An appointment with friends, Sebastian and his wife, Kati, in Martinique meant that Qi needed to make her way back south. Seeing familiar faces was an exciting prospect. It was a wonderful visit and one that would be treasured forever. Then Qi needed to move below the hurricane belt for a safe summer season. Taking time to explore familiar islands and then taking part in some adventure sports was memorable. Then it was off to the calm waters of Grenada and then Curacao for some bottom paint and time out of the water while the crew headed off to Germany for a family visit.
Guests from Germany broke the monotony of diving, swimming, hiking and other adventures. Sebastian and Kati joined them for a sail to St. Lucia from Martinique. More tours and fun outings were had by all. Sebastian came back to the boat one day after the two of them went to shore for a beach day, and was beaming with his story of getting a mango and a coconut water as change for paying for the deck chairs on the beach. Talk about a cultural shock but in a great way. It was a joy to see Sebastian and Kati and share the adventures for a week or so.
St Vincent and the Grenadines were on the way to Grenada and was a major setting for the Pirates of the Caribbean Movies. Warnings of violence towards cruisers had the crew on alert, but it didn’t stop them from enjoying the hospitality of the people of this rugged island. Later, cruising friends would describe a terrible attack on a couple which nearly ended their lives. Thomas and Gaylyn were lucky to have connected with a young lad from the village who became their guide. Thomas was also taught, by another man, John, the art of coconut dismantling. A skill that would prove fruitful for their sailing days in the tropics. St Vincent proved to be a raw and lush environment.
Other islands on the way to Grenada were the Union Islands and Carriacou. Carriacou was pitted with rock-like land tortoises. Smaller versions of the giant land tortoises scattered the landscape busily going about their business. It was here that they met with Australian/English/South African sailors, Lynne and Eric off the huge cat, Amarula. Many social gatherings were enjoyed where sailing stories were swapped and the Captain got a taste of Australian slang. Gaylyn would translate for him.
Grenada was an absolute treat and Thomas and Gaylyn participated in their first and only Hash Harriers run/walk and met a new friend, Lucia. Whilst complaining how he wouldn’t put himself through such torture in Germany, let alone the heat in the tropics, a beautiful Guatemalan woman began talking in German with him. Surprised at hearing his mother tongue, it took Thomas a moment to respond. Lucia became their guide and showed them the island and introduced them to her family.
She also took them diving and free dove with them in the underwater sculpture park. Meeting her really gave the crew of Qi a wonderful experience on the island.
Deciding where to dock Qi for an overdue bottom paint and preparations for the Pacific depended on many factors. The availability of flights to Germany, a travel lift that could accommodate Qi’s winged keel, costs of being on the hard and the availability of paint etc. Curacao ended up being the choice. It’s the C out of the ABC islands. Aruba and Bonaire accounting for the other letters of the alphabet. Accessibility to the tools and the airport ended up making it a good choice.
Thomas hadn’t seen many of his family members nor friends since embarking on his journey and moving to the boat, and both were met with welcomed arms. Germany proved a very different pace in comparison to their life on Qi and they were spoilt rotten in the woods at his old family home that his older sister, Dagmar, now owned. Gaylyn had always loved Germany, but had never experienced this authentic side of it. Getting to know the family was wonderful. But her true joy was hitting the well-stocked supermarkets and cooking for everyone.
Watch the slide show below for more pics
