St Lucia so sur(prizing)
Inga
Wed 23 Mar 2016 14:13
61 14W
After our troubles in Fort de France we pottered slowly around the southern coast of Martinique, usually staying one night in each of the bays. All have good sandy beaches with good swimming.
We then motored into the wind (again) past the impressive diamond rock and onto St Anne's on the south coast of Martinique .This-was a delightful place with a huge bay and nearly 200 yachts at anchor. We really enjoyed St Anne as it was a small holiday place but not spoiled. Again with good beaches and useful shops including a fish market. When the fresh fish arrived the fisherman would blow a conche shell to attract custom. We had some wonderful fresh tuna at a very reasonable price.
St Anne's bay had a number of OCC members in it so we had a chance to meet up with some of the voices we hear on the radio and has a sundowner together. We have made friends with another couple who are going south so we have done quite a lot of socialising.
While there we did a long walk around the headland to saline beach past the "clothes optional" beach - we swam at the other end of the bay! Strong winds were forecast so we move into the nearby marina La Marin. Hired a car and spent several days exploring the whole island including the highest mountain. Coralie had found out about a walk along a canal Beauregard - this is a water channel built by slaves,alongside the mountain, to provide water for the original plantation. It is an amazing feat of engineering. You walk along the outer wall about, 18inches wide, with a sheer drop of the edge in some places - not for those who get vertigo.
We then moved to Rodney Bay in St Lucia after a good brisk sail between the islands. The following morning There was a quiz on the radio network. Coralie insisted on taking part, even though I thought we should just listen and get the feel of the place. Well, we won! It turns out that this was the most prestigious quiz of the year, the prize being a £100 voucher for dinner in one of the best restaurants on the island. We had a wonderful meal, so much so that we had to top up the voucher to pay for the meal. Once again strong winds and big swells were forecast so we moved into the marina until it was calm enough to set off for Bequia.
We spent a couple of nights in Marigot bay and two nights anchored off the famous St Licia pitons that rise steeply from the sea and are most impressive.
Had an excellent sail down with the windvane doing most of the steering. We picked up a buoy near the town dock so not far to dinghy ashore.
The first day it rained quite heavily so we stopped at a cafe for and early coffee and met a couple who know Bequia well and they took us on a tour of the island by car so we got a good overall perspective of Bequia. We are all going to dinner tonight at a restaurant on the south of the island that is said to do the best lobster, fish and conche.
The next day we went to confirm our booking and took the local "dollar" bus which was packed to the roof. The roads are narrow, bumpy, hilly and twisty so it was quite a white knuckle ride We will have to take a taxi tonight.
it is the islands regatta this Easter weekend so will stay for it and move on afterwards ( it is still quite windy and gusty)
Sent from my iPad
Brian and Coralie