18:02.12N  63:05.99W

 

Sunday 8 February 2015

 

Distance Run 36 nm

 

The forecast was for winds of 16-18 knots on the beam which is just about ideal but after yesterday we did put some reefs in the sails.  In the event the strength was seldom over 20 knots and in just over 4 and a half hours we entered Simpson’s Bay on the south side of Sint Maarten.  It was a really enjoyable sail and we are happy with the way the new sails are setting – a much better shape even when reefed.

 

We passed the small island of Saba on our port side:-

 

 

 

To give an idea of scale the cruise ship is 3 miles away.  Saba is 3100 feet high and is 10 miles away.

 

 

Approaching Simpson’s Bay.  The dinghy is upside down on the foredeck lashed down with lots of ‘bits of string’.

 

 

 

 

 

The anchorage is beside the international airport:-

 

 

 

 

The southern part of the island is Dutch and the northern part French hence the different spellings of the name in the title.  The two live side by side in complete cooperation although they each use different currencies, Euros (French part) and US$.  If you arrive by boat and go through Customs on one side of the island and subsequently move the boat to the other you must clear out of the old side and in again on the new side.  If however you travel from one side of the island by road, by foot or dinghy then you are free to move as you please!

 

Well, we were supposed to be here before Christmas but we are in St Martin at last.  We hope we can get the repairs made that couldn’t be done in Antigua and will move into Simpson’s Lagoon tomorrow.  The aim is to pass under the raised bridge on the Dutch side as the channel on the French side is a little shallow.  Then wait for a swing bridge to open within the lagoon and move on to the French side and clear in there.  Then explore the various facilities and find out how to get things done here.