(intrepid Hikers, Laura, Me, Rob (Mick behind the camera)
I've lost count how many times that dam pump was removed and reinstalled but it must have been at least half a dozen. Whenever it was out and tested it worked fine, as soon as it was reinstalled it only worked intermitently! The only thing that couldn't be inspected was the inside of the pressure switch and it was therefore this that was now the prime culprit.
The very well stocked Piper's Chandlery had a number of pumps that we could use as a replacement but the cheapest was about #300. Similar pumps seemed to be available in Grenada for half the price and so I decided that if we couldn't get the existing one to work we'd just have to make do without for the next few weeks and I'd buy a new one there. The same applied to replcing the broken port navigtion light. However, we were extremely lucky in that Rob had a spare/broken water pump with a pressure switch which turned out to be the same type as the suspect one and he very kindly gave it to us.
Mick then spent considerable time removing the old switch and replacing it with Rob's and .......low and behold it worked. We had running water once again and could use the shower. A great bonus in this hot sticky climate (with apologies to those freezing at home).
Around the same time the pump was fixed one of the two cooker burners started misbehaving and by the time we got to Mustique it had completely faiuled. The cast iron rusts in the salty climate creating both gas blockages and air leaks within the burner. I had succeeded in removing all the rust deposits earlier in the year which helped enourmously but now there is just too much air getting into the burner for it to burn stably. I tried repairing it with liquid metal but it didn'y help much and then that started to burn.
It looks like we may have to make do with one burner for the forseeable future!
I'm hopeful that we may also have a solution to our solar power shortfall. The Chandlery in Grendad stock suitable panels and a reasonable price and I have therefore ordered and paid for two 115W panels that we will use to replace the existing 150W panel on top of the arch across the back of the cockpit. Our hope is that the existing panel is underperforming and that we'll end up with a significant performance increase from the new panels. However, we wont know that for certain until the new installation has been completed. Hopefully we can also find a way of retaining the existing panel in the system too even if only while we are anchor/moored up.
Of course we will have to manage with what we have until we get to Grenada in a few weeks and we will no doubt have considerable fun and games removing the old panel and installing the new ones.
Before leaving Bequia we met up with Laura again for one final Hike.
Laura is an adventurous woman. A rower and a sailor from Woodshole, Massachusetts, she has travelled extensively and rowed in the London River Race 2023 and has sailed for most of her life. She's now on to her second ocean capable trimaran; the first she lost off Bermuda a few years ago after a collision with an unidentified object. Her partner Rob is a boat builder and owns a classic 1960s 28 foot Herreshoff yacht that he restored.
Our Hike with Laura and Rob was to the top of Bequia's western hills to take in the glorious view of Saint Vincent.
On the way up we passed the delightful pakm tree lined bay shown at the top of this post.
My goodness what a climb it was; up some of the steepest roads I've experienced - but at least they were roads (hardly any traffic) and not the dense undergrowth Mick and I had fought our way through a few days previously.
The view certainly lived up to its reputation....
By the time we got back down we were desperate for beer, ice cream and lunch that we consumed rapidly in that order.
The next day, Friday, after a long chat with Rob, we left for Mustique, the island paradise playground of the very, very rich, including the likes of Princess Margaret and Mick Jagger.
It was about a four hour, close hauled sail in brisk winds and we arrived about an hour before sunset and picked up one of the obligatory moorings at a cost of £64 for 3 nights. A lot more expensive than our hitherto free anchoring but not bad compared with the UK's south coast. The vast majority of which were occupied by Catermarans..
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