Marigot Bay, Anguilla,
St Barts
Once Diane and Jim had left us we decided to stay in Marigot Bay but we made a number of visits
across the lagoon to Sint Maarten in the dinghy. Two Dutch friends - Maikel
and Cynthia, who we had met in Lanzarote with the Blue Water Rally had left
their yacht Bly, in Simpson Bay Marina to have some work done while they went
off to explore Chile.
When they arrived back in Sint Maarten we caught up with them. We much enjoyed
their company and the meals/cocktail evenings we had with them –
especially Cynthia’s birthday!!! They were so taken with Chile that they have decided to buy a ranch
there and to ship their boat back to Europe
and sell her. We hope to catch up with them again one day - even if it
means a visit to Chile!
Jim & Diane – fully recovered after our beat to
windward!!!! Cynthia (Happy
Birthday!!!), Maikel, Jon & Sam
Another
Heineken
please!!
The bridge (& Jon) getting a lift!!!
Our last weekend (3rd May) in St Martin was spent in the bay of Grand Case
- just 6 miles round the corner from Marigot
Bay. A smaller and
more peaceful anchorage than Marigot except that the French airport is
literally behind the houses on the water front and the incoming planes seemed
to almost touch the roofs as they came in to land over the bay.
Fortunately, the airport is too small for commercial jets and it is only the
local flights that use the runway. We had a lovely Tapas meal ashore in the
Calmos Café, a great beach front bar and restaurant.
Incoming!!! Calmos Cafe
On Tuesday (6th May) we returned to Marigot
Bay and went into the
marina to fill up with water and prepare for the next leg of our trip. We
had decided to hop across to Anguilla which we
could see in the distance and had decided to visit before going on to St Barts.
Wednesday (7th May). Departed Marigot at 10.15 and arrived in Road Bay, Anguilla at 13.10. We had read conflicting reports
in our 2 pilot books that we may get charged for a "cruising permit"
to visit anywhere other than the main bay and harbour. We went into
customs and immigration to check in and sure enough, there was a large notice
on the wall informing us that to visit any other bay but Road Bay,
there would be a fee of $100 PER DAY! We therefore decided to stay just
a couple of days and then head on down to St Barts. What we did see of Anguilla was probably not really representative of the
rest of the island but we were quite happy to leave when we did as it didn't
seem to offer anything that we couldn't find elsewhere. The only
highlight being that the Anguilla Regatta was taking place and 2 ex Americas
Cup yachts - Dennis Connors "Stars and Stripes" and another were
taking part. We got a good view of them as they limbered up for the start
of the race.
Anchored at Road
Bay, Anguilla
Americas Cup yacht - Stars & Stripes
Saturday (10th May). Anguilla to St Barts. We
had intended to check out at 9am and be away as soon as possible.
Unfortunately the customs office had closed when Jon got there and by 10 am, it
looked like we were going to have to stay another day in Anguilla.
Fortunately, the customs officer returned just as Jon was about to give up and
dinghy back to the boat. We finally got away at 10.30 with the wind behind us
and just the genoa up for the leg down Anguilla
but we knew that once we turned the corner and headed towards St Barts, we
would probably be hard on the wind. At mid-day, we rounded the corner and
put the main up. Sure enough, it was going to be a beat but at least we would
probably only need a couple of tacks.
As we approached St Barts, we noticed a pretty looking anchorage on the small island of Ile Forchue about 6 miles from St
Barts. As it was now late in the afternoon, we decided to drop anchor in
the bay and carry on to St Barts the next morning. It was a bit rolly,
but we’re getting used to that now!!!!
Anchorage at Ile Forchue.
