Saturday 17th. St Patrick's Day.

  Ashore quite early since we could hear the drums at 8.30!  The town was packed by 9 o’clock with visitors plus ‘sailors’ from the Cruise liner Seabourn Spirit.  Around 20 floats were displayed around the one-way system and all traffic was held up.  Plenty of noise green costumes, Heineken and frolics.  There was one pretty authentic ‘Irish’ float too.  We ate a tasty bowl of Irish Stew, for lunch, at Angry Nates, on the waterfront . Then went around Eastern end of the Island to Udall Point stopping at various viewpoints over azure blue waters.  The beaches I have to say were nothing special but the were sparsely used and most had a beach bar.
Sunday more touring, this time the Eastern end from the Salt River Ecological Park where we looked at the beach of C. Columbus second landing.  Here we met a Texan who was over to work on the closing of the oil refinery and had coffee at the Buccaneer bar in the Salt River Marina compound.  We then travelled to Cane Bay for lunch and it was here that Malcolm saw 3 squid while snorkelling, we narrowly avoided some rain.  We also watched a guy snorkelling while giving a black Labrador a piggy back.  Final destination we ended up at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge.  Here we did some more snorkelling and saw a flatfish and many other tropical fish in a new area of growing coral.
  Monday into town for shopping and petrol before we took the car back.  Stopping briefly to tell the Parks Department we intended to stay the night at Buck Island Reef. Coffee finished we motored to Buck Reef National Park and anchored.  After lunch and some adjustment in anchoring we then had the afternoon on the Underwater snorkelling trail where we saw schools of Parrot fish, a Trumpet fish and a Barracuda, eek!

San Croix March 15th ish

  Yes it was a good sail!
   We left around 4 (T time) and had Chilli for dinner a short nap for me until 10 pm when I took over the watch ‘til two in the morning.  Malcolm did his stint from 2-7.30 am then had a rest for 3 hours again.   We arrived at St Croix, Red Hook,  marina around 4 where we had a busy time coming in because it had blown up to 25 knots of wind and far too many pilot marks to drive through, Some places very shallow! Still I was cautious driving and managed to let Malcolm berth without incident.  The most expensive marina yet ! With cold showers too !  Next day a walk into town where we found out how to get an anchoring permit and dives planned.  Then we did the historic town trail.  We arrived back at the marina supermarket and paid $4 for 3 tomatoes (oh for the days when they were free at Darby Green)  Next moved ‘Piano’ out into the Gallows Harbour where it was less bumpy and cheaper.
  14th March  took a public transport bus to Freidrichstat.  Had coffee, looked around, did emails at the library while it rained, and then looked at the Museum which had exhibitions on slavery, sculpture (a local guy ‘Edney Freedom) and Island history.
Thursday we did the town trail, which began at the Old Scale House on the harbour front.  At one end of the building is the scale which was used to weigh a hogshead of sugar or Rum— the other end was the counting house  or recording room, this is now a gift shop with a very helpful salesperson who is also a local and who knows about the bus service and where to find fresh bread.  Nearby is the old Customs House which has a sweeping staircase and should house the National Park Services Office but it was being refurbished and we found the said office across the street in the onetime Danish West India & Guinea Company Warehouse.  This is where slave auctions were held up until the emancipation around 1848.  Next came the Steeple building (formerly the Lutheran Church which now holds a display of Religious documents.
  We then found the large area for Market—held on Saturdays together with the town well.  Quite nearby but the devil to pinpoint was a tiny Apothecary's shop. Just as it used to be together with a recorded history to explain its history.
  Friday we picked up a car and did the Northern half of the Island, including St Georges Botanical Gardens and village, with its fine Orchid display and various sugar mill ruins.  The scenic route around to Creque Dam and waterfall.
Enough for now tomorrow St Patricks Day !

16th March

We are fairly OK, the Fridge /freezer part has been replaced with a new system and the smaller Fridge at the back is now working again as a spare & for when we defrost the freezer. (just over £1000) St Maartin only has one place to refill gas bottles and we were fairly sure we were nearly out so went to have ours refilled only to find that their nozzle to refill European bottles at the shop has bust so more expense since we don't know if the USA (Virgin Islands) will refill it either. That's the job for today.
We had a brilliant outcome to the old outboard situation. The old Yamaha was near death and I drew the line and said to Malcolm let's get a replacement. We decided on a Tohatsu 9.8 and got it from the guy who does the sailors net here, Mike (very reputable). Well he said he would do an oil change but he is old and forgot so Malcolm took the engine out at his place to remind him when he wanted to replace the slightly worn propeller. Next thing is the replacement prop doesn't fit and doesn't look anything like the old one.... so Malcolm borrowed Mikes dinghy and takes both to Budget Marine where the sales guy finally sees the problem - we actually have an 18 H.P. With a 9.8 sticker on the back!!!!! This is great since anything over a 15 H.P. will get stolen so once again we are safe -ish.
Meanwhile we have also had time to watch the 32nd Heineken Regatta and do some of the parties afterwards with some of our friends. We get French wine here on the French side for about the same price as Ali does in France . Also fresh Baguettes and croissants too The French seem to like being part of the European community (one E =$1.32).
I have been busy making a new sun shelter for the Front end and one for over the boom, I'm using the cheap stuff I got in Morocco so don't know how long it will last. It's too windy here to try them out. I also made a wind funnel from the old canopy.
   We ended up getting a second hand American gas tank from ‘Meow’ it has been filled and given a good clean and is already in service. This week has seen the end of the stronger winds and most people are taking advantage of the great sailing conditions to head onwards.  Fair winds to Bellatrix, L’esprit de la Mer, and  Melvin who are heading for the BVI’s.  By the time you all read this we will be in San Croix (an American Island)  We are setting off tomorrow afternoon since it is a 16-24 hour sail and we want to arrive on Monday if ‘Piano’ will let us!  Fingers crossed….