Deshaise - Guadeloupe

Aurelia
Shirley and Michael Webb-Speight
Wed 31 Jan 2007 01:23
Nice sail from Point a Pitre to Deshaise on the north west corner - the wind did three 180 degree shifts during the course of the day - but after we rounded the southern extremity of Guadeloupe the sea was flat and the boat was going like a rocket.
Deshaise looks like a lovely place - cute buildings with a little European church in the middle. Deep bay and sheltered anchorage. no time to explore however as we will be up bright and early tomorrow to head for Antigua - English harbour about 45 miles north. A couple of days there and on to St Martin.
Chris had a great time steering the boat today - really the first time he has been really keen to give it a try. Of course as his father I think he is a natural - and he does seem to instinctively turn the wheel in the right direction. He got big thrills in reading out the numbers on the speedo - "Daddy what does the dot mean?" so we had a simultaneous lesson in maths exploring the concept that 8.1 knots is a little bit faster than 7.9 knots. I suspect that this is his first exposure to decimal places.
All in the water for a swim on our arrival - it must have been close to 30 deg today - and the water temp is 31! Jamie dived to the bottom of the bay and brought up some sand to prove she can make it to 5.9m. She really is a water baby that one. Ollie spent most of the day buried in his book - just finished "Stormbreaker" and now into Treasure Island.