The mode of transport here is bikes, scooters or 'golf' buggies, mainly electric powered. They cope well with the steep hills and are very popular with all the visitors off the ferries from other islands.

The spare part for the water maker... what can I say? Thank goodness for Jean-Marc helping us with phone calls to Fred Marine in Guadeloupe. It is now three weeks since  we ordered and paid for the part, over two weeks since it was due to arrive, numerous phone calls and emails with no information forthcoming. Jean-Marc discovered yesterday that it has not yet left France! Gloom. He seems to have made contact with a more helpful person who has said she hopes it will be here by the end of the week and she now has tracking information. Some progress but we are still in limbo. We are extremely grateful to Jean-Marc for all his help, we definitely owe you a rum or two when/ if we meet again. I hope that we do. 

Today, Wednesday, Nigel took me ashore to the bakery where I bought pain au chocolate and pain au raisin still warm from the oven, a delicious treat to have with our morning coffee. The spinnaker pole uphaul has been shortened (we bought it rather long but it really was… rather long), water has been made so we are full again and the main saloon hatch vent repaired (small leaks). Nigel writing a Navily report on Portsmouth, Dominica, and Sally reading and resting her little toe which is black and bruised after hitting it on a sail sheet ‘car' on one of the side decks; the third time she has done this. Navily reports provide more up to date information for fellow yachties, a bit like trip advisor for sailors. We have found them very useful ourselves, particularly for practicalities, e.g. where to buy ice, dispose of garbage, places to visit, good anchorages. 

The buoys here have a large metal ring on the top rather than a rope which makes them a bit tricky to pick up. We managed to pick up our buoy by Sally laying flat on the deck and half over the side, dangling the rope with a loop in the end over the side through the ring which Nigel then grabbed with the boat hook. We saw a couple of yachts struggling yesterday so Simon and Nigel set off in the dinghy to assist and were rewarded with a couple of beers. Yesterday a 'pirate' boat anchored close by; we watched people climb to the top of the rigging to sort out the sails - a task not for the faint hearted. 

Nigel and Simon are planning the return trip across the Atlantic. Mark's excellent catering plan is being adapted as necessary, dependent on availability in the Caribbean. The chart was out yesterday, to look at what ’the experts’ online say you should do, but as ever, it will all depend on the wind. It will be different from the outbound passage with four unknown crew, but hopefully, they will all enjoy the passage and encounter no delays or problems.