Finally getting emails for the first time since leaving Frigate, we find that Jim and Dinah are on their way to Bequai and will be there within the next 24 hours. This seemed like déjà vu, as when we arrived, unplanned from St Thomas earlier in the year, they sailed in within 24 hours…… Do they really go anywhere or just sail round Bequai waiting for us to come in???
Bequai is just the same – easy slow and friendly. We left the boat and headed ashore to buy some fresh food, stopping by Zenna to say hi to Mark and Marion. We had last heard from them just after Tomas with a cryptic sms that we wanted clarified. They had been caught in Mayreau and did not have an fun time as the hurricane came through.
We never do a lot in Bequai and this time was no different – picking up a few groceries and fruit, exchanging our books, stopping at the sailors bar for a rum punch or two, and catching up with who was in the harbour. We had drinks a couple of nights at The New York Sports Bar (a nice little local bar in the main street) which we hadn’t been to before and had rotis at the Green Bolly Bar near Dive Bequai which were fantastic!
We left Bequai last Saturday, with a forecast of no wind but a flotilla of boats including our friends Jim and Dinah of Evergreen, all of whom, like us, wanted to get north before the predicted NE winds that would prevent us from heading north comfortably and cheaply (ie sailing) for the next week or so. Due to the predicted light winds, we thought it was time to become grown-up sailors and fly the gennaker, which has been sitting in the forward hold begging to be used since Morocco when we used it with Tim. We had it hoisted on Friday night and left it furled and ready for action early Saturday morning for the 10hour sail to the Pitons.
The day started at 0500 when Karen leapt out of bed ready for action only to find it was too dark to see so she went back to bed for half an hour (I am not sure she was really awake at this time –but it was a really impressive start). We weighed anchor at 0545 and let me just say, this was a neat sail – even better than the one to Bequai. We rounded Admiral Point and had 12knots apparent – so at last the Gennaker was unfurled! We sailed across the channel and because of the light winds we had agreed to sail leeward up St Vincent which, given the winds speeds we actually was, was probably a mistake to stop dead as soon as we got into the lee of the island. We motored for 2hours past St Vincent, staying close to shore to have a good look in each of the bays as we plan to maybe visit St Vincent by boat on our way back down to Grenada next year.
When we came out of the lee of the island the winds shot up to 18 knots so we hoisted the genoa but they soon calmed and we swapped the genoa for the gennaker (yes we actually changed sail plans – a first for us) so we were on our way. Again it was a fantastic sail reaching speed of 8.5knots – our fastest yet if you discount the 13knot surfing we had around Finisterre and on the Atlantic crossing. The gennaker performed well and we were so chuffed we called Evergreen and told them we were going to continue on to Rodney Bay as we still had 4 hours of light up our sleeves. Of course the wind died just after the Pitons and we motored the last 3 hours. Not bad though 70 miles in 11 hours!
We relaxed in Rodney Bay for the night and woke to find Bill on Demoi anchoring next to us who had sailed up from Bequai overnight. We called him and he asked where we were – which was a bit of a worry as we are a big white boat, there are no boats between us and he had just come in and anchored next to us – boy he must have been tired.
We spent Sunday morning waiting for rain to stop and clouds to dissipate and just before noon we motored out of Rodney Bay to Le Marin, Martinique for our French Adventure (here for adventure read shopping for Karen). We anchored next to Evergreen and had a quiet night. Monday morning we checked in and then the adventure began! We did Caribe Greement (chandelry), Diginav (electronics), Corail Caribe (Lagoon dealer), The Return of the Mango (bar and internet) and Leader Prix (groceries) all before lunch! The afternoon was Clipper Ship (Onan dealer), the watermaker agent, hardware, plastics shop where we did find boules (although they seem to be a kiddies version but after being beaten by Merengue so often, maybe that is what we need) and Carrefore (groceries).Karen also fitted in time to make a hair appointment for Thursday!
Tuesday was port engine service day which kept us busy and sweaty all morning. We did shop for filters in the afternoon before the mango for the internet. Wednesday was “waiting for the rain to stop and sort of hoping it wouldn’t” so I could do the other engine but didn’t so played dominos with Evergreen instead. It looks like Thursday maybe the same (with a dash to the hairdresser in the middle) and once this trough passes we will start casually heading up the Leeward side of Martinique before heading to Dominica.
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Mum
DATE: 11/20/2010 1:29:01 AM
Really enjoyed this blog Matt, now that I know what a gennaker and a genoa are. Really felt I was enjoying it all too. Seems as if you are really on holidays. Enjoy it all.
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Jim and Wendy
DATE: 11/29/2010 8:46:51 PM
Jim says that the customs officer in Union Island is right and that if Australia had a male Prime Minister, maybe you could play bocce ball like a man. It's in the bible? Wendy refuses to be a part of such a ridiculous comment and promptly punched Jim on Karen's behalf.
COMMENT: AUTHOR: Christina
DATE: 12/1/2010 7:49:59 PM
Just so you know - Tina Nick & the Hully Gang receive & read your blogs, but posting comments require consideration and other mental / physical capacities that may be being challenged in other ways. You are loved & not forgotten
COMMENT:
AUTHOR: Tina
DATE: 12/1/2010 7:52:09 PM
On holidays? I thought this was a lifestyle choice - where does the work ethic fit here?
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