Gordy, Gary and ken spent three days at various Grenada marinas getting the Grateful Red in the water for the 2013 season. A successful splash and sail to Union Island, Tobago Cay and back to Port Louis, Grenada was too eventful for pictures. The Grateful Red sail drive failed - could only go forward and only at four knots. docking at four knots draws a crowd. A bottle of Kopke port was drank after ordering a new sail drive from Sweden.

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The new Grateful Red sail drive from Sweden got hung up in St. Marteen so when Ken arrived, no sail drive, no motor and little action. Call to Volvo US. Fedex and a credit card, new sail drive in three days. With tons of help from Kyle, Garrett, Kristi and Charlie - a five day visit by instrument guru Paul and seven days of work - plus a Kyle-organized blender party - the Grateful Red was splashed at 3PM, new sail drive test run for an hour and then departure at 4PM on an overnight to Trinidad for Ken\'s birthday and Charlie\'s successful summer intern internet interview.

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Brad, Donna, Davin and Molly bought air tickets for the Trinidad Carnival Regatta....only issue was the regatta date changed. Boat was ready, crack crew was ready, and Ken and Kristine were anchored off by the sponsoring club, but no regatta. Went \"chirping\" all night long! A couple of anchor-off\'s and light wind sailing.

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High school buddy Denny, Denny\'s son and Grateful Red foredeck of the 2013 Season Scotty, Kristine and Ken motored from friendly Trinidad to the mysterious Venezuela. The Venezuela paperwork cost one large bottle of Patron tequila...the Grateful was motoring 80 kilometers up the Orinoco Delta. Great fun, traded with the Wareo Indian children, saw the pink dolphin, stayed at the Orinoco Delta Lodge - first Americans to visit in more than five years, and took a couple-day tour in the \"deep jungle\".

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Vicki joined the Scotty, Kristine and ken crew sailing to the Venezuelan Islands - Los Testigos, La Blanquilla and Margarita - supposedly Pirate infested seas. No Pirates were spotted, in fact, no sailboats spotted - only terrific places to anchor as the only boat with neighboring Venezuelan fisherman selling lobsters and fresh fish. Completed our paperwork the day before Hugo\'s demise. In Hugo\'s honor Venezuela went dry for two weeks - luckily the Grateful Red sails well stocked with alcohol for such situations.

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A successful crew change in Polomar, Venezuela. New crew Bob showed up at 2AM and Ken picked him up in the dinghy. Vicki and all her bags were checked for drugs at the airport...Vicki has that drug dealer look! Typically, the Grateful Red was not only the only American flag boat, but the only foreign flagged boat. Las Roques and Los Aves archipelagos were superior sailing, snorkeling and cruising grounds....and not another sailboat to be seen. Great Fun!

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Beth and daughter Kat joined Scotty, Kristine and Ken to cruise the ABC Islands - Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao. Paperwork was done at commercial run down ports, not much of a cruiser crowd coming to these islands. Found a slip at a high-end Bonaire resort - lots of fun, with pools and bars. After a week, arrived at the Renaissance marina in Aruba - site of the 2013 Grateful Red Party.

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Picked up a new crew member at the Aruba party - Hanna's first time on the Grateful Red is a three-overnight sail from Aruba to Santa Marta, Columbia. But the Scotty, Jack, Matt, and Ken crew has done more than a few overnights on the Grateful Red. A few paperwork issues along the way combined with a diesel tank leak and repair keeps the sailing interesting!

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Back at the beginning of the 19th Century when the Panama Canal was being constructed, the Panama government gave (forced?) the Kuna Indians the San Blas Islands as their \"reservation\". The result is the San Blas Islands are semi-autonomous from the Panama government with the Kuna\'s maintaining their life style. The Kuna style is keeping the islands development free and pristine.

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Last sail of the season with only a three person crew of Kristine, George and ken. left from Portabello - the world\'s richest port in 1500\'s with the Spanish boats laden with new world gold but now, pretty low-life. Crossed the long-line of huge boats waiting to enter the Panama canal, an overnight at Isla Escudo de Veraguas, and finally the Isla de Colon in Boca del Toros. A season ended.

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