The boat has now done 6000 nm in six months. We had some warranty work to be completed, some improvements and some routine maintenance work to be done before the long trip to America in May. All jobs seem to take twice as long here. I am not sure if it is the culture, the practicalities of tiny islands where most things are imported or the heat, but everything moves very slowly. That said everyone is really friendly and we have met a few characters along the way – perhaps we need to be less impatient.
We had the boat hauled out of the water and anti fouled in Antiqua. We also had some skegs fitted to prevent weed getting between the rudder and hull. This had been a problem in the Atlantic. As usual this took a little longer than planned! However we do think the work was well done and are hopeful that we will not need to do this for another year. We did manage to have a great lunch with some distant cousins Barbara and Budgie, catch up with some friends from the rally who were in Antigua, admire the super yachts and do plenty of walking.
After the relaunch we had a quick sail back to Martinique. We were rather pleased with ourselves and used the code zero and achieved 6 knots in 9 knots of wind. 
For the rigging a new gooseneck was installed, a boom strap for a gibe preventer and a mast winch.
We have had to run the generator too much to keep the batteries properly charged. This has been a constant frustration but it has to be mentioned that batteries and charging systems are a constant preoccupation among most male cruisers. We have now had installed 720 Wp of solar panels, a new charger controller and Julian has made various monitoring devices which can be displayed on all screens linked to an Arduino computer. All will be pleased to know that in the first day of operation the batteries were kept fully charged while sailing and the washing machine, kettle and microwave were on for some of the time. The generator will now charge the batteries at over 100 amps as opposed to 50 amps previously. Sorry if this is very technical but our little world is very dependent on charged batteries!
TV screen installed and we can now watch films. A period drama on Sunday evening would be just perfect!
Security bars have been made for the fridge. These will prevent the fridge door opening in extreme conditions.
Security bars for the hatches. We haven’t really felt particularly vulnerable but these will allow us to be safe with the hatches open.
The boat has been cleaned, polished and tidied! All in all, it has been a busy few weeks but we feel the boat is now in excellent order and we are ready for America.
We left Martinique today and are heading north to Dominique, Guadalupe and Antiqua. We are meeting Neill here and will set sail for America at the beginning of May.
Sailing in A Capella of Belfast 
We love the technical stuff. Oliver (male cruiser) anyway sounds like you are all prepped for the trip to the land of Trump and Tomahawks. Godspeed.
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Oliver – day three of the new panels when sailing – 2 hrs watermaking and washing machine plus 4 hr sail – batteries 85%. I am sure there will be a spread sheet soon. Generator redundant!
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Tech stuff goes straight over my head, but love hearing about how you are doing and obviously enjoying everything. You are living the dream!!
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Having a great time but not much drawing as yet- just seem to busy! I have done one picture of some baby pelicans which I must post next time. Very best wishes to the Thursday art sessions which I hope are still going strong.
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All sounds like nothing should go wrong. It must be a great feeling to have had such a spring clean, and new additions to help with your enjoyment while at sea. I can imagine that you will never want to live on land again…. Let alone in a house ! I go in for my second knee replacement this week, having been through it all before I am absolutely dreading it !! Good luck .
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Gill very best wishes for the knee op. We are having a wonderful time – very different world here.
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Sounds as if you are having great fun, what could be better than a whole new range of boys toys! When you leave for America which direction are you heading? West towards Panama, north west towards Miami or somewhere entirely different? I wish you good speed and a safe crossing.
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Graham – heading north from Chesapeake hopefully to Nova Scotia and then back to the Caribbean for December 18 and panama in March 19. Yes a whole new experience.
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Sounds like a great way to spend the summer/autumn – we went across to Nova Scotia (Halifax) in early September 2005, on a rather larger vessel than yours, and had to manoeuvre around the tail end of Katrina that was working it’s way across the Atlantic. When the Americans aboard realised we were heading south rather then the expected east they were convinced that the ship had been hijacked! All very amusing.
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Chatted to Neill the other day, he’s busy fulfilling all Julian’s requests. Both my mares have now foaled, one colt, one filly, all doing well. My young mare, Martha (5 y.o.) and her colt have been entered for Balmoral, class is at 8.30 in the morning, so I’m spending the previous night with Caroline, then we’ll go to the show the next morning. Does a gibe preventer stop someone slagging you, or does it stop you going round in rings? Your boat looks splendid, all clean and polished inside and out, ready for your next adventure.
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