Ian arrived back in St Lucia on the 28th February having been picked up at the airport by Sampson a known taxi driver and driven to the Palm Haven Hotel in Rodney Bay. I was able that evening to check KIR myself for the first time in nine months. I was very relieved everything look good.

 

The next four days were spent preparing for the launch which I managed on the 4th March. A great feeling being back in the water and able to move out of the hotel on to KIR. Living onboard KIR out of the water would not have been nice as the yard is very dusty and hot. Day time temperatures around 30 degrees C after the UK at 5 degrees C a bit of a change.

 

With KIR safely back in the marina work on checking all the equipment and getting sails on. not easy when the stern is into the wind which always blows from the east as its the trades. One minor problem the chart plotter had scrabbled itself, confirmed but an electronics engineer. Not a disaster but annoying, I have a back up GPS but it means plotting every position on a paper chart rather than just looking at a screen. Ho hum.

 

Vitalling KIR progressed well with several trips to the supermarket in the dinghy which is always a bit of fun, cannot work the whole time! Just have to chain the dinghy up to the dinghy dock near the supermarket to make sure its there when you return.

 

Graham arrived on the 12th March I gave him a day to acclimatise. Then on the 14th March we were off having done the Customs checkout the day before. I felt quite sad at leaving St Lucia as you get to know so many people when you stay some where for a while. First stop Martinique and Port de France found a very nice bay on our arrival to anchor in for the night after a wonderful sail for 5.5 hrs.

 

 We had to check into Customs and immigration a short trip from our anchorage to Port de France town anchorage. No officials this time a simple computer input at the local chandler and its done. Continued up the islands west coast to St Pierre. Managed to anchor close in as the bottom drops off very steeply in very deep water.Saw this most amazing looking luxury yacht, a cross between a dreadnought battleships hull and German fort on Jersey with the slits blanked with glass.

 

The next day we motored to the island of Dominica and picked a mooring up in Portsmouth, very run down place. Just looked like the world had passed it by and left its rubbish behind in the form of rotting ships abandoned on the beach.

 

Our next island was the French Guadeloupe and Marina Bas de Fort. We stayed here for a day to shop for the French tin vegetables I wanted for the Trans Atlantic. The tins are rectangular and stack well with minimum space used. having been successful we headed up the inlet for overnight anchorage before going through the middle of Guadeloupe down a very narrow shallow water way, with two bridges that open at 0500.

 

We were up at 0420 had cup of tea engine started moving forward to get the anchor up. Except we were not moving forward we were aground! With the use of the anchor and the rise all be it of a foot of tide we came off. Very embarrassing but that's life, we will have ago tomorrow.

 

Having anchored in a different place overnight this time we were at the bridges on time and navigated through the narrow channel with five others to make a departure through a narrow entrance in the reef. Heading for Montserrat and Nevis. We had to motor sail as it was some 70 miles to Nevis. We passed a rock blowing water which we could see was a very large whale, easily as big as KIR.

 

Montserrat loomed in the mist and as we closed we could see smoke coming from the southern end of the island high up on the cone. Along with a lava and ash flow it was quite sinister but beautiful. In the lava flow were rocks as big as houses, not the place to be if it erupts. Arrived in Nevis just before the sun set not bad going though.

 

The following morning moved over St Kitts and Port Zante the marina. Checked in with Customs and Immigration for a 24hr stay in a very well air condition office. Managed to fix up an island tour on a bus which was great as the railway trip was very expensive and only went around half of the island. One of the highlights was Fort George on Brimstone hill at the North of the island built by the British taken by the French and so on. The design is so clever its called poly..., the remains are now a UNESCO Heritage site. Quite stunning views to the next island St Eustatius (Statia) which is another volcanic cone.

 

Not so early we head off with an increasing super breeze passed St Eustatius with six tankers anchored of the island. I believe its a free port, and allows trade between countries that don't trade, etc. We made Saba island next. The water is so deep the authorities have laid moorings just as well as 70m of water is twice as much chain as I have. I loved Saba for its rugged beauty, getting ashore is hazardous so we didn't go ashore. This is another volcanic cone and the main town is in the crater.

 

At 0415 kettle on, get KIR prepared for 80nm trip to the BVI's. With a freshening wind from the East we rolled along under blue skies but unfortunately to keep the average speed of 7kts up we had the engine on. Nevertheless a great trip. Arrived off Cooper island about 1700, so just enough time to find an anchorage before sun set. Tried Coopers island, very busy then Salt island but the holding no good. Just as it was getting dark went into Deadman bay, Peter Island. Dropped the anchor I hoped over the side to make sure the anchor had taken as it was a bit wild. After two dives decided all ok, could only just make the anchor out in the gloom.

 

Leasiurly start on Thursday headed over to Road Town on Tortola to check in with Customs and Immigration. Once complete a very large cake and coffee at the Bakery. We had arrived. Thanks to Graham for his help and support