Time to move on
Who could have predicted that we’d end up staying here for so long? Curaçao feels like a second home, but it’s slowly becoming time to explore new horizons.
But before that happens, there are still quite a few boat jobs on our list. The watermaker needs a new membrane, a task full of improvisation and setbacks. Fortunately, we manage to find the right sealing rings on the island and finally complete the job. We can shower again!
There’s also a problem up in the mast: the antenna cable for the VHF and AIS has broken off and fallen inside. A frustrating job. First, the antenna has to come out through a small hole at the base of the mast where all the cables run together, before we can even start the repair. We manage to pull the cable out without any trouble, and JM fixes the connection with his usual dose of creativity. But how do we get that cable back up the mast?
The guide lines inside the mast, used to pull new ropes or cables up, no longer reach the top. Luckily, Sven from SY Great Dane has a special tool on board: a sort of reel with a stiff wire that can be fed down through the mast. JM is up at the top, feeding the wire down, while I sit at the base of the mast, trying to fish it out through the small hole using a bent metal coat hanger. After a few tries, I manage to grab it! We attach the repaired antenna cable and pull everything back up again. Just to be safe, we also run a new guide line through the mast to make future jobs a little easier. It all sounds simple written down, but in reality JM goes up and down that mast about eight times before everything is properly reconnected.
The next day, Roy lends a hand with a dive job. The propellers need to come off to fix the play on the saildrives. After an hour of underwater work for the guys and an hour of handing over tools for me,that job is ticked off the list as well.
Meanwhile, I tackle a massive shopping list to restock all our supplies on board, and then face the challenging puzzle of finding space for all that food.
In between, we reward ourselves with a few farewell dives at our favorite spots. We take Ornella and Great Dane along and enjoy the warm water, fish-filled reefs, and wonderfully relaxed dives together.
And then it’s finally time for our farewell party. We invite our island friends for a cozy evening at Kanti Awa, one last drink, a good chat, and plenty of warm goodbye hugs. It turns into a wonderful night, and we leave Curaçao with full hearts and happy memories.
Our very last evening is reserved for Roy, our rock on the island, fantastic dive buddy, and friend for life. We enjoy one final Mambo Beach evening with sushi and mojitos before lifting the anchor, hoisting the sails, and watching Spanish Water slowly fade into the horizon.Mambo Beachke” met sushi en mojito’s, voor we het anker ophalen, de zeilen hijsen en het Spaanse Water langzaam zien verdwijnen aan de horizon.
Together with Ornella we sail towards Aruba but not without a snorkel stop at the Blue Room, a cheerful apéro aboard their boat, and a peaceful night at Santa Cruz.
On to new adventures!
Weer veel werk geweest.Gelukkig dat jullie zo handig zijn. Veel plezier op de volgende tocht