Maxi Taxi–Trinidad

 

Dearest friends,

Sorry again for the rather long period of not posting anything on the blog… But anyway, the good news is that there is lots to write about. For instance about the Maxi Taxi phenomena in Trinidad.. To get around in Port of Spain, public transport has a whole new meaning…They are called the Maxi Taxi.. Van’s (some new, others old and beat up, some with others without air-conditioning) drive around, and where ever you are, just signal, and the driver will pull over and you can get in… only if there is a seat available… and for say 4 TT (Trinidad&Tobago dollars) you get from Chaguaramas to down town..Fast, safe and public… a shared taxi ride… and cheap.. makes all sense to me.. so, why  I have never seen this in other places… (I mean, i know in Brazil there is such a thing in the big cities, but are kind of sort of illegal).. Anyway, i found it a good and fun way to get around.

All the best

Pieter

What is the difference?

Dear friends,

Onda Boa still in Trinidad, enjoying the place, and a little bit winding down, as the last couple of months have been hectic.

Yesterday, had the chance to test the newly installed water maker (Spectra Ventura 150 www.spectrawatermakers.com). The water production is actualy quiet simple. I wont go into the tech details.. (check their site). So, fresh water is produced at a 30-40 litre/hour rate, using only 9 amps of electricity (of the 12 V battery bank), and the batteries are charged with the 5 solar panels who supply an adequate amount of energy.

So, “green” water on board !

The difference is that the glass on the right is normal sea water, and the glass on the left is fresh filtered water, ready to drink… Actualy the filter process (reversed osmosis.. check google) is so powerful it takes out all minerals.. so the water is “cleaner” compared with mineral water (hence the name mineral water)..the water tastes sort of bland, actualy without any taste… You have to love modern technology..

This is just outside Chaguaramas bay… lovely.. and in the background the Venezuelan peninsula, it does remind of Ilha Grande and Paraty  (Brazil) does it not?

Take care and all the best

Almost ready…

Dear Friends,
From a hot and steamy Trinidad, some pics to show what has been done so far… A big thanks to my friend Rodrigo, great support, help, and solutions…
Hopefully the Onda Boa can go back into the water this wednesday…
Check it out, here is the new installed Spectra WaterMaker

It runs of 12 V, and produces aprox 40 liters/hour, fresh water out of the seawater and in order to have enough energy to do this,   two more solar panels (now 5 in total) have been installed.

Also, the two halyards (of the main sail and the genaker sail) have been replaced

Now, Onda Boa starts looking like new..

Almost every day, visiting the nautical gear shops (spending $$ on equipements, parts and so on), working in the tropical heat, boat getting dirty (dust) and looking like a mess (despite the efforts to keep everything clean..) I am done with being on the land, and even Lucky seems to ask.. Are we finished yet….??

Stay tuned for more updates…
All the best

“I do not belong here….”

Dear friends,
This must be Onda Boa thinking… In a minute I will tell and show you why…

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