I
dropped the mooring in Bonaire at 0630 on Monday August 4. It was a
pleasant down wind sail in reasonably light airs - 14 to 18 knots
from the East. The further away from the shelter of Bonaire the more
lumpy the seas became. It did not take long to spot the hills of
Curacao in the clear dry air. I negotiated the narrow entrance
channel to Spanish Waters. Once in the enclosed anchorage lagoon I
had to try and find a place to park Sadiqi. Fortunately, Sadiqi being
less than 10 metres long this proved quite easy. I dropped Roxy the
Rocna anchor at 1430. Roxy, having had a well earned rest while on
the Mooring in Bonaire. No anchoring is permitted in Bonaire to
preserve the pristine aquatic nature reserve. There are several
designated anchorages in Spanish Waters; A, B, C, D and E. The Port
Authority has to be notified of where the boat is anchored. Sadiqi
managed to squeeze in to Anchorage “A”.
Roy from “Paw Paw”
kindly offered to accompany me into Willemstad the next day by bus
and show me where to clear in. I was very grateful that he did as it
was not easy and a long hot walk in the city to find the various
offices.
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| Punda, Williamstad |
My
first impressions of Curacao was that is industrial and very busy –
many more resorts and tourists. The anchorage is very sheltered but
crowded. The small dingy dock at the fisherman's wharf gets very
congested.
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| Dingy Dock |
Transport is required to get to the shops and facilities. The local ABC bus services runs an erratic service between Williamstad (Punda) and Caracas Baai. There is a free shopping bus that leaves at 10:00 each day and provides transport to Vreugdenhil Supermarket near the marine chandeliers.
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| Spanish Waters anchorages A and B |
I
called up Rob Harms from Doyle Sails to get a quote on a new
head-sail and stay-sail. Rob proved very knowledgeable.
Over
a few beers I asked Rob if he could design a new head-sail and
stay-sail for Sadiqi. I had originally given him the existing 100%
head-sail to copy. His quote was very reasonable – several hundred
dollars cheaper than the guy in Trinidad, who had restitched the
head-sail. Rob took the measurements away and came back with a design
that looked like it would work. The current stay-sail set-up just
does not work. I have only ever used it once, back in Australia, with
the stay-sail poled out going down wind. The cutter rig – head-sail
and stay-sail have to work together forming an aerofoil section and
must complement each other. Rob came up with a design for a yankee or
high aspect jib and a stay-sail. The opposite to what Sadiqi had.
What this should do is increase the sail area in the fore triangle.
In theory I should be able to use the stay-sail in storm conditions
using the existing running back stays to reduce the mast pumping.
Curacao
has a dry climate – cactus country – this gave me the opportunity
to work on Sadiqi.
- Chain-plates - Pulling, cleaning, inspecting and sealing the chain plates that hold up the mast. A serious source of deck leaks so I discovered.
- Toe-rail - Undo the screws holding the aluminium toe-rail on the port side and reseal. Drill out the rotting plywood core and fill with epoxy.
- Replace the aging and corroded fore-hatch that leaks badly.
- Installing a second electric bilge pump with larger independent piping.
- Removing the fore-stay and checking/fixing the furling gear.
While
working on the boat I thought I would try my hand at windsurfing. I
went to the nearby windsurfing school/hire place on Spanish Waters.
The friendly youngster was younger than when I last windsurfed over
20 years ago. The first day the winds were gusty and I had a huge 6.5
square meter sail. I struggled. By the end of almost an hour I was
exhausted. The next day I ached. The next session the winds were
stronger. I was given a smaller sail. I managed to water start and
skip across the water. I could not get the fat tailed board to turn.
This is old dog old tricks. I used to windsurf with great passion in
the late eighties early 90s mainly in the surf off the West
Australian coast. Some twenty years on and a few kilograms heavier
well – I sort of figure I should quit acting like a 20 year old.
Then again that would be far to responsible.
I
also decided to contribute to the local cruising community by doing
the Curacao Cruisers Radio net twice a week. The Cruisers Radio Net
operates on VHF Ch 72 at 7.45am, Monday through Saturday and lasts
for about 5 minutes. This allows cruisers to get and share
information about activities, local facilities and services.
Cruisers
organised various activities. I participated in the walks. There was
a walk around a salt lake to see the pink Flamingos and another 10
kilometre walk into Punda (Williamstad).
Cruisers
I spent time with in Curacao:
Macushla
– Mark and Sue - from UK.
Cattiva
– Maurice and Maria - from Canada.
Polarise
– John – from South African.
Miss
Michelle – Rob – from Holland.
Sail
Adventure – Danial – from Holland.
Rafiki
– Lutz and Marlene – from Holland.
Capisce
– Tony and Jane – from UK.
Pannikin
- Steve and Angela – from Australia.
Every
now and again this area gets, what's called, a wind reversal where
the wind blows from the west. As you may imagine when this happen
things get interesting. On average this happens maybe 5 times a year
at most. One one of the two occasions that this happened while I was
here in Spanish Waters I had to move. A large dutch steel tub has 70
metres of 12mm chain out in 5 metres of water! These are very
protected water with the longest fetch being just over a mile. I had
20 metres of chain out to Roxy the anchor. Hence, during the wind
reversal I found myself alongside the large dutch tub. No damage was
done. The obtuse individual was not even onboard at the time. I moved
further away from the tub with assistance from other some cruisers.
My
new sails arrived from Doyles at the beginning of October. It was
with little regret that I prepared to leave Curacao. I had done a
great deal of work on the boat, even breaking out the sewing machine
to restitch canvas work.
On
Monday October 13 with forecast easterly
winds of
15 knots I sailed
out to the ocean
to test the new sails and check all my work on Sadiqi. I could return
to Spanish Waters to rectify
any
problems before heading to my next destination. Other than
complicating my life with a lot more string in the cockpit the yankee
and stay sail were sweet. I commend Rob
Harmes of Doyle
Sails
here for the design. Sadiqi
not being a production boat does not have a sail plan, Rob worked off
photographs to come up the the new fore triangle sail plan. Thanks Rob.
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| New Sails |
