Well Folks.......I've decided to do my best given I'm out sailing & don't have time or tools to do any fancy stuff. But want to make sure report is timely.........so here goes.

Title = Stuff happens .........or as my crew mentioned to me last night on the phone after a week of reflection = We Persevered.......which I'm not sure is a great way to spend a vacation but it's mostly accurate.

Flights:
I've stopped crazy flying schedules a few years ago, so I now break up my travel in order to stay rested in some way.
I started from the west coast on 5/15 with a trip SFO to CLT via DFW on AA. 1st leg to DFW was perfect...layover 3 hrs <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />.....then AA took connecting plane(MD-80) away from gate as we were about to board......followed by 2.5 hrs of circus with promises/bad info/etc about rteplacement. I arrived in CLT at midnight edt...so there went my effort to stay rested.......Sat 5/17 USair flight with crew to Barbados (BGI) was perfect.....connect to Liat in BGI was easy even with 2+ hrs layover........Liat flight was packed....no assigned seats no matter what your boarding pass says.....so it's musical chairs......not one open seat. plane seemed older & was still labeled Caribbean Star (which Liat took over)......noise & bumps all the way to SVD....luckily short flight........but local passengers were not shy about rushing on & off plane and jumping lines in Immigration & Customs.......which is very tiny in SVD.

5/29 Liat flight back to BGI was easy........1/2 full plane, quick flight, on time, a/c in waiting area......
5/31 USair flight to CLT - took off on time......and then slowed down quickly as we started to climb <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />
never a good sign..........back to BGI.......2.5 hrs trying to solve electronic problem in cockpit....with us sitting on plane........flight canceled........It will take a whole separate thread to explain circus that ensued needless to say....we took same plane back to CLT the next day arriving after 2pm............which wiped out R & R day planned before I jumped back to Carib for my other long distance sailing trip.
So all in all............stuff happens <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Hotels:
5/17 thru 5/19 = Sunsail Lagoon Hotel
The main reason for the choice was location since we were chartering with Sunsail. On that count it was perfect.
We were aware the hotel is "dated" which Sunsail-SVG mentioned when I made the reservation. But with the location & reasonable price, we decided to book.
I was looking forward to a restful 1st night after late night on 5/15, busy 5/16 helping crew with her last minute details and early rise for flights to SVD. Of course, the invite to the night of music & dance upon arrival should have tipped us off. At 9pm the loud music started & it did not end until after midnight followed by loud conversation & drinking at the bar till after 3am followed by barking dogs (even with ear plugs)...........otherwise it was a quiet night. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/hammer.gif" alt="" />
Bed #1 was not good = worn out / no support mattress. Bed #2 was much better the 2nd night.........when it was just halyards clanging.....ah, music to the ears. All in all, basic hotel.....needs a serious upgrade/update, but clean & nice staff.

5/29 thru 5/31 - The Crane in Barbados.........not as great as they think they are.
We like to find a "nicer" place post sail/charter to wash off the salt & pamper ourselves before we head back home. Some years it has been great & other times we missed the mark. I tried to rent a small villa/condo for 2 nights in Barbados bust was unsuccessful........so I went with a special deal (stay in bldg near construction at a reduced rate)at the Crane which is advertised as a 4+ star hotel/private residence resort.
The reality does not meet the advertisement. The location is spectacular on the southeast coast of Barbados overlooking the sea. Nice beach area, wonderful large multi tiered pool layout and well kept grounds.
Large construction project going on which will at least double the size of the place......which I'm not sure will help their weaknesses.
We were in a small private residence bldg...Room #851B. Very nicely appointed throughout........ It ends there.
#1 problem = Air Conditioning......It was 81+ degrees with humidity when we entered the room & was 76 degrees when we checked out 2 days later with rooms like the bathroom still in the 80s/humid..........I will not go into efforts to solve this problem but the staff just fell on their face <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" /> including offering me another 80+ degree room in the same bldg..............at one point they mentioned that I should not expect USA standard of cooling.....huh??? this is a very expensive 4+ star resort (their advertisement) that attracts customers from all over the world......don't think my expectations were out of line.

The Charter Boat
This was my 5th Sunsail chater in so may years in 5 different Caribbean bases. The SVG base is large with lots of boats & staff.
We chartered a Jeanneau 35 monohull for several reasons which really should not matter in this story. We were given a 5 yr old sample named Sol Y Luna. It is definitely showing its age & need of more serious maintenance
We wanted to get off to an early start (you have to sleep aboard the 1st night anyway) on day 1. So we did the chart briefing on Sunday (thanks sunsail) and were available mid-afternoon for boat checkout. The boat checkout was faster (not as detailed) as it should have been even when we attempted to slow him down. We could not test windlass because the anchor/rode was removed for "repairs". The excess bilge water was just shrugged away (more on that later) and it kinda went on that way as this gentleman was looking at his watch more than us.
So we loaded our stuff on, stowed our provisions that we bought in town & from Sunsail. We then did our own boat inspection, testing, etc even using TTOL checklist * others I have. Created a list for the am discussion with base mgr who was not there that 1st day. Sleep aboard was fine.

