Forms and formalities

I can't believe the amount of paperwork which will be needed during our trip. Each country has its own rules and regulations. I'm starting to compile a folder which will contain entry requirements for each country we plan to visit, together with marina information and interesting tourist information. Trip advisor is proving to be very useful in describing places to visit. I can feel another trip to the amazon web site coming on. We have ordered more caribbean charts as well made a start on buying the pilot books. Tonight I'm going to make a start on cruising guides rather than pilot books. After all we need to know where to go to see the best that each island has to offer, be it Gran Canaria or Grenada.

Charts

This week we have been fortunate to have been lent 4 folios of charts for the Caribbean. Thank you very much to Chris and Lorraine on Somoya, who are themselves leaving Troon for the Med next week. The charts, although a few years old are still the current edition folios. They are very detailed and will be a perfect backup for the electronic chart plotters and laptop.
This part of the trip suddenly seems much closer. Using the charts and by cross referencing with the 'world cruising destinations' by Jimmy Cornell we are beginning to get a clearer picture of the sailing possibilities in the Caribbean.

Medical stuff

Ouch! Earlier this week, Steve paid a visit to the practice nurse for a couple of injections. Prior to this we had completed a travel medical form and had to list our destinations for the trip.
We have previously had hepatitis A injections so Steve has started a course of hepatitis B vaccinations and also had a typhoid injection. Next month he returns for a second Hep B injection and a booster of tetanus, diphtheria and polio.
After warning him of the possible side effects after having the injections I was surprised to find that he had no effects at all. Ha, they must all be waiting for me!
As well as the vaccinations we plan to take a comprehensive 1st aid kit with us. However we plan to keep well and stay safe.

We have on board the Ships captains medical book, which is great if you suffer from insomnia, but the St John's ambulance first aid book and the first aid at sea book are much more user friendly.

Accidents do happen and so we will take medical glue, suture material and plenty of dressings - everything from a bandaid to burns dressings. Oh yes and plenty of tubigrip for sore knees, ankles, wrists and elbows - mine probably.

For anything major we will have medical insurance.