Bernd – Page 70 – SY Hullu Poro

🚴‍♂️…Red Rocks & Batibou Bay

On March 16, 2023

Smiley arrived sharp on time but without any smile. He does not seem to be an early bird. 10 minutes later I was in the saddle heading towards the east coast of Dominica.

The island was slowly waking up with the sun still behind the mountains. First traffic, about 25 cars on the 20km ride to put it in perspective. Considered nothing and all approaching safely. Good tarmac.

Red Rocks and Batibou Beach were my target destinations besides passing through the village of Calibishie. Some nice encounters with locals, all very open, curious and friendly. Huge interest in the bike!

After almost five hours I was back at the dinghy dock. Smiley was already waiting for me but I could not rush on this ride and loose maximum effect on today’s biking retreat. I need to find another tour on this island.

Fair winds…

Update: Day 128

By Bernd

On March 15, 2023

In Dominica

4 month and 1 week ago we left Puerto Calero/Lanzarote. No regrets we started this adventure.

Brenda – WhatsApp – instant reply, handover time & location fixed. With a smile she takes my laundry on time. Like Singapore, except the smile!

24 hours later, reverse procedure. Laundry is clean, dry, nicely folded with a pleasant smell! Top notch! Thank you Brenda. Another impressive example for the fantastic service level on this island.

My own duty of the day was more directed towards the engine room. Filters to be replaced or cleaned, pressure on regulator tank adjusted. etc., small jobs but now and then required.

Tomorrow will start with a smile. I have booked Smiley, one of the boat boys, to pick me and the bike up at 6am sharp for another ride on Nature Island!

Fair winds…

PAYS Yachting Festival

By Bernd

On March 15, 2023

In Dominica

The yachting scene on Dominica is still in its infant stages compared to other islands like Martinique for example. No doubt the island has a lot to offer for sailors and great potential.

Next week, the PAYS Dominica Yachting Festival starts and the program is comprehensive and covers not only a bit of sailing but also a lot of social and environmental aspects. I am planning to stay on for that.

Poverty is visible as much as people are motivated to deal with their destiny trying to offer any kind of service for the tourists to create a win-win situation. I am convinced that this attitude will bring growth and prospects over the years.

Fair winds…

GGR – the girl !

By Bernd

On March 15, 2023

In Dominica, Trans-Ocean e.V.

The Golden Globe Race started 4th September last year and is in its final phase. More than half of the participants dropped out and the leading group is currently fighting for glory in adverse winds down in the South Atlantic.

The girl – Kirsten Neuschäfer – is still leading but under the gun from close competitors. To me, she is the winner already, having rescued one fellow sailor’s live and helped one while hitting the shores of Fuerteventura.

Lennie Gallant has dedicated a very nice song to Kirstin and her boat – Minnehaha. Very nice and inspiring.

Soon, we will also be on serious ocean sailing again and I look forward to the days out at sea, although nothing comparable to the GGR. Nevertheless, we have more than 3500nm ahead of us within this year.

For now, cross fingers, Kirstin brings the victory home to Les Sables D’Olonne and writes sailing history along the same lines Ellen Mac Author did in 2005.

Courtesy to the producers of this fantastic video. Enjoy!

Fair winds…

Good Night Dominica

By Bernd

On March 14, 2023

In Dominica

🚴‍♂️…Cana Heritage Park !

By Bernd

On March 14, 2023

In B(H)iking, Dominica

Daniel arrived spot on at 6am alongside our boat and picked us up (me and the bike!). Talkative, friendly, sympathetic. Service oriented and open minded!

After five weeks finally back in the saddle, the up & down to Cana Heritage Park was just the right dose for me.

It left energy to absorb the beautiful nature around me. Overall a very pleasant morning ride on good roads with little traffic in lush green scenery.

Need to plan for another ride to discover more of “The Nature Island” by bike.

Fair winds…

Cabrits National Park

By Bernd

On March 13, 2023

In B(H)iking, Dominica

After I finished my minor boat work tasks in the morning I discovered the nearby famous Cabrits National Park, which conveniently lies just next to the anchorage in walking distance.

Besides the historical aspects of this park it gave some good shade against the sun but also spectacular views, which you can enjoy under the Komoot link below.

One aspect bothered me the whole track. It felt a bit like hiking in autumn through our forests at home. Foliage on 80% of the track crunching under my hiking boots. Still feels familiar but irritating the same time as we are in the tropics!

Overall a very peaceful National Park after all the years Fort Shirley dominated this peninsula and still forms an integral part of the scene.

Tomorrow, at 6am Daniel from the PAYS Association will pick me up for another adventure. Better get to sleep now.

Fair winds…

Sunset – no green flash

By Bernd

On March 12, 2023

In Dominica

…sweet dream…

By Bernd

On March 12, 2023

In Dominica

SY Sweet Dream has found its final destination here in Portsmouth and is somehow representative for the whole town/island. Dominica has been burdened by natural disasters ever since, irrespectively it being a hurricane, storm or volcano eruption.

Houses are still destroyed and economy remains suffering. Based on the Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan (CRRP), Dominica is a leading example towards becoming the first climate resilient nation in the world.

Climate change affects everyone and perhaps Dominica is just ahead of the agenda compared to other nations not believing in climate control anymore.

Fair winds…

Boat Work Program

By Bernd

On March 12, 2023

In Dominica, Technical

Boat work was lacking recently and I have chosen the anchorage here in Portsmouth to catch up a bit on the same. Glad we do not have any major repair or maintenance items on the T0-Do-List rather plenty of small things to fix, maintain or improve.

It already started yesterday, when I volunteered to spend an hour in the water at 26.3℃ (!) to clean the waterline from algae. Starboard side is done, Portside to follow. Next will be the propeller, some seacocks and then finally the bow thruster, which is the biggest job. Besides removing the biotope in the funnel I have to replace the anodes as well. Overall the antifouling gives a good impression and shall last until autumn. Nevertheless I would next time apply four layers instead of two going on a longer journey in warmer climate.

I am a bit suspicious about the starting process of the generator. My seventh sense tells me that it takes two to three crank turns now before it starts while two weeks back it came on the first turn. Took the noise insulation hood off and did a general inspection. All found in order, so this item needs to remain on the monitoring list. Perhaps nothing to worry about but after a while on a boat you develop an incredible sensitivity against noise and smell as any of the two can be an early indication of trouble. Cross fingers.

A very strange item on the list was the broken lid of the aircon strainer. It is directly mounted on a seacock and therefore sits below the water line. I was shocked when I discovered it a few weeks back especially as I normally keep seacocks in open position. In this case, I closed it immediately and did not even dare to touch it until this morning. After replacing it, the aircon got a flush while the generator was humming anyway. The light bright spot in the middle of the right photo gives you a view through the hull down to the bottom of the sea.

It remains a bit of a miracle how this lid can burst. Excluding mechanical force it can only be temperature or age or perhaps a combination of the two. During our recent long motor sail from St. Vincent back to Martinique we got quite high temperature in the engine room, more than usual and that could have contributed to the cracks.

Soon I will replace the plastic version with the bronze version for peace of mind going forward. I rather lose the visibility into the filter unit but have a solid metal lid installed.

Tomorrow is another day (Monday!) to proceed with the works!

Fair winds…

Boating & Biking Adventures

Author: Bernd Page 70 of 130

🚴‍♂️…Red Rocks & Batibou Bay

Update: Day 128

PAYS Yachting Festival

GGR – the girl !

Good Night Dominica

🚴‍♂️…Cana Heritage Park !

Cabrits National Park

Sunset – no green flash

…sweet dream…

Boat Work Program