S/V Papillon

Papillon and crew, Angela and Lawrence are on the last ‘ long’ two day and nite leg to Bonaire, from Grenada, the first of the well known cruising ABC Islands. The other two being Curacoa and Aruba. They are situated offshore Venezuela, and belong to the Dutch. We have 115 Nm to go, which should put us on the pad at 4:45AM April 9th, totally sleep deprived! Somewhat like an Air Canada Flight. Angela sends best wishes to Jean for post surgery recovery. Here’s Angela doing what she does best, commanding the ship. A typical selection of fruit…so much its hard to store it all, so just eat it. Also one of our parrots chewed thru his tether so we had to cage him! Not a happy bird! Papillon is sledding along at 10 knots with a following breeze of about 15knots, not bad for a 60ft catamaran. The waves are all down hill which helps as the prevailing trades push the water towards the Colombia Coast. Lots of freighter traffic as cheap Venezuela Oil is moved North around the Caribbean. We have been sailing about 100Nm offshore, without lights at night …………………………… Presently Lat 12 19 and Long 66 25, heading 285 W.
After Bonaire, the next Island Curacoa is 37 Nm which is a day hop, then Aruba a similar 60Nm day hop. Here John Porter from Vancouver, who crossed with us on ARC will join us to move Papillon through the Panama Canal. If time permits we will Coast hop and visit Cartagena, Colombia…………that will be good for a thorough search by Homeland in-Security when Papillon reaches USA waters.

Tuesday April 7th, and Papillon has left Grenada and is heading due West to the Island of Bonaire, 365 Nm to go! At our present speed of 7.5 knots ETA is April 9th. We could have chosen shorter island hops but there have been a series of Pirate incidents (Thankyou Sonia) along the Venezula Coast which that route would have taken us. On board is Angela and myself.We have picked up an additional feathered friend. John Porter will meet us in Aruba on April 13th which is one more days sail. The threesome will then sail the last leg to the Panama, three days. Aruba, Bonaire and Curaco are known as the ABC Islands and belong to the Dutch. Thats one of the Pitons in the background, as we speed away from Papillon to take a tour of the Sulphur Springs inside a volcano near Souffriers, St Lucia. Final picture Angela taking her first Steel Pan lesson from Adrian, known as Mr Pan Man. Ironically my last telephone call as we leave Grenada was from the St Lucia police, who have finally apprehended the two guys that Harvey and I fought with on a country road as they attempted to take our wallets. It all ended when they pulled knives and stuck them in our mid drifts. We were the subject of St Lucia national TV for several days. We also became somewhat celebraties as local people recognised us after the fact. Unfortuneately neither Harvey or I will return to ID the two. Tonight when SSB Radio reception is optimal I will transmit in our Lat and Long position. We are presently motor sailing in large rolling seas with only 6 knots of wind aft. Position Lat 12 04 and Long 62 08. Ships instruments show we are on a collision course with a large tanker on our Port, moving at 12 knots up from the South. One of us must alter course. Can’t see him yet, he’s still 11 Nm away.

Papillon is finally under sail again with Lawrence and Angela board.Our April 1st departure was delayed 2 days. We are presently at anchor off Carriacou, just south of Tobago Quays and North of Grenada. We spent most of the day swimming in amongst coral reefs in Tobagao Quays before setting sail for Carriacou, where we PM at anchor. We dinned royally on Dorade, admittedly purchased from local fishermen. Grenada is 23 Nm South and we expect to be there mid day to clear in Customs. Next official stop will be Aruba 600Nm West en route Panama, where John Porter will meet us for the transit. However there are a great many miles to go before reach the Canal. Turtles are an endangered species and these mild mannered live and let species that live in the Caribbean are being assited by local good spirited souls to grow from eggs to full adults before being released. Poachers and locals are bent on devasting these guys.

Papillon will weigh anchor April 1st, and sail South visting Granada and the ABC Islands along the North Coast of South America en route to the Panama. Hurricane season is imminent and the cruising community is thining out as sailors depart for safer geographic areas. Notwithstanding the above St Lucia and Islands have sustained high wave activity already. This catamaran unfortunately was anchored too close to the beach when the high waves hit. It took all of 12 minutes for the large waves to claim him. Papillon was anchored 300 ft away. Needless to say we pulled anchor and headed out to deeper water. It will be a teary eyed day saying good bye to the many new found friends that have made the stay memorable; including Adrian Samuel, fondly known as Mr Pan Man, here signing our guest book.  There is a slim chance of a stowaway on board. Mitch Mortley, who at this moment is hastily filling out an appication to become a student at Malaspina College, Nanaimo, BC.

With a massive midrift brace Lexie has shuffled around the room. A hotel will be sourced with NO steps…for further rest and healing. Dr Lisinski of Ladysmith, BC and Dr Jeffrie of St Lucia are collectively nudging Lexie towards healing. Thankyou ALL for being there. A trip back to Ladysmith is planned for Lexie for closer observations and mending.