The winds are still very strong and gusty so we won’t be sailing off yet so, being now free of workmen we took the dinghy out of the lagoon to Buccaneer beach and did the holiday thing.  The beach loungers and umbrella were free provided we eat at the cafe on the beach.  So we did.

 

 

Waiting for lunch to turn up:-

 

 

 

 

The annual St Martin sailing regatta has been taking place in recent days but we have been trapped on the boat so unable to get out and see it.  We did manage to have a look at the bars filling up on the last day.

 

 

Guess who the main sponsor was:-

 

 

 

 

Over the next few days we got various ‘chores’ done which tended to involve the two large chandleries and Ace Hardware, which is some walk away, followed by a visit to Lagoonies for lunch and internet.

 

Lagoonies Bar, shaded and open:-

 

 

 

 

In strong winds boats tend to move around a lot at anchor.  Sailing yachts pivot about their centre so as the wind catches the bow on one side the head of the boat swings off one way and the stern swings in the other until the whole of the boat is beam on to the wind.  In this position there is a lot surface area for the wind to hit and the movement can be quite violent as the anchor chain stretches to it’s limit, the boat jerks and bounces back until the motion is reversed when the boat swings through the eye of the wind.  The whole thing is then repeated on the other side.  Thus can be quite uncomfortable and the sideways forces can be such that the anchor breaks free from the sea bed and boats drift off.  Several yachts did break free in the lagoon during the strong winds and re-anchored but one was unoccupied and was rescued by several yachties in their dinghies who managed to tie a line to a mooring buoy as the boat drifted past. 

 

After a few days of strong winds we took advantage of a calm period to hoist our anchor ‘riding sail’ before the next bout of heavy weather.  We have not used this for a couple of years since leaving the Aegean where the Meltemi belts through the islands in the summer months.  It is a small flat sail that is hoisted at the aft end of the yacht which slows down the speed of motion and also reduces the arc of the swing. 

 

 

Looking aft over the bimini cover at the riding sail in calm weather:-

 

 

 

 

 

Looking forward from the backstay to the mast. 

 

 

 

As the bow is blown off by the wind and the stern pivots in to the wind the sail offers a surface at the back to counteract the pivoting.  We had forgotten how effective this is and were glad to have it up when the next hooley came through - everything was much calmer and quieter on board.

 

The strong winds were accompanied by heavy rain which revealed that one of the two new portlights recently fitted by Custom Fit was leaking.  The weather has now improved so we pushed Custom Fit (who did the job) to return to take it out and refit it.  This they did on Saturday 14th - with a decent amount of sealant this time.

 

After 5 weeks in the lagoon we are keen to get away so on Sunday Lin dropped off some laundry at Shrimpys for collection the next day and we played our last round of Mexican Train with other cruisers at Barnacles Bar.  This has become a welcome event over the last few weekends.  After the game was over we went off for a very nice Chinese meal with Bill and Carol Off ‘Steel Away’.  We have enjoyed going to various social events with Bill and Carol in recent weeks and will miss them when we leave.  They are heading South east to Antigua and we are going the opposite way to the British Virgin Islands.

 

 

Shrimpys by the water.  Run by a South African, Mike, who also hosts the morning radio net and is extremely helpful.  He buys and sells all sorts but his emporium is somewhat untidy:-