[Cruise News] Hog Island and Clarks Court Bay

Having been marina bound for the first few days sorting out a few little jobs and familiarising ourselves with the working parts and equipment of Pandora, we actually got to go for a day sail yesterday - out around the coast to Hog Island and Clarks Court Bay. Dropped anchor in the bay to go for a swim, then lunch, swim, into the dinghy for a beer on the island at Roger's Beach Bar. Life is really tough here, as you can imagine!

[Captains Blog] Only plan to do one job a day

Mike has given me one sound piece of advice (nothing to to with Pandora on this occasion) "only plan to do one job a day" which I intend to take to heart. Today, I fixed the fuel pipe on the outboard. Job done by 8:00 therefore I get the rest of the day off.

[Captains Blog] Almost ready

We've been on the boat 2 days now and are getting to know some of the things that make life easy on board. There have been a few jobs that needed doing that 4 months on the hard standing have caused, but with these out of the way (barring unforseen issues that have yet to rear their ugly heads), we are ready to go sailing tomorrow. So, this morning I was fitting a new danbuoy and life saver horseshoe, mending the handle that drops the bathing platform down, changing the shackles on the same piece of boat, and wrapping the joints that might chafe against the jib. Sails fitted yesterday, provisioning this morning (ouch!).

[Captains Blog] The start of something new

I am getting more excited by the day. The sextant is packed and ready to go; I have downloaded the software to allow me to calculate our Lat & Long positions from myriad heavenly bodies; I have pored over Caribbean maps and charts; devoured Chris Doyles Windard and Leeward Islands guides; read about the flora and fauna to be found on the various islands, and I have still only scratched the surface!

There is so much out there to be explored, experienced and recorded for posterity. Bring it on!

The start of our journey is only a few days away now. Something to whet your appetite - here's the lovely boat Pandora in all her glory ....

[Cruise News] T minus 3 days

Ready for the off now, have been tracking Hurricane Tomas on the news to see whether it would affect Grenada or not. Our international network of dynamic correspondents on the scene in Grenada (Nicola & Mike) have told us it passed to the north and that there are no real issues, and Pandora will be in the water in time for our arrival on Thursday.