After making landfall in Chaguaramas very early Tuesday morning, and a good sleep before being woken to clear Customs & Immigration, I got busy trying to make contact with various people to get repairs organized.....
Kicker/mast joint was urgently needing attention and was promptly dealt with by the Selden agent Jonas here, along with the boom/mast (gooseneck)connection which was just beginning to move. Rigging was checked also.
Lots of visits to nearby Raymarine dealer - shipping of autopilot drive unit was delayed from US - finally arrived in Customs this afternoon (Monday 21st)so will be fitted tomorrow, rather than middle of last week as expected.
Must check & sew tapes holding mainsail to mast-track cars.
Serviced all Andersen winches - a job I enjoy doing but I was surprised to see how all needed cleaning & fresh grease applied - it had gone hard in the heat. Winches have had a lot of use in the sail from Australia (I serviced them thoroughly in Cairns in July) to S. Africa and up across the S. Atlantic.
Problems with mobile phone - difficult to contact people or be contacted without one ... Lots of visits & finally battery replaced but then phone died completely over Saturday night.. will try to manage without for last few days here.
Seawater pump leaking badly - taken off & in for repair - turned out drive belt block cracked so that needs replacing also.
Windpilot completely taken to pieces and rebuilt, including rudder which has been re-made, so should work 'like butter' now.... I'm looking forward to using it on sail to Colon.
Fischer-Panda generator looked at - capacitor in control unit was faulty - replaced, so all OK now.
Wind generator (Kiss) - designed & made here by Douglas Billings who himself came to boat to arrange removal for new blades and servicing of unit - hasn't given any trouble for last 7 yrs so hopefully will give good service for at least another ten yrs now.
Yamaha outboard serviced.
Spectra watermaker membrane replaced - I'll not have to be quite so careful over water usage as I was coming up from S. Africa.
Cockpit speaker for VHF & SSB faulty - replaced.
Propane refills organized.
Batteries to be load-tested on Tuesday - I'm concerned I might have damaged them over New Year period when I was off the boat.
Must refuel (diesel) before leaving.
Has been good to have wi-fi Internet access on board
Took time off Thursday evening for a 'Pot Luck' dinner here in Crews Inn with a Quiz and music. Then on Friday evening I went into Port of Spain for a steel band competition which was very enjoyable & out for Shark 'n' Bake Saturday evening with cruisers nearby. Days have been noticeable for blue skies & lack of rain since arriving - amazing!!