14:33.13N 61:03.43W Martinique
Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Mon 4 Feb 2008 21:05
20-30 knots of wind, showers, and a moderate NE swell again but the first non close fetch - albeit a close reach - and favourable current since leaving Grenada. Our new crew, Edward & Clara Pank and Sally Utley rapidly regained sealegs and became soon acquainted with the toil of shortening sail. Sally, a seasoned Caribbean sailor, claimed never to being allowed such luxuries as lunch time stops and lay days in port, so was surprised to find herself in the delightful snorkelling anchorage of Anse Chautier in the SE corner of Anse D`Arlet, and later to have a run ashore at Anse Mitan for retail and an extended midday blow out. Gaudeo`s skipper is clearly becoming a little soft in the head.
We are really back in Euroland as Martinique is a department of France and hardly feels Caribbean. The busy Gauloise pervading atmosphere a day before Maris Gras more resembles South Brittany in the run up to Bastille day.
Prue has heard that Iles des Saintes are a jet ski free zone so has put in a plea for a visit and early departure from "Euro civilisation" calling in at Dominica en route. I shall have to dry out the crew first.
