Left Rodney Bay after 10 weeks of great times. I could write a book about marina living but that is for another time. I had left an advert in Le Marin, Martinique for crew to help me up to Guadeloupe. I thought it would be fun and some company as I was a little down after JB went home. So I had a call from Patrick and Patricia, a young Swiss/German couple looking for a ride. They arrived on Wednesday afternoon and settled in fine (once they had stored their kite surfing stuff). Departed Thursday 11 February and a good beam reach in 20 knots back to Martinique, but this time to a mooring in Petite Anse d’Arlet. The customs office was without electricity so unable to check in. A swim and supper on shore then off early up the coast to St Pierre where I was able to check out! One morning you are in France using Euros and the afternoon in another country using dollars. Very confusing. Anchored off the town dock in St Pierre and Patrick dived down to find we had snagged, so re-anchored and all well until a local catamaran wanted to park by us next morning so we made a quick exit. Excellent dinner at Le Tamaya. St Pierre, known as the Paris of the Caribbean at the time, was destroyed in the 1902 volcanic eruption that killed all but 2 (one Cyparis, imprisoned for murder was saved by the thick gaol walls) of the 29,933 residence along with 12 ships in the bay. North to the sombre, but friendly, Dominica. SeaCat helped us with a slightly dodgy mooring in Roseau and to clear in and out of customs on Sunday morning as the cruise ship was in. Then onwards and upwards to Portsmouth at the top of Dominica. Here we joined the legendary PAYS (Portsmouth Association of Yacht Services) Sunday night BBQ with plenty of rum punch and dancing. Rather slow the next day for a trip up the Indian River organised by Eddison from PAYS. Tuesday off past Fort Shirley and back to France in the shape of Les Saintes (discovered by Columbus on All Saints Day 1493). We had to anchor and a long dingy ride for dinner but managed to find a good mooring near the town on Wednesday and Pat and Pat went off exploring on a scooter. Breezy night with some rain then a rather slow journey up wind to Pointe-a Pitre, the capital of Guadeloupe where we found a quiet berth in the Marina Bas-du-Fort. The guys jumped ship for their last few days and I settled down to some R & R.
My highlights
Rodney Bay
Lobster supper at Friday Jump-Up in Gros Islet.
Patricia and Patrick
Petite Anse d’Arlet
St Pierre coastline
Roseau, Dominica.
Portsmouth, Dominica.
The Legendary PAYS BBQ in Portsmouth.
Out and about.
PAYS boats looking out to moorings from Sandy,s.
Indian River trip
Calypso's hut as featured in Pirates of the Caribbean II.
Yellow crested crane.
Iguana up a tree.
Fort Shirley leaving Dominica early.
Magnificent Frigate birds following a fishing boat
Les Saintes anchorage (pelican on a boat).
Spartacus
Ashore from the anchorage.
