Dominica – Page 3 – SY Hullu Poro

GGR – the girl !

On March 15, 2023

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…

…Arriving Portsmouth…

By Bernd

On March 11, 2023

In Dominica

As expected, there was no wind until we took the turn into Prince Rupert Bay. 20kn on the nose for a short while, until we reached our pool position at one of the mooring buoys run under the well reputed PAYS association. Sitting on 4.5m depth only for a change! Fair winds…

…Leaving Roseau…

By Bernd

On March 11, 2023

In Dominica

Time has come to move on. Not that I am in a particular hurry but the prospect to stop after 18nm only in Portsmouth/Prince Rupert Bay at the northern tip of Dominica helps. Roseau will remain a highlight on this trip, no doubt. Portsmouth has a similar good reputation but different character. I am sure the adventure is going to continue.

Fair winds…