Well, had things gone to plan, we would have been a few miles north of St. Martin by now. However, a combination of factors has meant that we have spent one more night at anchor. We really do hope to be off today (21 May 2014) though. Sometime in the mid afternoon.
One of the delaying factors was the news about a boat called Cheeky Rafiki being reported lost to the west of the Azores. Details seem to be very sketchy but it does appear that they have had to abandon the boat and take to their liferaft. It is pointless to speculate on what happened but of course our thoughts and sympathy go out to the crew of Rafiki and their families back in the UK. We only hope that there is a speedy rescue!
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Nevis, St. Martin/Maarten
This is the very end of our Caribbean adventure and we are now gearing up for the next stage. Nevis was a great adventure though we had a rather frustratingly slow sail from Antigua. The wind was directly behind us and, coupled with a rather dirty bottom, it was a very slow 14 hour sail to cover 40 miles. However, we fell in love with Nevis itself and were delighted to get there. Next time, we will spend a lot longer there.
Just a couple of photos though.
The authorities made clearing in a pleasure as they were all very friendly, especially compared with the ones at Antigua. Charlestown was a delightful capital with an excellent produce market and there was also plenty of fresh water on the quay. The scenery is spectacular as the whole island is formed from a single dormant volcano which forms a near perfect cone.
I took advantage of the clear water to do a thorough scrub of the bottom but we also enjoyed a good meal ashore in a place called Sunshine Beach Restaurant. This had the distinction of being recommended in both the Doyle cruising guide and also in our edition of the Lonely Planet for the Caribbean. Sadly, owing to pressures of having to provision, find new batteries and such like we had to spend only four days there and move on to St. Martin.
Thus, after a very slow night sail past St. Christopher, St. Eustiaus and Saba we fetched up in Marigot on the French side of the island. The chandlers for batteries are located in Dutch Sint Maarten but as you have to clear in and out of each side we will probably stay on the French side. We will however move into Simpson Bay Lagoon though as this wil make for a shorter dinghy ride to where all the yottie shopping places are. Plans are to head north for the Azores around Sunday18 assuming the weather is playing ball of course. The weather has become a bit “interesting” with a tremendous thunder storm one night though thankfully, the lightning was a reasonable distance away.
We will be leaving here for the Azores very soon but I will update before we depart!
Just a couple of photos though.
The authorities made clearing in a pleasure as they were all very friendly, especially compared with the ones at Antigua. Charlestown was a delightful capital with an excellent produce market and there was also plenty of fresh water on the quay. The scenery is spectacular as the whole island is formed from a single dormant volcano which forms a near perfect cone.
I took advantage of the clear water to do a thorough scrub of the bottom but we also enjoyed a good meal ashore in a place called Sunshine Beach Restaurant. This had the distinction of being recommended in both the Doyle cruising guide and also in our edition of the Lonely Planet for the Caribbean. Sadly, owing to pressures of having to provision, find new batteries and such like we had to spend only four days there and move on to St. Martin.
Thus, after a very slow night sail past St. Christopher, St. Eustiaus and Saba we fetched up in Marigot on the French side of the island. The chandlers for batteries are located in Dutch Sint Maarten but as you have to clear in and out of each side we will probably stay on the French side. We will however move into Simpson Bay Lagoon though as this wil make for a shorter dinghy ride to where all the yottie shopping places are. Plans are to head north for the Azores around Sunday18 assuming the weather is playing ball of course. The weather has become a bit “interesting” with a tremendous thunder storm one night though thankfully, the lightning was a reasonable distance away.
We will be leaving here for the Azores very soon but I will update before we depart!
Friday, 9 May 2014
St Martin
We have been here in St. Martin (the French side rather than the Dutch Sint Maarten). This is the final stage in our Caribbean adventure and we plan to head off for the Azores in a week or so.
We had a great time in Nevis but very little access to the Intertubes so no updates. I will try and get a proper update off before we push off across the Atlantic again.
We had a great time in Nevis but very little access to the Intertubes so no updates. I will try and get a proper update off before we push off across the Atlantic again.
Thursday, 1 May 2014
Still in Antigua
We are still in Antigua though we will be heading to Nevis (and possibly St. Christopher aka St. Kitts) tomorrow before going to St. Martin/Sint Maarten to stock up for the voyage north.
Wifi here in English Harbour and Jolly Harbour has been a bit sketchy. These are some photos and I will try and get some more boring verbiage together soon.
This is the view from our anchorage! The water here is the most incredible colour owing to the fact that the Jolly Harbour lagoon was previously a salt lagoon and there is also a lot of coral based sand around. It is however rather difficult to photograph, particularly with the sun being very high in the sky. I am going to have to practise getting out of bed early and getting the morning light for pictures!
There is quite a well marked channel which we are anchored just outside but they have some intriguing things to use as markers including beer kegs!
More updates to follow from Nevis we hope!
Wifi here in English Harbour and Jolly Harbour has been a bit sketchy. These are some photos and I will try and get some more boring verbiage together soon.
This is the view from our anchorage! The water here is the most incredible colour owing to the fact that the Jolly Harbour lagoon was previously a salt lagoon and there is also a lot of coral based sand around. It is however rather difficult to photograph, particularly with the sun being very high in the sky. I am going to have to practise getting out of bed early and getting the morning light for pictures!
There is quite a well marked channel which we are anchored just outside but they have some intriguing things to use as markers including beer kegs!
More updates to follow from Nevis we hope!
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