2026-06-14 Trinidad and haul out

Well, plans change quickly sometimes.  We were planning on hauling out on the 18th, but we kept looking at weather to go to Trinidad, and it did not look pleasant, except for sailing overnight on Tuesday the 9th.  That would give us about 8 days to hang out in Trinidad on the water before being hauled.  Not something we wanted to do, as the anchorage here can get lumpy, and it is protected from wind and hot.  

Plus, we were just getting tired of sitting and waiting so - change of plans.   Called our yard, and yes, they could haul us on the 12th instead -6 days earlier than planned.  So Monday we headed to town in Grenada, back to the RAM store, and got more groceries.   

Nice dinghy dock in Mt. Hartman Bay

Lots of pretty flowers along the walk

Like how at a small pharmacy we stopped at they don't sell the whole container of M&M's, but bag them up into small bags to sell.

The Ram grocery store - biggest and newest one around

Nice they have put in recycling for plastics - which seem to be well-used

Walking back with full backpacks and bags with groceries

Tuesday we got the boat ready, went and checked out of Grenada and went out for a nice lunch, and then set sail around 7:00 p.m. for Trinidad

View of Prickly Bay anchorage

The Cove restaurant - where we went for lunch

Woburn Bay anchorage and haul out yard in background

Sail to Trinidad was OK, little lumpy at times, then nice and smooth, then thunderstorms and rain, then no wind, then put in a reef, then take it out - you know the drill.  But overall gentle seas and most importantly, all from behind, wind and seas - which was the goal.

Sailing overnight you can see the gas drilling rigs from a long way off

Coming into Trinidad in the morning, through the Bocas del Dragon cut.

Trinidad check in was still an incredible experience.  They have added an extra step that you must do online now for immigration - so we thought it might be easier - but it actually took longer this time than last time - although we did fill out about 3 fewer forms, but lots more time stamping and dating the forms, and then at least 15 minutes to process the "online" form.   So about an hour just for immigration, and we were the only ones there when we started.

After check in complete, we went out for a nice lunch at the "expensive" restaurant.   $34 USD for two panini sandwiches, two cokes, and a side of fries.  

Every outdoor restaurant here has at least one cat around to help clean things up and keep the birds away.

Our fancy lunch out.

Thursday the 11th was Dean's birthday, oldest he has been.  We went into the yard Powerboats where we will be getting hauled, and filled out our paperwork, then stopped at the little store in the yard and bought 2 Mountain Dews for his birthday treat.

We decided to make a dessert for his birthday - so dug in our baking stash - and found a bag of something.  When we buy desserts like brownies in a box - we remove the items from the box, cut out the instructions, and put it all in a zip lock bag.  It stores better and protects against bugs.   Unfortunately, we forget to write on the bag what it is on the inside, so this time it was a surprise for a while until we smelled lemons - so then we knew it was lemon bars for dessert.

Mystery desert, instructions, but no idea what it is until you open the bags and start cooking

Pizza and Mt. Dew for birthday dinner

Friday the 12th was the haul out.  Spent part of the morning fending off our boat from hitting another - as the moorings here are tight, and during tide changes the currents swirl a bit and everyone faces every which way.    After the tide changes everyone settles and it is no problem.    

The harbor here is not big, and a mix of industrial and pleasure craft.  There are a lot of permanent boats moored in the area in various states of falling apart.

Watched this large ship designed to lay cable come into the harbor

Chagauramas harbor

Chagauramas harbor

Cable boat in Chagauramas harbor

At 3:00 we motored over, and got hauled out.   By 4:30 we were out, blocked, and had our air conditioning installed.

We rented an air conditioner while here.  It is window style A/C, but they have built custom fiberglass mounts for them designed to direct the air through a deck hatch.   They work well.

Trailer is already in the water, we motor over to it, then the 4 people in the water, and three on land carefully maneuver the boat onto the trailer and position the lifting supports

On the trailer, maneuvering into position

They spend time with a level to get the boat just how you want it - bow up, down or level.

Our A/C unit installed in the hatch

Kris started working Friday night, draining the oil on the starboard engine while it was still warm.  Dean scrapped the hull down, getting all the small barnacles off.

Saturday the work began.   Both sails off the boat, folded and stored.  Both forward lockers emptied, cleaned and dried.  Removed one leg of bow pulpit as it was leaking, cleaned polished and re-sealed it and re-installed.  Oil change on starboard engine finished, and prepped engine and guest room to remove the sail drive.   Props off the starboard side, and sail drive to hull fairing removed.  Cockpit cushions cleaned.  Sling seat removed and ready clean.  New lock installed on dinghy outboard.

Today started rainy - so we will see what we can get done.  That is one negative about Trinidad.  This time of year you get rain almost every day.  Sometimes it 15 minutes and done, sometimes hours.  You just have to work around it and plan your projects accordingly.