We took it
slowly to re-commission Scorch. We spent 5 days in Secret Harbour Marina,
moored next to the 71 m. motor yacht owned by Charles Simonyi, the creator of
Microsoft Word and 5thSpace Tourist.
M/Y SKAT
The
Christmas winds started 21st Dec. expected to end within the month
but they carried on most of the season making passage planning more critical
with at times lively sailing.
Christmas
Lunch Party in Clarks Court Marina, Grenada with a large group of sailors was great
fun.
We reached
Carriacou in time for New Year. We hauled out in our rural boatyard for the
yearly anti-fouling and boat maintenance. An Italian new owner was taking over,
there was an uncertainty about its future.
We stopped
in Petite Martinique for a well earned rest rubbing shoulder with the rich and
famous such as the Abramovich’s uber
yacht (463.5 m) with 2 helicopter pads,
an escape submarine and missile defences
in the event of attacks. It’s support yacht was over 220m. with 4 large ribs (50’ each) circling like marauding
Barracudas day and night. We wondered at
times if we were part of a James Bond scene... What a way to live!....
M/Y ECLIPSE
We moored in
the Tobago keys for our customary swim with the Turtles.
On reaching Bequia the annual Jazz festival was in full swing.
Dana Gillesbie and The London Blues Band
We enjoyed the Jazz but at times it was so loud we evacuated to the beach
On
1st Feb we lifted anchor at 8 am ready to sail the windward side of
St. Vincent but changed our mind. We had been told it was a most beautiful
Island but crime and personal safety was an issue. Up till then we had given
the Island wide berth. Our opinion was changed by the recommendation of a few
sailors who love it especially Susie owner of the Spirit Yacht 'Spirited Lady
of Fowey’ who was returning there that very day. This was our last chance to see it. We
pointed Scorch towards Cumberland Bay, St. Vincent.
It was a magic location. Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed here.
There was no shortage of help anchoring.
We rented a
mini bus for an Island tour. The Island
was fascinating, picturesque and unspoilt by tourism. However a 7.00am start
and 150 miles on rough roads was too ambitious for my back.
Our group included 2 dogs
Fantastic coast line
Delicious coconut bread baked in a wood fired oven
We could not understand why occasionally our skin suddenly started to itch. Our guide Emerson explained that it was Cow Itch caused by pollen blowing in the wind from a local grass. We were relieved it not an allergy similar to the one in the Amazon which went on for months.
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| A fresh water wallow the day after helped the aching joints. |
Collecting fresh water for the laundry
We visited Kingstown bus local. The town was pretyy scruffy but had an amzing Botanical garden. Peaceful and immaculate. It was founded in 1665 and is the oldest of its kind in the Western hemisphere. It has an original bread fruit tree planted by Captain Bligh in 1793.
A group of smartly dressed children on their way home from school wanted their picture taken.
They told us about the Brush and Comb plant which is a type of Passion flower.
Sitting on a Ginger Lily, this little fellow liked the camera too!
Palm leaf
Emerson took us for a trek on the Cumberland Trail. It was a magic time in the mountains behind the anchorage.
The Stick insect is real and resting....
After such
an action packed week we were exhilarated but exhausted. The body was
complaining and the clock was ticking. We had to move on taking every opportune
moment to creep up the chain of Islands.
With no abaiting in the weather we started doubting our ability to
reach the BVI in time to meet Caroline.
We decided it would be wiser to meet in Antigua
Hiding from the rough seas, we anchored in Trois Ilets, Martinique where the flat water enabled us to finish making the dinghy cover. A project we started last year.
All bright and shiny!
Next stop was Porstmouth, Dominica. We had hoped to tour the South side of the Island with Martin Carriere, the guide we used last year, but it was not possible because of two days incessant tropical rain. We managed the local vegetable market and bought Coconut oil for cooking and Honey for keeping us sweet.
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| These Heliconias were a leaving present from Martin and his wife - Stunning but not suitable for a sailing boat on the high seas. When we arrived in Les Saintes we gave them to a Restaurant owner, who in his excitment forgot even to offer us a drink! |
Les Saintes
Islands are such a delight with a very crowded but protected anchorage if you
can moor right in behind the headland. The holding is poor therefore it is imperative to choose the
right sandy patch to drop anchor. It is a real Bump a Boat place. Boats were dragging everywhere. The National characteristics
come out to the fore. All fine until it is near us!
The sail
from Guadeloupe to Antigua turned out to be tough with confused and lumpy seas
– Yuk! We had a 3 day turn around before
Caroline’s arrival.
Great Bird Island, Antigua
Wash day
We were very fortunate to see the Antiguan Racer snake. One of the rarest snakes in the world.
Gale force
wind and high seas delayed our departure north. We spent a week sheltering in
the glorious bays to the North of Antigua. In Davies Bay, Jumpy Island we were
asked to move Scorch further away from the beach as Prince Edward and wife
Sophie came for the afternoon – We had great fun watching the razzmatazz but to
respect their privacy NO PICS taken. Mind you the tropical rain put the dampers
on their last hours in the Eastern Caribbean before returning to London after
their heavy week’s schedule representing HM the Queen for her Jubilee
We
had hoped to take Caroline to Barbuda, one of our favourite places. We were
thwarted by the weather. At the first opportunity we sailed directly
to St. Martin to stock up with wonderful
French cheese, wine etc. and to eat at The Cafe de Paris, a must for us on every visit.
We left
Marigot Bay at 3a.m, to
insure arriving in the British Virgin Islands late afternoon and in day light.
During the next
17 days we lazed, swam, fished and snorkelled all over our favourite Islands,
giving Caroline a complete tour of the BVI, which she greatly enjoyed.
On Scorch's Port crosstree, the French flag always flies above the Welsh, but in honour of the Welsh rugby team's comprehensive victory over France Saturday 17th March and in deference to Carolines nationality the Welsh flew above but only for a few hours!
On her last
night Chris and Caroline snorkelled and saw an Eagle Ray with a wing span of 6’
– What a finale to her stay!
The busy
schedule and fairly rough seas took its toll, my body needed to recoup. We were
very happy to let the cruiser’s inertia take over. We stayed 19 days in the American and Spanish Virgin Islands,
which we love, just quietly hopping between Islands. We paid a last visit to
Culebra, a favoured spot, before returning to Antigua in time
for Classic Week and visit our great friend Eve.
Fun for all ....
The planned
return to Dominica never materialised. We would have loved to hike the South
side of this beautiful Island; we could not ignore the right weather window and
left straight for Bonaire on May 1st . It took 3 days of perfect sailing to do
498nm.
The fishing was not very good this year but we did manage to catch this 5 kg. Big Eyed Tuna.
Yummy.. Sushi for lunch!
We returned
to Spanish Water and met up with all our friends.
Scorch was
put to bed in Curacao Marine. We flew back to UK on 28th May
Once again
during our cruising season we met up with old and new friends, so many
interesting, fascinating and amazing people. We felt a certain sadness knowing
we shall not see some of them again.
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