The Charter Boat Problems:
I'll skip the small stuff as life is too short. But needless to say, everyday something new was discovered.
The biggest problems:
1) Packing Gland - In this case, it appeared to be a dripless version but a few drips were still part of this design. After complaints about excess bilge water to the mgr early 8am ish (we wanted to leave by 9am) A mechanic (very good & nice man named Jerome) was quickly assigned and after a few minutes informed us that the part was worn and needed to be replaced. Why we were part of the discovery team when the amount of water in the bilge was the most I have ever seen on any larger ( not a dinghy/smaller keelboat that takes water over the deck during spirited <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" /> sailing) boat......and stayed that way all week. I never have to run the bilge pump multiple times daily.
He told us the replacement would take 1.5 hrs approx. That turned out to be optimistic. I'll skip the rest of the story (there was a diver involved to help with shaft/prop movement) but we did not start our "early" departure until 1:30pm....1330 for you sailors. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" /> No test drive was done and luckily the gland, shaft and prop all stayed attached during the next 9 days.....along with new bilge water but you don't want to hear more do You??? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
2) Refrigeration - small detail in hot Caribbean. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
After being on shore power with perfect refrig operation, we headed out feeling that our provisions would be fine. That feeling lasted until the 2nd am in Bequia when I discovered that the frig compressor would not run. I did all the trouble shooting then called the base. They dispatched a mechanic (Jerome again) via speedboat the 8 miles to Admiralty bay. We went off to the Turtle santuary & some other stops while he worked on the boat. We returned to find note that all was well......not exactly. It would not work for us. We called again. There was some disbelief on the Sunsail end but in the end......Jerome returned via speedboat that afternoon with more tools & gear. In the end, they agreed it was broken & no solution was found very late that afternoon. After a discussion with base mgr & than my crew, we chose to go with ice the rest of the way. We did not want to spend our vacation time with Sunsail mechanics (no matter how nice they were) & telephone calls to the base everyday. Sunsail agreed to refund the ice expenses.......They did give it the 'ol college try but it never worked.
3) Anchor & Rode - Why it was removed at the last minute & not replaced until we followed up several times including after the base mgr told a worker right in front of us to fix (takes 15 mins at most) immediately...is a mystery. The anchor & shackle were good including new safety wiring but I questioned the 120' of chain as being too short. It was met with shrugs. I would have liked at least 150-175' just in case I needed to be in deeper water in bad weather. It was just the effort & follow up by us that seemed just plain crazy.

In case You have not noticed, I'm doing this by multiple edits............I'm also running out of time as my Captain has announced we are heading back out to sea (24 hr break is over at this lovely marina).......so off to sail the night away starting at 4pm.

But I'll try to add one more section.......how about some fun stuff...... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

Sailing Itinerary:
5/20 & 5/21- Blue Lagoon to Bequia - Admiralty Bay
We took a mooring from African who was recommended by a sailing friend & was patroling the outer bay.....for 2 nights $40ec @ night.......I was tired & frustrated by boat problems plus there were lots of boats in the bay that afternoon. If I had to do it again, I might have looked for an anchoring spot which I did the next time thru.
5/22 -Departed early for Tobago Cays - Nice long sail. Arrived with good light for shallow stuff........at least 50 boats. We anchored toward the south of the gang with winds bet 17-20kts. Stayed at Cays for 3 nights but we did move after 1st night due to "rough water" further north behind Baradel (sp-don't have in front of me now) but just off area with buoys marking swim/snorkle/turtle area.
5/25 - Sailed to Union for water & provisions as we were told stores open till noon.....NOT. We got water & ice at Anchorage Yacht club...and just a few things at Lambi's store while the people sat with lights out watching cricket match...then we got produce from cute very sales oriented young lady running stand. Clifton was very bumpy so we decided to leave & headed to mayreau - Saline.
5/26 Went to Salt Whistle Bay
5/27 - Sailed to Mustique.......spitited sailing north of Canoaun as winds & seas were definitely picking up.
5/28 - Sailed back to Bequia....wanted to stop at friendship 7 petite nevis but north of Mustique the winds & seas were even bigger than the day before so I decided it was better to head directly to Admiralty Bay...smart move given that the winds kept building 22-26+++kts and seas were matching.
5/29 - Departed Admiralty bay with reefed main for motor sail to Blue Lagoon........Bequia Channel was in full bloom <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
5/