14 June Serendipity

Two weeks ago we contacted our good friends on Hoodwinked II. Earlier in the year they mentioned they intended to put Hoodwinked on the hard in Grenada and fly home to the UK for a while. Now that we were in Grenada we wondered if it would it be possible to see them before they left and sent a message? They replied they were in Martinique concluding some upgrades to the boat and would be in Grenada in a couple of weeks. Great. We would meet up once more.

While we weren't socialising for the last three months we have been struggling with the logistics of importing a replacement washing machine. Our original, a compact front loader made in Austria has, after many, many years of service, developed an irreparable fault. Due to the limited space, and requiring 220v, the only possible replacement for us (that we found) is from the original manufacturer in Switzerland, a Soba Babynova.

On the internet we'd found a supplier in the UK. Getting it from there to here was either air freight at a cost greater than the machine or road freight to Southampton and then a Geest Lines ship to St Georges. Or. We found one in stock at Le Ship chandlers in Martinique. This washing machine was fitted in Amels up to 2000 and is now fitted in selected Lagoon catamarans. So it's a French thing. Although Martinique is just a days' sail north of Grenada, currently there are no freight ships sailing between the islands. Air freight is an option with the cost being greater than the purchase price. We considered our options to either sail up now, or in November when we hope borders would be ajar. Then we could also collect a new main furling motor we want from the Amel agent nearby. However, at this time Martinique is only allowing entry to yachts requiring repairs...then there would be applying for re-entry to Grenada.

These were ideas running in the background when we were messaging our friends who happened to be on the dock within 100m of both the chandlery and the Amel shop. Could we dare to ask our friends for a really big favour? We dared to ask the question and they generously said 'yes'. I can't believe our fortune to have such wonderful friends.

The plan to minimise their inconvenience is for us to rendezvous with them in Carriacou as they complete quarantine and them we'll take them out for a special dinner.