POSITION 16:13.30N 61:31.78W Pa'PITRE GUADELOUPE
Aurelia
Shirley and Michael Webb-Speight
Tue 30 Jan 2007 18:08
Met some nice American's and they came aboard for drinks and dinner on our last night. The locals were very friendly and easy going, quite a few understand English and seemed to instinctively know whenever I went into a shop that speaking French was going to be a waste of time!
From there we sailed across to Pointe-a-Pitre in the middle of the southcoast of Guadeloupe on the 28th January. We elected to go into the marina here as we needed to price out sails and we also fancied a night (or 2 as it turned out) with other luxuries like internet, electricity and stepping off the boat for bread when ever the mood took us. We had nice neighbours there from Quebec who asked the kids aboard their boat, Melody (a catamaran) to meet Scotty, their 13 year old very grunty pussycat! The kids just loved this, and overfed him on cat treats resulting in a sore tummy for poor Scotty. After dinner Mike and I returned for drinks on their back deck while the kids went to sleep.
Mike had a long chat with Andrew at North Sails. We have left our Code Zero there to see how his patchwork skills are, and will need to return here to retrieve it. Oh dear, we are really sad about having to return to the French islands, not! We think we will get a storm gib in preference to a Cutter rig.
Today we are heading around the west of Guadeloupe to anchor in Deshaies (pron.Day Hay). It will be a good springing point for the next island. We are racing up to St Martins to see Richard and Sam on D'Accord, and of course then onto BVIs to pick up Georgie and Doc, and all for a few days.
The weather has been great, don't think we have mentioned that, very consistent and predictable at the moment. The sailing is generally very good, and we aren't doing that much motor sailing (the reverse of the Med I might add!).
One of the computers has a funny on/off switch and I was explaining this to Jamie who looked at me with a look of wonder at my intelligence level and said, "well you had better get a mechanic to fix it". She wondered what was so funny about such a sensible suggestion!
Will sign off for now, and post our next position soon!