St Maarten to St Lucia - Day 1
Bonkers
Donald Macdonald
Mon 4 Mar 2024 21:21
Last night we took the boat service across the bay from St Maarten Yacht Club (next to bridge) over to the regatta sight for the prize giving and a few beers. The prize giving was a little long winded and presenting special ones without explanation of how got awarded, like Heineken Cup, most outstanding performance of the day etc, especially when there were about 14 different fleets on the water and different amout of races raced over the 4 days. CSA 1 & 2 did just 5 races on our course and we did 8 and Island Class did just 4. We did not stay for the grand finale of more DJ's and a big band, we took the boat back to otherside to get dinner.
This morning lots of stuff put on the boat so back into cruising mode. We had taken the dinghy off and put its outboard in it, the big anchor and various items as well as locking bike up. We took the 1030 outbound bridge opening. As we motored out coming out of the channel and through the moored yachts Emma and John saw a turtle, the first of te trip. I am still to see one.
Full main and jib up as only supposed to be 10-12 knots. For the 1st 3 hours we saw gusts of 20 knots and sustained 16. wind was on the beam averaging 7 knots. We have been sailing a little over 6 hours and covered 46 nm and just going abeam St Christopher and will be close to Nevis and St Kitts when dark when we can bear away 10 degrees for our destination.
Tonights meal may not be good for me although John and Emma will like it as a curry.
Dinner will be poulet curry & petits legumes, brussel sprouts from a tin, smash, soft roll and fruit cocktail