Honduras, Roatan, West End – Time to celebrate a little

OK, so you know the humans have had a string of bad luck there.

Well it seems things are turning around for them.

The humans managed to re-rig the rope and some more pipe, and with the help of Ken off the s/v Free Spirit, they got the anchor back up despite the damage to the bow roller….and all the missing pieces.

 

There is no adverse weather predicted for the week, so the humans are safe tied to a buoy in the beautiful anchorage of West End on the island of Roatan.

Should the weather ‘turn’, both the Marinas in French harbor have space to take the boat.

And the humans have managed to see a welder and arrange to have the bow roller repaired.  Of course the first step is getting the darn thing off.

STEP ONE – GETTING THE ANCHOR OFF

Getting the anchor off is not such an easy feet, as it is very, very heavy.  33kg to be exact.  Drop that thing and you can do some serious damage.  The bow roller has a cross bar to stop the anchor being driven onto the boat in rough seas.  This means the anchor must fall forward to be removed.

The humans used their ‘one remaining’ forward line.  As you may remember the rest of the forward lines have either been pulled through or are trapped up the top of the mast.  The line was tied to the anchor at one end and a winch at the other end.  The windlass (anchor chain winch) was released and the anchor was slowing lowered into the dingy onto a bed of old life jackets.

Released from the chain the anchor was brought around to the side of the boat, level with the mast, and winched back up and over the guard rails onto the deck.

STEP TWO – GET THE BOW ROLLER OFF

With the anchor off all the bolts to release the bow roller were free to attack.  The local engine mechanic, and friend of the welder, came aboard to help remove the bow roller and deliver it.

Victor (3152-8616 ) lives locally and is a man that will baffle you with all his qualifications.  He knows everyone on the island, speaks fluent English and loves helping out cruisers.

After climbing into the chain locker and squeezing themselves over the pile of chain, the humans managed to get the bow roller off.  A little rain cover and a trip back to shore with everything and the bow roller is in the welders hands.

With the bow roller ‘on the mend’ the humans finally had a chance to relax a bit and enjoy some of the delights of West End.

Not too long of a break as there are still a few more things to fix:

• outboard is seized onto the dingy
• one line needs retrieving and another needs to be re-threaded through the mask
• VHF radio in cockpit needs to be repaired
• water maker seals need to be replaced

And the list goes on, but it can not be all work and no play.

SNORKELLING

Roatan is a divers paradise.  A ring of reefs surround the island and officials, dive companies and park rangers have placed mooring balls all along the drop offs. 

Unfortunately one of my humans has been advised not to do any diving for a few more months.  That does not mean the humans can not get out for some snorkeling.

A CELEBRATATION

Also the humans have an excuse to celebrate.  It is their 21st wedding anniversary.

So they are using as an excuse to get out and explore the town of West End for delights and a little lunch.

THE TOWN OF WEST END

The town of West End is built along the beach front.  There are lots of groovy shops, restaurants, dive centres and docks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The humans had a good sniff around and settled on a lovely Thai restaurant on the waters edge to enjoy a couple of lovely bowls of soup and share some tempera squid.

They have tried many times to replicate Tom Yum soup, but never get it just right.  Better to leave it to the professionals.

Tomorrow morning I send them off to the welders to see if they can get the bow roller back.  I wonder what the promised ‘fair price’ will be?

You will just have to wait and see.

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Forgot to give you ‘way ward’ folks the way points to get into West End harbor.

THE CHANNEL INTO WEST END is well buoyed, but it is a bitch to see until you are almost on top of it.  The shallowest point we read was 2.5m in the very middle for a moment.  These three WPs give you a line up point, the middle of the channel and a safe turning point once inside.

1. N 16′ 17.755 / W 86′ 36.124   Line up
2. N 16′ 17.730 / W 86′ 36.030   The channel centre
3. N 16′ 17.664 / W 86′ 35.906    Safe point to aim for before turning parallel to the reef and finding an anchoring spot or mooring ball.

Remember the mooring balls are no longer maintained.  You tie on at your own risk.  Check the equipment and maybe add a safety line to the pin at the base of the mooring.

It is fine to anchor in the mixture of grass and sand in the area and it affords good holding for most anchor types.  Be careful of the shifting wind patterns.

West end offers little protection, and can be come dangerous, in strong north to west winds.

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