We thought we’d move on to Friendship Bay today, an anchorage just round the other side of the island. With the engine running we were able to make some water en-route although it trickles through very slowly. The wind was on our nose after turning the headland anyway so we motored the short distance. Passing Moonhole was quite interesting with its stone houses built out of the rocks with no straight lines. They have no windows and the isolated community has no road or anchorage. It looked derelict from the sea and the few people that could be seen looked like hippy squatters. Around the headland a mass of islands met us; some tiny unknown islands close by with Baliceaux and Mustique in the distance. We’d planned a lunch stop at Petit Nevis but despite the anchorage looking idyllic the winds were blowing too hard. We rounded the tiny island of Semplers Cay where four whales are still permitted to by butchered each year. Waves crashed into the windward side and after the struggle catching a whale in the first place (we think still from wooden boats) it must be just as hard to secondly land it. Between the shallow reefs we entered beautiful Friendship Bay.

   The bay is quiet, no hassle from boat boys at all and not a soul in sight. I watched the hook fall to the bed in clear blue water. There are a couple of hotels and bars dotted around the shore, the tempting ‘Moskito Bar’ with swings rather than chairs looking most inviting.  At the other end of the long sandy beach backed by contrastingly shaped palms and shrubs sits a collection of brightly painted buildings and even brighter wooden boats: A jolly nice anchorage.

   After lunch and an invitation for drinks tonight from the Australians anchored next to us, we mulched with books in the shaded cockpit then had a quick dip.  We shivered in the strong, fresh wind. We were able to pick up wifi from the hotel nearby and just had time to check emails before making nibbles and gathering wine. Putting our faith in Duck Tape and glue Si rowed us over to ‘Zenna’ with the broken oar bending in the strong swell.

   We had a lovely evening with Marian and Australian Mark chatting about the boys’ homeland and the purchase and renovation of their Westerly from England. They also had news of ‘Sunboy’ who they had met in St. Lucia and caught up with a couple of weeks ago in Union Island. With so much to talk about we ended up staying for supper. The swell seemed bigger rowing back.