Around the bay are a number of marinas with a large anchorage area in the centre, there are mooring provided by Ysatt. (Yacht services at Trinidad) who also run a water taxi. This is cheap and useful.

We came here because the boat insurances stated we had to be below 10 degrees north between the 1st.June till the 30th Nov. the hurricane season. Trinidad is thought to be out of the hurricane belt but they said that about Grenada until Hurricane Ivan arrived last year. However this is also the rainy season in Trinidad and though it is hot and sunny the temperature is still 30-33c it rains most days. Heavy tropical squalls after which the whole area steams as the water evaporates in the hot sun shine. It is a
haven for mosquitoes.

On the positive side Trinidad is cheap the exchange rate being 11 TT dollars to the pound. At first it is a shock to get a bill for 60dollors, until you realise it has only cost you 6 quid for 3 gin and tonics and 2 rum punches. Diesel is 50 pence a gallon. You get your gas bottle filled for 12TT, a pound. I feel we are in for a shock when we get home.

Since arriving here we have been along the northern coast staying over night in a couple of really quiet anchorages. We were the only boat in one, until a Catamaran decided to join us. We were quite put out but later as it got dark an open boat with local youths came into the bay, they had no lights and just anchored. A little unsettling, there is a lot of drug trafficking here so we were pleased we weren’t alone.

On land I had an evening on the beach with a group watching Leather Back Turtles come in out of the sea to lay their eggs in the sands. We also saw little baby turtles that had hatched race for the water. It was really good and worth the mosquito bites I got.

I manage to persuade Graham join me to watch a Steel Band Parade along the main street in Port of Spain. This was an experience the roads were crowded with locals dancing after the bands. All very happy with a bottle of Carib, the local beer in hand. What got us was all the cafés, shops and bars had
steel grills through which you got served. There was a heavy presence of police armed and dressed in black riot gear, quite scary. Defiantly rougher then Bolton on a Saturday night. We didn’t come to any harm and had an enjoyable evening. Though I haven’t managed to get Graham back to Port of Spain.

We did go to a concert in Charguaramus it was billed as a night of culture and music of Trinidad. There was a troop of dancers that I enjoyed, a couple of rock bands, a steel band playing jazz, that Graham enjoy, and it wasn’t a bad night out.

The local Trinidadians are a real mixed race. All shades of light tan to black. There are a large number of Indian descendants. This is due to a program of indentured labourers that were brought to Trinidad to work on the sugar plantations following the end of slavery in 1834. Along with the Spanish, French and English who fought over and ruled the island in the past. The Americans were here during the war and I have found a couple of great Malls. Good for a bit of retail therapy.

At present we are busy cleaning and stripping the boat for storage. We shall be lifted out of the water and stored on land for the 3 months we are away. Because it is hot and humid it is important to leave the boat as clean as possible as mould and mildew can be a problem. The marinas here are filled with boats put to bed for the closed season, whilst the owners go home to enjoy the summer in Europe and the states.

We leave here on the 1st.July for Barbados, where we have appointments at the American Embassy to try and get a visa for the states. We thought we may go north next year and need a visa to visit US islands and the states. Will let you know who we get on.

Keep in touch

Joy