Malua is at 14:26.453N 60:53.107W at Saint Anne Martinique on 11/1/2013

We moved to the western side of Rodney Bay to get out of the swell. That morning I had defrosted the freezer because I had ordered a quantity of USA beef from a wholesaler who was prepared to cut, vacuum pack and then freeze the order plus deliver it to the marina. We had just finished the meat from the Canaries and some frozen chicken acquired along the route so it was time to restock just in case we could not get good meat in French Martinique.

At day break with a forecast of winds over 20 knots we pulled up the anchor – with the new s/s part manufactured on Malua. It came up without difficulty. Up went the sail in the lee of the bay and we set the course for Martinique hoping that the wind would give us a straight passage to the east of the island. The sea was confused as we rounded the southern tip of Rodney Bay and we bashed into some short chop with Malua only doing 4 knots. It was going to be a long day at this speed. When we were 5 miles out the sea settled down and the wind dropped to below 18 knots and the speed increased.

At about 6 miles out from the island it disappeared in a complete white out of rain which started to come towards us. The wind increased to over 25 knots and the angle dropped off almost 40 degrees so we where not going to make our proposed destination. The sea dropped and I turned on the engine and pointed the bow towards Saint Anne. The rain continued but the wind dropped off as we approached the land and the angle improved. The last mile the wind had almost completely gone away.

Over the airwaves came a familiar voice of Greg and Marie on Second Sally. A vessel we had met in Portugal in September. They gave us some advice on where to anchor and we dropped it down wind of their vessel. They came over with a map and the local directory plus lots of helpful information. What a great cruising community to take the trouble to help a new arrival. Many thanks.

Jack Tar arrived a few hours later having experienced the same weather patterns as us.

A magical moment on Malua.