The last trip before the BIG trip
We spent a big chunk of our summer on Pure Joy. And while she’s become our go-to holiday destination over the last year, this trip felt different. Because it was the last trip before the BIG trip.
For those of you who you who have just joined us, we will set sail on our around-the-world voyage aboard Pure Joy on January 11th 2025. We’ve used every bit of holiday since the boat was launched in July of 2023 getting to know her, getting to know each other as crew, and getting to grips with everything we need to do and bring on this big adventure.
We’ve learned SO much over the past few years (when this dream began to take shape in reality). And this summer, on this last trip before the big trip, David and I came to what we believe might be the most important realization yet:
Sailing = Problem-solving in exotic locations
To be clear, this is NOT a complaint. Sure, problem-solving can feel frustrating or scary at times. But as it turns out, it’s sometimes (eventually) fun and hilarious. And there’s a pretty great sense of satisfaction that comes with figuring it out. Together. And in exotic locations.
So what kind of ‘problems’? Here’s just a few of the more memorable challenges we stumbled across on this trip:
Getting our boat off the hard, into the water, docked and all set up to go after months away from her.
Dropping one of our suitcases in the water, never to be seen again. (Not kidding.)
Going to anchor for the first time only to find out the windless for the anchor was not working.
Struggling (a LOT) to grab the only available buoy while the anchor was not operational.
Later, while at anchor after it was fixed, getting caught on a buoy.
THEN…there was that time we got our anchor caught on a wreck in a busy, hot, undesirable location.
We’d sailed overnight from Grenada to Trinidad and were feeling great about the fair winds and smooth journey we’d enjoyed. David and I had taken alternating 2-hour shifts all night with decent speeds and not a hiccup to report. I felt a sense of confidence as we pulled in to a crowded (but mandatory) Chaguaramas Bay. David and I jointly searched for a good spot to drop anchor so that we could complete our immigration and customs requirements.
That confidence started to erode as we made a few failed attempts at anchoring, nothing quite wanting to hold. We were bringing up the anchor for about the 4th time when the windless started to struggle. I finally got the anchor to the waterline and realised the problem - a thick, heavy industrial chain was hooked on it. A neighbouring boat informed us we were right over a wreck. Lo and behold, a look at some updated charts showed us that this information was correct. (Lesson 1: Make sure you are using the most up-to-date charts when anchoring.)
We lowered the anchor in an attempt to let the chain off the hook. (Later learned lesson 2: When this happens, tie the chain to the side of the boat BEFORE lowering the anchor so that it will free itself.).
Lowering the anchor did not work. In fact - and predictably with hindsight - it only got more tangled.
David and I sat in the boiling sun, on very little sleep, and discussed our options. We’d never been in this situation before. My natural instinct was to start googling, but if you can believe it, that was no use. We called a local contact to ask for help, but it became clear that getting anyone to come out on a Sunday was not going to be easy. So we decided our best option would be for David to scuba dive down into the murky marina water to see if he could free us.
Luckily, some new friends that we’d made in Grenada who had also sailed to Trinidad overnight were just arriving into the bay as well. (Sailing Yacht Sof Sof - A LOVELY family from Israel - Avi, Meekand, Dan 10 & Lulu 5.) I asked Avi to come over to give support as David suited up to dive. Several short but nerve-wracking dives in zero-visibility water later, David managed to muscle the anchor free. He emerged from the dingy water, wriggled out of his empty tank and hopped behind the helm to steer us out of that horrible spot and into safety. Who knew I married James Bond?!
Also, it’s worth noting that some BIG winds came up the night following our getting stuck in Chaguaramas. Some large fishing vessels in the bay broke free from their anchors and took out several sailing yachts. Had we not managed to get ourselves out of there when we did, we may very well have been sitting ducks in that situation. So it was a near miss and an extra big win for Pure Joy.
After finally getting out of Chaguaramas (following the hours-long task of processing our paperwork) we found some much quieter, prettier and calmer bays of Trinidad to relax and play with our friends on Sof Sof over the next few days. Those days felt extra sweet.
Upon returning to London, everyone asks, how was your summer? How was sailing? Our reply: Fantastic! And we’re not lying. Not just because there were countless beautiful views, special sunsets and meals, smooth sailing and loads of laughs. (See pics below.) It was somehow extra special because there were problems. And we solved them.
Next up: THE BIG TRIP. Pure Joy is now back on the hard in Grenada. We’ll pick her up just after Christmas and sail her to St. Lucia. Then, the World Arc Rally kicks off on January 11th 2025!
