GTFOplan #107: Docking in 20-Knot Gusts: "Warranty Bay," Grenada

IN THIS VIDEO: After a rough passage to Grenada that caused Ann to get sick, we take care of more boat projects while we wait for warranty work. We find hidden treasures behind the sliding door, and Dennis is electrician extraordinaire and hard wires LED lights in the salon so we can always find our boat at night. Party on GoTFO??! Ann makes an innuendo asking if the Roku is really our primary source of entertainment. As we explore Grenada, Dennis offers water to a wandering dog - so sweet! Ann catches a taxi to customs with James, another captain getting work done in Grenada. She meets the daughter of the woman who will receive Ann's old sewing machine - so heart-warming and reminder that this journey is really about the people you meet and making a positive impact. Learn how to distinguish a legitimate taxi from a fake. Ann is temporarily stranded on the dock after retuning from customs. After trying to hail Dennis on the VHF, she does her Hokie WOOT to get his attention and then he comes to her rescue with the dinghy. Phew! Ann and Dennis explore Hog Island with Schatzi, enjoying the shady path which enables Schatzi to do a longer walk in the heat. However she flags and has to be carried for the remainder of the walk. We explore another part of Grenada and then enjoy a wonderful dinner with fellow Balance owners, Vean and Jessica. Next up, it's grooming time, not just for Schatzi but Dennis as well. Later that night, we enjoy the Sunday night Roger's beach party on Hog Island. Then for welding, we have to dock GoTFO?? in 20 knot gusts along a cement pier. Dennis does an amazing job at the helm so we dock and un-dock with zero damage to GoTFO??. CURRENT LOCATION: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/SV-GTFO/ ABOUT OUR CATAMARAN: We love our new Balance 482 - it's a perfect size for a cruising couple to handle and is a great "balance" of performance and comfort. One of our favorite features is the excellent ventilation since we mostly live as "hookers" (aka at anchor) where the boat automatically turns into the wind so we stay cool and we don't need to battle mold. We also have starlink for easy off-grid life. Our 2400 watt solar panel array also means we rarely need to run an engine to charge our batteries. ABOUT US: We saved for a our future boat, sold everything that we owned, and shipped the rest in a container to Cape Town, South Africa. We then flew there and explored South Africa by way of a safari and touring Cape Town before moving aboard our boat. We then sailed to Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Fernando de Naronha (Brazil), Martinique, Sint Maarten (Dutch and French side), the US Virgin Islands (Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas), the British Virgin Islands (Anegada, Norman Island, Jost van Dyke, and Anegada), The Bahamas (Inagua, Crooked Island, Long Island, George Town, Staniel Cay, the Exumas, and Eleuthera). We then sailed back to the United States, making landfall in Cape Canaveral, Florida. From there our destinations are endless! Both Dennis and Ann grew up military brats with Army fathers. Dennis (the Colonel) served 30 years in the US Army and his retirement pension helped us retire in our 50s. Ann (the ship's Captain) wrote Test Automation in Python and Java. Dennis and Ann met on Match.com where Ann had in her profile "Do you want to sail the world with me?" Ann easily brought Dennis into sailing, and he loved the GTFOplan of retiring early and sailing the world. After many years of saving, living on one income but earning two, and cutting back on everything possible, they saved enough to buy a Balance 482. Follow them as they get real about boat life and all the hassles of buying a new boat because we all know N.E.W. means Not Everything Works. Kisses, Ann & Dennis Twitter: @GTFOplan Facebook: https://facebook.com/anndennis.snellikin.3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtfoplan/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/gtfoplan Email: gtfoplan@gmail.com