Enough fun in Puerto Rico.
S/Y Waterman left for Beef Island (BVI’s). We sailed for Culebra for a couple of days and were spotted by S/Y Liahona!- what a joy to have Facebook recording our movements!
Saturday 23rd sailed from Culebra to Charlotte Amelie and who should be there but S/Y Allegro! We stayed just a couple of nights as time is getting short for our rendezvous in St Martin. Still we made time for a trip to K-Mart where Malcolm found a new pair of deck shoes and a cartridge for the printer; maybe it doesn’t like all the bouncing around on upwind sailing? I’m sure they are not made with Yachties in mind! We stop for a night at Christmas Cove but we see no familiar faces, so, next day we sign out at St John (Cruze Bay) and sail for St Martin.
St Martin. Wednesday 27th February
Our friends Simon & Nel are already here and making preparations to race in the Heineken Regatta. They will crew aboard S/Y Biba who came across with the ARC earlier this year. We take the rib out into the bay to watch the start and then have a quick lunch before heading off to the Dutch side to see them come through the bridge as they return. So I do get a brief afternoon on the beach and an Indian meal to finish the day.
and then have a quick lunch before heading off to the Dutch side to see them come through the bridge as they return. This is S/Y Biba first through the bridge. So I do get a brief afternoon on the beach and an Indian meal to finish the day.
...and this is the fleet
Another day another dollar...we chill out shopping for cheap French wine and cheese, we have lived on freshly baked baguette most of the week. Almost ready to set sail again but before we do an evening waiting at the Heineken Regatta party event for Simon and Nel. A quick drink amidst deafening noise and we all decide to call it a day. We arrange to meet properly on Friday when we have lunch at the Yacht club followed by a trip to Annas’ new apartment, which has an astounding view of St Barths’ -from the pool! Then back to Lagoonies for fish and chips and more deafening live music from a very good band.
Saturday I phone mum to wish her a happy mothers day and realise I have the wrong day! Ooops. Then mindless tedium cleaning and polishing while the washing machine is on. Malcolm goes out to do a reccy of the water conditions and a bit more shopping, only to get back and say it will be too rough to leave the lagoon tomorrow due to the surge. We both end up texting Paul & Jane to say we will be delayed.
Monday, well we need water, insufficient rain to top up the tanks, so we motor to the dock only to find there is a queue! Suffice to say that we miss the Dutch Bridge by 10-15 minutes! Never mind, still time to check book-swaps at The Business Point, have lunch and Hey! just as we are about to raise the Rib who should arrive complete with beers...Jacky and Ian (S/Y Blackthorn Lady)- so much to catch up on, but we do eventually raise the Rib and make the 16.00 bridge opening! We have a pleasant evening sail to St Barths, not too much swell and an even better early night!
Sorry if you got here before I was finished!
