Where Are We, What’s the Plan?

We promised you a post on our power generation and battery set up on Soltara–I promise it’s coming! First, we thought you would be interested in an update on where we are and upcoming plans.

The last update we gave you had us still in the boatyard, waiting on parts and ticking off boat projects.

You will be relieved to know that we are no longer in the boatyard!

Soltara splashed in early July and we have been on a mooring in Prickly Bay ever since. We’ve been working on some fairly big projects and—you guessed it!—waiting on parts. Seems to be the story of our lives!

We still have a lot of projects we would like to complete, but materials are hard to come by on the island, and shipping items in can get pricey. That said, we have been concentrating our efforts on projects we can complete with the materials we are able to find here.

The only parts we are waiting on now are 2 cars for the genoa tracks. As soon as those cars arrive we will be making test sails around the island and up to Carriacou, Grenada’s sister island. If all is well on the boat, and if the weather looks good, we will make our longest sail yet on Soltara: a direct sail to Puerto Rico. From Carriacou that’s around 420 nautical miles, give or take.

Depending on wind and conditions, we anticipate it taking us anywhere from 3-5 days.

Why leave Grenada?

It’s time. We love Grenada, have made so many friends that we will dearly miss, but it’s time for us to hoist the sails and go see what it’s like somewhere else. After all, that is why we live on a sailboat–to travel and go sailing.

Grenada will always be special to us, and we will never forget how wonderful the island and her people have been to us.

Why sail direct to Puerto Rico?

There are many reasons for this.

One…

There’s this terrible thing called Covid-19. It has caused havoc around the world. Countries have closed borders, partially opened borders, instated mandatory quarantines and testing requirements, and all of this has resulted in increased fees to gain entry into many countries.

If you look at a map, you will see that between Grenada and Puerto Rico there are many beautiful countries and islands. Most we have been to; we would love to return. Some we have not been to, and we will have to be content with not going to them anytime soon.

Two…

We understand that Puerto Rico has easier access to materials/resources than Grenada. This means we should be able to complete some of the projects we have been in limbo with.

Three…

We have a good friend in Puerto Rico who we hope will be able to help us with a major rigging project we plan to tackle: new chainplates. We aren’t simply replacing the old chainplates. That would be too easy, and when have we ever taken the easy way? Pfft, the easy way is far too boring–Ha!

On a more serious note, one of the design flaws on this boat is leaking chainplates that are routed through the deck and are bolted to wooden knees inside. One thing that many Tayana 37 owners have done to remedy this constant problem is relocate the chainplates externally. This is exactly what we plan to do in Puerto Rico.

Wait a minute… are we riggers?

Do we know what we are doing?

Nope. Not at all.

Fortunate for us, our friend in Puerto Rico was a professional rigger and if all goes to plan, he is going to help us with this project. We just have to get to Puerto Rico, go through quarantine and Covid testing to gain entry, receive our new chainplates, and get to work! This is one project we are looking forward to and we will be sure to update you afterwards.

Four…

It has been a while since either of us have seen our families. After we complete the chainplate project, we will see what the status is of Covid and the state of the world.

To travel from Puerto Rico to the USA would be more attainable for us compared to Grenada. But there are many things to be considered, safety traveling through airports and on airplanes during a pandemic, quarantine protocols, self-quarantining before visiting family, amongst other things.

Five…

Why not? Neither of us have ever been to Puerto Rico. It sounds like an incredible island with Spanish vibes, and we loved the Spanish culture when we were in Spain.

So, that is where we are for now, as far as a current update and plans. Of course, you know the saying that we wholeheartedly believe in:

Plans are written in the sand at low tide.