Covid cases as we were planning our return. Instead of hanging out while getting a new canvas enclosure made, we decided to get Milly in the water as soon as possible and leave Grenada for Curacao where a couple of our best boat friends were anchored. This meant that we would get the boatyard guys to do the work we(Peter) would normally do before splashing. We also wanted to finally fumigate the interior to get rid of an infestation of powder post beetles that had been diagnosed the previous year.
Returning to Grenada meant jumping through the many hoops that travel now demands. PCR tests, applications, multiple forms timed just so to coincide with departure and arrival. Lines and chaos were the order of the early morning in YYZ. All the passengers in the airport seemed to be squeezed into the check-in aisle with southbound planes - a sure sign of approaching winter - including us. Certainly no social distancing although piles of luggage kept us safe fore and aft. Abeam was the squeeze.
The officials who met us at the Grenada airport were organized and efficient in the slower island manner - it was great to be back. We were retested at the airport and taken by special approved taxi to our quarantine hotel where we sequestered for the required two nights.
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| Ahhhh, at anchor again in Prickly Bay. |
After 36 hours, we were allowed to visit Milly who looked and smelled clean and polished inside. All my efforts to rinse or polish every surface had paid off. No mildew or mould - we could’ve hosted guests - apart from very small piles of powdered wood around the floors’ edges. The outside was covered in five months worth of boatyard dust but with soap and water and a good brush, Milly would be ready for the sea.
Fumigation had not taken place in our absence as we had requested. The pest guy who always visited immaculately dressed in button down shirt, chinos and loafers to do his hot, filthy job - came and said it would require three sprays over three weeks. We agreed to two over ten days. One spray of the whole boat was done over two days. We had to move everything that could be removed to our overcrowded room or to the other side of the boat. Including mattresses, clothes, shoes, cushions, tools, all kitchen stuff, toiletries - everything!! And then back again. And then back again. And then back again. He sprayed so much poison, it looked like it had poured with rain inside. It dried over 24 hours leaving a fine white powdery residue. It was ghastly! My sweat to clean was to almost no avail - but at least there was no mould. Lots of powder but no mildew. So again, I washed and polished every surface this time in the boatyard in 35 degree heat. Luckily, we still had our room with AC and shower.
Meanwhile, Peter was polishing Milly’s hull, checking through hulls, replacing anodes on the rudder etc. etc. Our delay getting Milly into the water gave him time to spit and polish the outside, making Milly shine.
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| A visitor at anchor at St Georges. |
Finally, it was time to put her in the water. Always exciting. However, for the first time, the dripless collars, which the boatyard guys had replaced, were leaking on both engine shafts. Argh. It was a Friday. The manager of the yard told us to motor around to see if it would plug itself up! and call on Monday. We followed direction, sceptical of a magical cure and, unfortunately, we were right. No luck. But it sure was nice to be at anchor. And the leaks were small, worse with motor on. Otherwise, not concerning. Monday came. The manager scheduled poor Milly for another haul out on Tuesday. Work accomplished in the morning and back in the water by mid afternoon. Expensive but successful.
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| We worked all day, every day but sat to enjoy some glorious sunsets. |
Although Milly's hull and rigging were sound, she was complaining that her 7 year old parts were in need of retirement - both water makers were nonfunctioning. So much for having a spare. The parts required were not available on the island and we didn't want to wait for 4 weeks for delivery. We would fill up with Grenada water and be diligent about consumption.
We were almost ready for our three day passage to Curacao. I had been walking and busing to reprovision the boat over several days. Apart from a few canned goods, I had emptied our pantry and six bins of all items that were not sealed in glass or cans. Provisioning was a major task. Usually before a passage, I make and freeze several meals that are ready to eat. I did a couple but wasn’t as well prepared as usual. But we were anxious to be off. We wouldn't starve.
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| Good-bye, Grenada. It's time to sail west... |
We cleared out, did our antigen test, completed online forms and headed out to sea for the first time in almost two years. It felt great. The winds were light so we were motor sailing with swell on the starboard beam. About three hours offshore, we heard the starboard rudder shuddering as it turned. Peter investigated and diagnosed a loose bearing in the rudder stock. We considered the choices: onward for a three day passage cringing at every shudder or turn around for a three hour motor and, hopefully, a fix. The captain decided to turn and the first mate agreed without hesitation. Back to Grenada. After two years, it just didn’t want to let go.
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| Hello... again, Grenada. You've been good to us, but please let us go. Back to Prickly Bay. |
A call to our new friend, the yard manager, brought him to us on a boat-call on a Saturday. We were impressed. He said the rudder could have lasted for another season or two but we don’t like sailing with our fingers crossed. He thought Milly had to be hauled out again to do the job but after investigating through the Antares owners forum - an exceptional resource - and the boat builder who after seven years still replies immediately which is amazing, we confirmed that the replacement could be done in the water. Back to Prickly Bay, finally an appointment on Wednesday, manager brought up to speed on removing the rudder cap, manufacturing the bearing based on measurements taken, popping new bearing in and - ta da - mission accomplished.
Ready to go but no wind!! Waited several days. More provisioning, laundry, socializing and, finally, departure. This time, Grenada let us go. Our friends had already left Curacao so we picked our favourite of the ABC's. Destination: Bonaire.
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| This time it's a go! |
