Curacao

From Los Roques we sailed straight to Curacao. We had good winds so we could enter the narrow channel of Spanish Water under sails.
The anchorage here is good holding and very well protected, so we can relax a bit at the moment.
We met a lot of very nice people here and, of course Robin arrived, so it's three of us on board now.

For the rest the new damper plate is ordered and should arrive this week, we're looking forward to get to Colombia.

Isla la Blanquilla, Islas Los Roques

On our way to Curacao we stopped off on venezuelan islands Blanquilla and Roques.
On Blanquilla we took a rest after two days and one night of sailing. Anchoring was quite interesting, in the dark, without engine but in the end we made it.
The island is only seasonaly inhabited by some fishermen except for some wild donkeys and iguanas.

The Roques were flooded by venezuelan tourists on first sight but as we moved on towards the western part of the archipel we found or very own little island. Snorchelling was excellent.

Fishing was great too, much better than in the rather poor waters of the Eastern Caribbean, nearly all fish we caught had serious bitemarks. Once we caught just a head...

Tyrrel Bay, Carriacou

Turns out we're lucky; the gearbox seems to be okay, just the so-called damper plate (between engine and gearbox) is broken. Fortunately this thing is much cheaper than a gearbox.

Jörg, the friendly mechanic could tell immediately what the problem was when he turned the shaft and i could take it apart myself.

So by the looks of it we're going to leave Carriacou on the 20th for Curacao where we pick up my very good friend Robin and where we also try to get our new damper plate.

Carriacou, Grenadines

Yesterday we arrived in Carriacou with the last light. It was a long sail over from Dominica with far too little wind. And since unfortunately up in Dominica our gearbox broke down we couldn't use the engine. We hope the mecanics down in Tyrell Bay can help us out for a reasonnable price because we probably can't afford a new one imported from Europe.

At the moment we're staying on a mooring just in front of Sandy Island, the only spot we could reach before dark. Tomorrow we might check out the traditional regatta in Petite Martinique.

Dominica 'Boiling Lake'

Indian River, Dominica

First thing we did on Dominica was the boat-tour on the 'Indian River', a river that winds through the mangroves and jungle next to Portsmouth. An enchanted place!

Dominica!

We're on Dominica! And it feels a little bit like home! Unfortunately we have a problem with the gearbox though, if anyone's got an old Hurth one lying around, please send it to curacao!

I just put up some photos of our today's trip to Titoo Gorge ( thats where the pics are taken) and the Boiling Lake. There's gonna be more once we have a selection in jpegs!