18 02.2 N      

063 05.6 W 

Hi

Windy, sometimes rainy but hot - perfect growing weather, especially mould when the fridge is caput. 'Penicillin'but we prefer ice to keep things fresh and the gin cold. And we're still searching for that bunch of green bananas we bought recently.

We're back in Marigot Bay on St Martin Island and will be getting to know it well over the next three weeks or so...........wait and see.

After our last blog, we continued to explore the BVI's. It lives up to its reputation of 'paradise' with beautiful white, palm fringed beaches, clear water, coral reefs and good snorkelling even for beginners like ourselves. The reefs take the force of the ocean on the outside so we can enjoy sheltered snorkelling on the calm side. Each time we've see something new, as well as the old favourites. On a healthy reef, the variety of corals, hard and soft, is fascinating - 

all shades of green to brown, with small patches of brighter colours. Purple seems'in'at the moment.

However beautiful, the BVI's are not typical. Mostly billionaires live there, (Richard Branson owns an island). But there are a few pockets where ordinary folk seem to survive. The charter industry is very much in evidence, so anchorages are often busy.
We had a wonderful sail to Anagada where we spent a couple of days on a mooring bouy in the anchorage inside the reef- along with 50 - 100 others. Unbeknown to us, it was the first destination for charterers after changeover day.
A bit unnerving as we felt the keel touching the sea bed quite often. The little island is surrounded
by reefs, which protect it and its 400 inhabitants - all seemingly happy and very friendly. I don't know where the visitors went but the island was uncrowded with lovely beaches. We spent time on one, with a lovely reef for snorkelling. Despite having suffered an 'event' at some time, evidenced by a lot of bleached corals'it was
re-growing and looking healthy again.
We treated ourselves to a fresh lobster cooked on the barbecue at The Lobster Trap on the beach near the moorings. Tables were on the deck at the end of a jetty, and we watched the sun go down. The first rum punch was on the house. It doesn't get much better. Sadly Im having to miss out on the rum punches from now on - they make me a bit hung over next day. Not so Brian! I could eat my first ever lobster with a clear conscience. They're kept in a cage in the water until their final moments when they're despatched swiftly with a large cleaver.

The bays on Peter island offered lovely, quiet anchorages for our last few days.We spent our last evening back in Trellis Bay for the Full Moon Party organised by the artist who works there. Maggies mobile catering co. provided a great buffet of local dishes, and she dragged me off to see her new transit van, specially fitted out to transport hot food for 'all occasions and especially schools, to introduce them to fresh vegetables'. There was a demonstration of firing Raku pottery, and later the fires were lit in the metal sculptures on the beach and in the water. We were looking forward to the local music and stilt dancing, but they didn't turn up and we had the usual amplified stuff we're becoming resigned to.

Our overnight trip to St. Martin was eventful. The engine, previously impeccably behaved, developed fuel problems and despite Brian's best efforts, finally stopped altogether. Although the wind was on the nose, we were able to make long tacks in the general direction of St. Martins - and with a beautiful full moon. Next up the tapes holding the metal ring at the corner of the jib gave way with a bang, leaving the jib sheets on the deck and the sail lashing about. So we had to wind that in and hank on the spare. We dropped anchor in Marigot bay after 30 hours rather than 20, but quite pleased with our efforts.

So, here we go again. St. Martins has everything, so it's a good place to sort things out. Dr. Diesel aka Bob has been in attendance and the prognosis was not good. Brian has decided a new engine is the only answer, Dr. Diesels's diagnosis having put the final nail in the Volvo's coffin. St. Martin's is the ideal place being duty free, and with all the services on hand,mostly on the Dutch side.

Oh well, it's an ill wind (ha) and will be quite nice to be grounded (ha ha again) in one place for a while, but up to a month is a long time. There is plenty to do jobs-wise, and of interest.
The delay will mean we'll have to hurry to reach our final destination by the end of May, but we'll still see something on the way and have new experiences to look forward to when we come back in December.

We have internet access again, so less lugging the pc to cafe's. Neverthless, the French cafe and patisserie we discovered yesterday will definitely be part of the routine, with luscious cakes for Brian. And in the cruising life it's small things that count, like that jet propelled black butterfly is actually a humming bird;
looking a turtle in the eye; and the boat being level enough for the washing up water to down the plughole and not spill all over the place. Oh, and maybe finding those damned bananas.

So we are about to begin the next stage of our ever changing itinerary. If you're one of the stalwarts following this blog -thank you. Will keep you posted.
Best wishes
Coralie and Brian

 Traditional boat at Trellis Bay

Resident

Sandy Island

White Bay (another one)

Typical House

Lobster Trap Restaurant Anegada

Anegada Beach

We needed the shade Anegada

Lobster dinner

Conch shells -snorkelling - returned to water

Coralie with her catch

Maggies' BBQ buffet

Fire basket

Raku firing demonstration

Full moon party

Ditto