MERLIN VOYAGE LOG.
Times and dates, together
with log entries as I get them.
Latest at the top of the
page.
Last up-date
09/02/2010
▼
February 2010
Merlin
still in Grenada.
Major
work on the hull to repair moisture ingress into the fibre glass, by replacing
the gel coat.
Martin working in the same sail loft.
1st
July 2007
Returned to Grenada to work in a sail loft.
1st
June 2007
Merlin
in Trinidad, to sit out the hurricane season.
4th
December 2006
Merlin
currently in Grenada for a short time.
16th
June 2006
Merlin
is now in
Carriacou, a small island
north of Grenada.
They spent some time in St
Vincent en route.
5th
January, 2006
Arrived St. Lucia, Rodney Bay Marina.
5th
September 2005.
Merlin
is now in Trinidad where they will stay until the end of the hurricane season
in November.
26th
August 2005
We've arrived safely in Tobago and are
anchored off a small town called Charlotteville. We're all very happy to be
here and having a great time with other boating families. There are two
other boats with children Adam's age. He's in heaven.
The trip was good. Saw a satellite launched
in French Guyana. Very impressive. Wandered around Devils island; it's a
little paradise although I'm sure it wasn't when it was a prison. Hit a
whale on our first day out from French Guyana; scary but no damage (to us).
2nd
August 2005.
I completed my paperwork for
leaving Brazil yesterday, so will be on our way today or tomorrow. Leaving
from Fortaleza to Trinidad/Tobago, stopping for a rest only in Devils Island
(French Guyana). Fortaleza to Devils Island is 1000 miles, then a further 600
to Trinidad.
Arrived Fortaleza 29th June
2005.
We arrived in Fortaleza last Wednesday
from Natal, 255 miles away, after a fairly grotty trip. The wind itself was
pleasant enough, force 3 to 5 and always placing us on a run or a reach, but
the rain was miserable during the first 24 hours and by the time it stopped
raining, we were too fed up to enjoy the change. During my time off watch, I
was foolish enough to sleep in my wet clothes, thinking that they would dry
more quickly if I kept them on. I suppose they did, but only after chilling me
so that I was shivering in bed, subsequently coming down with a heavy cold!
What a silly thing to do!
See Further notes from Martin.
Left Natal and headed North.
Arrived Natal 17th June
2005.
We finally got our act together and left
harbour to sail 80 miles up the coast to Natal, where we are now. Adam's
little friend Karina is here, so he's playing on her boat while Bela and I
wander around in the rain. The fishing port is very poor and the city centre
is hectic with shops full of shiny consumer items. Isn't it funny that the
less money people have, the more consumerist they tend to be.
Left Cabedelo, heading North
80 miles up the coast.
Itīs the rainy season here and it really does
rain. Grey skies, squalls and torrential rain. Belaīs finding it almost
impossible to dry washing and our canvas covers outside are getting mildewed.
Time to move on!
Last week we put Merlin on the beach, leaning
against the quay, and heavily antifouled her, ready for our trip north. With
the weather so rainy, it's not particularly tempting to set off. We'll just
have to go for it, I suppose.
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Arrived Cabedelo in Brazil
3rd March 2005
On the mouth of the Rio
Paraiba
(Lat, 6o 58.5841 S.
Long, 34o 50.302 W.)
Left the Cape Verde Islands
16th February 2005
Arrived in the Cap Verde
Islands 2nd Feb 2005
We made it to
Porto de Praia, Ilha de Santiago
after 8 days at sea. Light winds to start with but stronger later with big
seas. Arrived in a force 6. Very happy to be here and able to sleep whole
uninterrupted nights. We were very tired by the time we got here, so slept
heavily and rested yesterday.
Culture shock when I stepped ashore in the
middle of a bustling fish market. Very, very African with hardly a white face.
Very poor. Very friendly. No tourism.
Arrived Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
7th December 2004 after a pretty
grotty trip, with strong winds and big seas. Merlin was impressive though,
standing up and shouldering the waves aside, spray flying. Planning to stay for
a couple of weeks.
Arrived Fuertaventura 27th
November.
Arrived 7th October
in Caleta del Sebo on the
Isla Graciosa to the north of
Lanzarote, and stayed till 16th November 2004.
Left Gibraltar after collecting gear and stocking up, end of September 2004.
Spent
the winter 2003/4 in Largos and on the
Rio
Guadiana, in Southern
Portugal.
Refit completed and
ready for sea trials October 2003.
