On the Beach

Kalunamoo is on the hard in Trinidad getting some relatively minor work done. Hurricane Beryl is about 110 nautical miles north of Trinidad, crossing Carriacou heading west. We are “on the beach” on Long Island, NY.

During the hurricane season all eyes in the Caribbean look east for approaching storms. Cruisers make plans to haul out their boats, head north or south out of the “hurricane belt” or prepare a quick exit out of the path of an approaching storm. We have elected, other then during the two pandemic years, to keep the boat on the hard in Trinidad. Trinidad is just outside of the belt as 99+% of these storms pass north of the island even when they are in the area. Unfortunately, the Lesser Antilles islands themselves  can’t move out of the way of these storms where wind, seas and heavy rains can do major damage. Fortunately, only a few (on average 2.5 per year) storms actually affect those islands. This is understandable as the other “area” encompasses a far larger area: the entire western Caribbean, Cuba, the entire Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the East Coast of the U.S. and Bermuda. Cape Hatteras NC, still remains the number one point that receives more storms than any other point in the entire basin.     

Most cruisers who take their boat to Trinidad also take the opportunity to do boat stuff from simple M&R tasks to total refit. With little worries about tropical storms and hurricanes they take advantage of the experienced workers providing good value to their M&R budget. Kalunamoo is having some inside and outside woodwork refinished, some new aft deck cushions, fabricated and some other minor work done this year. We will probably replace the anchor chain while there also.

In the meantime we came back to New York early this year to address some medical issues. They should be completed without any lingering concerns and we should be back on board and “fit for duty” come September.

Of course, being “on the beach” here in the Northeast is a change of venue from liveaboard cruising in the Caribbean. The “local” beach is ocean beach on Fire Island but the water temperature is still too cool (upper 60’s) compared to what we are use to. But being here allows us to see family and friends “live and in person” rather than via video calls, share meals, or watch the grandkids play ball. Our range of mobility is greatly extended. While on board we use our dinghy to go a few miles while here a car can travel miles and miles to shopping restaurants and family and friends.  At times, however, I think the dinghy may be faster than the traffic on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn.

Still, we are never far from the sea or the beach here but we will be traveling up to the Adirondacks, New England, and down south before the summer is over. Sailing on “other people’s boats” is not out of the question either. A cruise on a Mississippi River Boat is planned before we head back on board Kalunamoo in Trinidad. Hopefully we will avoid any hurricane while we are here but wherever they are we hope everyone stays safe.