Trinidad 2014

Vagabund Log

Trinidad 2014

Published on Thursday, 24 April 2014 13:27 | Written by Zack & Magda van den Berg |

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Trinidad 2014

10^th March to 26^th March 2014

On Tuesday we cleared Customs in Grenada at Prickly Bay. We filed our Grenada/Trinidad float plan with the Coastguard prior to our departure (They need to know;

- Boat name

- No. of persons on board

- Brief description i.e. mono hull /catamaran /colour/size

- Estimated departure date & time

- Estimated arrival date & time as a security precaution.

(Trinidad Coastguard - by phone on +1 868 634 1476 or email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ,Grenada Coastguard - visit the coastguard in Prickly Bay, or call them on +1 473 444 1931/2)”

Wednesday morning at 3h30 we lifted our anchor. The wind was only a light breeze and with the help of the currents it was a pleasant motor sail.

Along the way dolphins came to greet us and swam in the bow wave for a while.

As we were approaching the Northern Shoreline of Trinidad we encountered the ferry from Tobago to Trinidad swooping past us at 30 knots.

Late the afternoon we passed through the narrow sea opening at the “Boca” Rip currents, standing waves and even vortexes formed as a huge amount of water had to pass through a narrow opening. After crawling slowly against the current in the Boca we welcomed the calm water in Scotland Bay where we anchored for the night. It is beautiful bays surrounded by steep hills overgrown with tropical forest. Just after sunset the bats swept over the water of the bay in hundreds looking for insects close to the water surface.

Thursday 13^th March we cleared Customs into Trinidad at Chaguaramas and could take down our yellow flag. We made an appointment with Power boats to see Donald the next morning. After inspecting the support mechanism of the Power Boats trailer and getting a much more competitive hauling out price we decided to haul Vagabund out at Power Boats. There trailer support system puts a lot less stress on Vagabund’s hull during the haul and the price is more than R3000 pm less than Peaks Marina.

Friday afternoon we departed from Chaguaramas and set sail back to Scotland Bay to spend our last weekend on the water with Vagabund for 2014. We enjoyed the view of the hills and forest filled with ample bird life. The swallows came and rested on our handrails. We saw pairs of parrots flying by. We could hear the monkeys in the trees. At dusk the fruit bats started flying again.

The quietness of the evening was disturbed by the powerboats coming in for an evening cruise playing loud music. The Saturday and Sunday the bay was filled with weekend visitors.

We make the most of our last days with Vagabund on the water.

Every morning we kayaked to where the Boco opened into the open sea. Zack tried every lure to see what the different fishes chased.

The Saturday afternoon we were able to talk to Zack’s mother with the satellite phone.

Sunday evening a disco boat arrived with even disco lights. They were the last to leave at about nine that night. The silence was back with only the voices of nature to be heard.

Monday 17^th March we left at 15h00 for Power Boats. With the fish finder marked as well as the skids it was easy for the trailer to take Vagabund out of the water. She was supported under each hull and under her belly. She was on dry ground between a lot of other boats.