Trip Report #5:  Trinidad

Filed from Trinidad

10  40.65 N    61  38.26 W

March 15, 2005

Photo:  Monos Island to starboard

    Coming into Trinidad was not at all as we expected.  There are high green cliffs on the north side of Trinidad and on Monos Island - not a palm tree or a beach in sight.  The passage between the mainland and Monos Island is a slim, deep funnel between the two bodies of land.  

Photo:  The passage between mainland Trinidad and Monos Island

    We were heading to Chaguaramas Bay, where most of the marinas, boat building yards, and a host of marine services can be found. We had planned on stopping at an anchorage on Monos Island to get some sleep and a swim before going in to Chaguaramas to Customs.  But after reading the guide book's section on regulations, we found that we were not permitted to anchor anywhere before going through Customs.  So, on we went to the Customs Dock at the lighthouse at Crews Inn at the head of the bay. 

    The Customs Dock was occupied by two sailboats and we hovered in the area for half an hour before a friendly soul advised us that we could be circling for a day or two, and that we had best go to the designated anchorage in the middle of the bay and come in by dinghy, which we did.  We were required to go to Immigration first after which we brought our papers to Customs.  All of the proceedings were done in a relaxed and very friendly manner.  We paid $50TT, about $9US for a 3-month renewable visa.  We were fortunate that we arrived during normal business hours.  Customs is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but overtime charges are about $45US.  We went out to the boat and settled in for an early evening.  It was great to be here and watch the sun go down over Gasparillo Island.

Photo:  Sundown in Chagauramas Bay, Gasparillo Island  visible in the center

    Chagauramas was a large American military base during WWII with over 30,000 Americans based here.  Although there are major shipyards and facilities here, a large area of Chagauramas is a national park and economic activities try to maintain an eco-friendly approach.  We were here to find a suitable yard to put Starboard Home on the hard and to contract with some workmen for some projects we would like to do.  So we set to work looking at the various yards.  Power Boat was completely filled.  We liked Peake Yacht Services and Coral Cove Marina and finally decided on Coral Cove.  It had better in-the-water facilities, and a better price and was over-all a really nice place.

Photo:  From the anchorage in Chagauramas Bay looking toward the head of the bay

    The best thing about Coral Cove is that we met Eric and Carleen, crew of the Island Packet 38, Island Time.  We had talked with them twice a day on the Atlantic Crossing.  They started a day or two after we did and were part of the SSB net in which we and 14 to 18 other boats participated on 8104 mHz every morning and evening.  We passed some email messages to their friends, including the Gittlemans, great people that we think we should meet in person some day.  It was really great to meet Eric and Carleen after sharing the unique experience of crossing an ocean with them.

Photo:  Eric & Carleen on Island Time, Coral Cove Marina, Chagauramas, Trinidad

    Trinidad is a very yacht-friendly place.  Aside from the fact that both commercial shipping and cruisers can get any type of needed work done and done well at a good price, there is a very large and very social cruising community here.  There is an active cruisers' net on VHF radio channel 68 and community events are announced daily.  Tours, dominos and card games of all sorts, barbecues and shark bakes, special celebrations, shopping trips and trips into Port of Spain to the movies are examples of events regularly announced.  At Coral Cove, there is a small pool and a shady gazebo where cruisers can gather at the end of a work day.  Every Tuesday morning, there is a "boat maintenance" net, where cruisers can bring up questions about maintenance problems, sourcing supplies and equipment, or getting recommendations for contractors.

    We're sorry about the quality of our pictures recently.  We lost our best digital camera when our dinghy got swamped in a beach landing on St. Lucia that was worthy of a "Hawaii 5-0" episode.

    We will leave Starboard Home on the hard here at Coral Cove, Trinidad, and go home for the summer, a reversal of our usual sailing season.  And we will return to sail here in the winter.  We will be back here in the Fall if not before - with a new digital camera. 

                     73s,88s, love & hugs,

                     Peg & Tom

                     s/v Starboard Home

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