LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 21:
Monday, February 21, 2000
0625 Sunrise.
0700 I lay out my route from Carriacau Island in the Grenadines to the French Island Martinique. I will sail just to the west of Union Island in the Grenadines and then on a straight line course to the west of the island chain, which includes the remaining Grenadines, Saint Vincent, Saint Lucia and Martinique. Once I arrive abeam of Cap Salomon on Martinique, I shall turn starboard and commence my entry to Fort de France. Trip distance is 133 NM in length. I load the route in to the GPS.
0800 I hoist the anchor and move the boat in closer to where I will be going ashore. I put the motor onto the dinghy.
0830 I go in to Hillsborough with my papers. A dinghy-boy beckons to me where to land the dinghy. There is a landing for small boats alongside the pier (which is where I was headed). I bring it in and this fellow is very helpful offering to take the painter and to tie the dinghy off. I thank him. He says, "I
guard your dinghy". He points out the customs and immigration offices for me. I go first to customs, where I am asked if I have crew list forms. I say no, so I am sent to the port authority to pick up two forms. There I pay 2 Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollars (or about the equivalent of $1 (US) for the two forms. Then it is back to customs, where I fill out the necessary paperwork. Once that is completed, I go across the street to Immigration, fill out some more paperwork and eventually get cleared for my departure from the nation of Granada. I pass a market on the way back to the dinghy and pick up some bananas; they cost $3 (EC). The girl wants me to buy a Caribbean watermelon. I point at one about the size of a football and ask, "How much for the small one?" She tells me $20 (EC). I tell her,
"No thanks". She offers to lower the price to $18 (EC). I tell her, "I will just take the bananas". I thank her and head for the pier.  The dinghy-boy sees me coming and has the dinghy untied as I arrive. I've got $2 (EC) in my hand, figuring on tipping him. He tells me, "That will be $5". I tell him, "I'll give you $2." He says, "Make it $3." I said, "Here is $2. Have a nice day." I place the coins in his hand and shove off in the dinghy.
0945 Back onboard I make preparations for getting underway. I bring the outboard back aboard and hang it on its rack. The fuel tank and oars are brought aboard also and stowed. Next I hoist the dinghy aboard and secure it bottom up on the bow. I stow all loose gear and turn on the navigation gear. With everything on and ready, I hoist the anchor to the stowed position.
1020 Lord's Prayer is underway.
1035 Once clear of the land and the other boats, I turn the boat into the wind set the autopilot to hold her so and go forward to hoist the mainsail. After heaving the mainsail up and heading back on course, I haul out the jib. The boat is on a starboard beam reach and making good speed. I secure the engine.
1145 The wind has gone flat and I have restarted the engine.
1330 The wind has come on strong and the boat is now close-hauled.
1335 I am in a very heavy rain shower with 21 kts of wind.
1800 The afternoon is spent going through rainsqualls with the wind that is associated with the showers in the 20 kt range, whereas in between the squalls the wind is light and variable.
1813 Sunset.
2000 The rainsqualls continue. Lightning is observed but it is apparently a long way away.
2200 the rain is stopped. The wind has come on strong just off the starboard bow. I continue under power using the wind vane to steer.
2355 Position 13-43N 061-18W or about 14 NM WSW of the SW coast of Saint Lucia.
END OF LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 21


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