Arrived Rodney Bay, St Lucia
Graptolite's Sailing Log
Martyn Pickup & Heike Richter
Sat 15 Dec 2007 21:35
It's all very exciting making landfall after so long at sea. The lights of
St Lucia twinkled in the distance then we were very quickly very close and
racing along the northern edge of the island in a strong wind in the dark
surrounded by more boats than we had seen since leaving Las Palmas. Everyone
had their best tropical whites on as we entered Rodney Bay. We passed
between two anchored square-riggers and saw the race committee boat. A
photographer rushed out in a RIB taking pictures; there was a very nice pink
sunrise and it was all over.
We were temporarily berthed on the fuel dock in the marina for much of the
morning and finished off the complimentary rum punch (with ice) and very
excellent pancakes made by Joanne from the boat in front of us. By
coincidence I had been in email contact for most of the summer with Joanne
about crewing on Graptolite through the Caribbean and Pacific. She had sent
me a photograph some time ago but I didn't recognise her straight away with
her clothes on and not holding a large fish!
All this way and Graptolite has only just reached the start of her
circumnavigation route which starts here in St Lucia on 23rd January and
ends here sometime in the distant future.
The weather is hot and steamy with heavy rain between sunny spells. After
berthing on B dock we sheltered in a bar and had fish and chips and a couple
of Piton beers. Might have a nap now.
M