Pisces 615: Simpson Bay Marina, Sint Maarten, West Indies. Friday 1 April 2016.

Finally left Jolly Harbour on 20 March with great memories. SE force 5 but sunny and brisk sail under partly furled genoa up to Charlestown, Nevis. Picked up a buoy and pumped up the dingy as a huge cruise ship started to unload passengers. This meant that the dingy dock was closed so went alongside a very dodge fisheman’s wharf and had to wait ages for customs. Pretty town though but I picked up some provisions and scuttled back to Pisces for supper. Met with a Dutch chap while waiting for customs who recommended Oualie beach in the north of Nevis so the next day found me there. Dived on the anchor to find it close to an old mooring chain so re-anchored in 15 feet of crystal clear water with fish and turtles all around. Nice dinner ashore and quiet night. Departed 22 March for Frigate Bay in St Kitts. However, very rolly as the wind has gone round to SE so backtracked to White House Bay which was lovely. Another good dinner ashore. Next day north to Telca Marina. Not really a marina more of a boatyard with goats! Moored on a horrid concrete wall which chewed up one of my mooring warps. Uncomfortable night and a hard climb up to Fort Brimstone, but worth it. I had to check out with customs at the yard the next morning and was informed that I had to go to the police station in Sandy Point for immigration. A very fast bus ride had me there and back in 40 minutes. Left St Kitts for Dutch Oranjested Baai, St Eustatius (Statia) on 24 and picked up a mooring. Very interesting as full of oil tankers and tugs, quite unlike any other place I’ve seen. Dinner in the Cool Corner Cafe. I joined in a Lime Fish fry tasting at the National Marine Park which was delicious and free (except for the $20 park fee)! Very wet but fast and rather wonderful sail up to Sint Maarten on 26 March. Picked up an old looking buoy overnight (but looked OK when I dived on it) then through the bridge followed by a superyacht the next morning (Easter Sunday) and snug in Simpson Bay Marina for a few days. (the helmsman on the superyacht said, ‘lovely 32’ and I replied, ‘lovely 132’.

Highlights:

Nevis (twinned with St Kitts)