IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
IT'S A DOGS LIFE
SAILING AROUND THE WORLD WITH SPIRIT OF ARGO
Sint Maarten/Saint Martin

Sint Maarten – Fitting a new solar panel and ducking planes

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The Dutch/French divided island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin is duty-free in the hopes of attracting tourism and the yachting trade.

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This has been very successful for them.  The Lagoon is full of super yachts from everywhere.

Driving around the place can give you a serious 'inferiority complex'.
Driving around the place can give you a serious ‘inferiority complex’.
But the Lagoon is large and a huge number of yachts find a place to anchor outside of the marinas
But the Lagoon is large and a huge number of yachts find a place to anchor outside of the marinas
Duty free status means you will feel inclined to check up on the deals that can be found.
Duty free status means you will feel inclined to check up on the deals that can be found.
Just about anything you need for your boat is only a dingy ride away
Just about anything you need for your boat is only a dingy ride away

The humans were ‘holding out’ until we got to the States to fit more solar panels because of the cost and availability of raw materials to build frames.    They found both were available here at a very reasonable cost.

Sooooo…..underestimating the time and energy required…the humans decided to upgrade their available energy supply.

Before leaving the UK the humans had fitted two new 150W (12V) panels to the radar arch.
Before leaving the UK the humans had fitted two new 150W (12V) panels to the radar arch.
They moved the old two 80W (12V) solar panels onto the dingy davits. It was an OK idea, but the panels where over shadowed by the 150W panels for the first half of the day/
They moved the old two 80W (12V) solar panels onto the dingy davits. It was an OK idea, but the panels where over shadowed by the 150W panels for the first half of the day

Unless they got some good wind, for the KISS wind generator, this system never fully met our energy needs.  To avoid running a generator regularly the humans had given up on the freezer.  Alternator and regulator problems also did not help.  They dreamed of being able to stock up on frozen foods….but most importantly….they really missed having ice in their SUNDOWNERS.

The humans removed the two 80W (12V) panels and replaced it with a big 250W (24V) and fitted this onto the dingy davits instead.
The humans removed the two 80W (12V) panels and replaced it with a big 250W (24V) and fitted this onto the dingy davits instead.
They moved the 80W (12V) panels to the stern sides of the boat.
They moved the 80W (12V) panels to the stern sides of the boat.

 

They built a frame, to strengthen the 150W (12V) panels and moved them right forward so they would not overshadow the new panel on the davits
They built a frame, to strengthen the 150W (12V) panels and moved them right forward so they would not overshadow the new panel on the davits

 

Of course, the solar panels are only half the project. You have to now run wiring through the deck and boat
Of course, the solar panels are only half the project. You have to now run wiring through the deck and boat
And do not forget the expensive regulators that stop your batteries from over charging
And do not forget the expensive regulators that stop your batteries from over charging

How many hours of hard work, frame designing, and wiring their pockets are quite a bit lighter, but they have ICE.

What was I doing while they worked so hard?

I was just hanging out on the boat anchored in Simpson Bay
I was just hanging out on the boat anchored in Simpson Bay
Watching the super yachts coming and going
Watching the super yachts coming and going
Some I would consider peeing on
Some I thought had an incredible ‘pee-able’ surface area
I could also watch very silly human pursuits
I could also watch very silly human pursuits
As long as I have a beach a short kayak away, I am content
As long as I have a beach a short kayak away, I am content

But life can not be all work and no play, so I made the humans take a day off and visit one of Sint Maarten’s most famous beaches.

All of Sint Maarten's beaches are wonderful, but one has a bit of a twist.
All of Sint Maarten’s beaches are wonderful, but one has a bit of a twist.
This beach is right at the end of the airport runway
This beach is right at the end of the airport runway

 

Enthusiasts can have planes fly in right over their heads
Enthusiasts can have planes fly in right over their heads
The runway is latterly over the road from the beach. Even the car traffic stops when planes are coming in.
The runway is litterly over the road from the beach. Even the car traffic stops when planes are coming in.
Large planes, that need more runway to stop, come in very low over the beach, to everyone's thrill.
Large planes, that need more runway to stop, come in very low over the beach, to everyone’s thrill.

 

But it is the take off engine blasts that attracts the thrill seekers
But it is the take off engine blasts that attracts the thrill seekers
Despite warnings all along the fence
Despite warnings all along the fence and on the beach
Some people do not get the 'hint'
Some people do not get the ‘hint’
Instead these people actually get up close and hang off the fence
Instead these people actually get up close and hang off the fence
As the planes reeve up their engines to get off the short island runway, even the beach gets a blast
As the planes reeve up their engines to get off the short island runway, even the beach gets a blast
A stupid thing to do? Well of course one of the humans had to try it.
A stupid thing to do? Well of course one of the humans had to try it with friends before they left the beach
She got more then she expected when an American Airlines pilot decided to give the crowd a 'show to remember'. His 'pre-blast off' wave should have warned them.
She got more than she expected when an American Airlines pilot decided to give the crowd a ‘show to remember’. His ‘pre-blast off’ wave should have warned them.  They all survived uninjured.
Unfortunately her glasses did not far well. Stupid human!
Unfortunately her glasses did not far well. Stupid human!

After the wee break it was back to work for the humans.

We have Nana and Granddad coming to the British Virgin Islands.  I have sent the humans off to stock up on food and supplies, as I heard they are very expensive there.

Simpson Bay lifting bridge
Simpson Bay lifting bridge

We have a couple of days to stow these, with 100s of rolls of toilet paper, as we have lots of company over the next few weeks.

At least we have a freezer now to help with the stocking up.

I know the humans would have liked to explore more of the island, but there is never enough time, even when you are unemployed.  They are also saying goodbye to many fellow sailors who do not travel any further North of here or are planning to sail back to Europe soon.

I will warn other sailors intending to ‘cruise’, you will never have enough energy!  What ever you think your energy consumption will be, double it, then decide what you are going to do to produce that.  But do not worry too much.  Technology is always improving and the cost of solar panels is always dropping.

I guess we will be in the BVIs when you here from us next.

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