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Notification

November 2020: Shamal and her Crew have arrived safely back into Opua, Bay of Islands, New Zealand completing their circumnavigation a year ago. Due to Covid-19 and New Zealand's Boarders being closed, they will continue to spend their 2020/21 Summer exploring some of New Zealand's waters. Thanks to all of you for following our Adventures. There will be more.

26 May 2017

Return To Cuba


Hello Again

Alec bailing out tender after rain
 

Well our last few days in Grand Cayman saw the start of the rainy season.  Oh help summer must be on its way.  We experienced an overcast day followed by a day of constant heavy rain with thunderstorms. Yes that lightening was flashing about everywhere.  Then it was back to overcast days again.  We did a big stock up of stores that will hopefully see us through our time in Cuba, and  beyond.  There were those last Skype chats with the kids as we will once again be out of contact with them for a while.  We will keep in contact with our shore manager – son Murray – with the “iridium go” satellite system, plus get our weather through it. Actually my NZ Vodafone phone works in Cuba, so that will be my back-up.

 


Refuelled and ready to leave
Our three stowaways
Friday 21st April and we ride our bikes down to Customs in George Town from Mitchells Creek where we are anchored, and complete the ‘clear our’ procedures. One is given 24 hours to leave.  They have not returned our Hawaiian Sling to us as one has to be seen sailing out when it is handed over.  It is forbidden to use any form of spear gun here hence we had to hand it over when we arrived.  We then ride around to a cafĂ© for coffee.  While there it starts to pour with really heavy rain, and we are stuck there for about two and a half hours.  The following morning the sun is out, and we motor down to the Barcadere Marina where we pick up our duty free diesel and wait for the customs officer to arrive with our sling.  He turns up right on the dot of 10.00 a.m. just like he said he would.  Then we are on our way.  It still takes us an hour to motor out across North Sound and through the reef before we can set sails for Cayo Largo.  Then the wind dies – we have no more than 5-7kts.  Help this is going to be a slow trip, and yes it is.  We motor sail nearly the whole way 140nm!!!!!  We have three swallows join us in the evening and they stay with us for the rest of the trip.