Moorglade's Voyage

Nevis

Moorglade's Voyage

Ted Wilson

Thu 22 Dec 2011 23:22

21st December 2011

Checking in to Nevis proved to be the usual slow process. Our attempts to use e-sea clear were immediately thwarted by Charles Town, Nevis not being on the list, only Basseterre on St Kitts is equipped to handle electronic check in. We dinghied down to the dock in town, only just missing a little turtle that surfaced just in front of us, to be greeted by the usual old chap who promised to guard our dinghy while we were in town. There was some swell at the dock but we judged it ok to leave the dinghy there. Actually it was the only option. Customs was our first stop and after multiple form filling and a small payment progressed to immigration. This was at the police station in town and a short walk away along the busy shopping streets. We located the correct office and after some more form filling and passport inspection and stamping with the usual remarks about why does the USA require us to have visas and a discussion about cricket we progressed to the next stage. Actually the immigration was probably the most professional office we have been in in the Caribbean. On to the Port Authority now, back at the dock. Unfortunately the officer we needed had just gone off somewhere and locked the door. I waited while Kay visited the tourist office in town. Eventually the port officer returned and helped me fill in the necessary forms which were all designed for cargo ships and after paying our port dues gave me a completed signed and stamped document that I could take to the customs house, where we started, to obtain my cruising permit for our coastal cruising on Nevis and St Kitts. It has taken a little while to write about, but it took much longer, most of the morning, to do it. Anyway we were now legal immigrants and fully permitted up, so decided to take a tour with D J Watusi, a very tall Rastafarian taxi driver who was keen to help. We needed the bank first to get some cash and we took the petrol cans to get fuel for the dinghy when we went past a gas station.

D.J. proved to be a good choice, showing us the history and scenery of the island and finding us a very good local place for lunch. The Island has, like many of the others, plenty of relics of the sugar industry; processing here ended in the late 50's with cane being shipped to nearby St Kitts for another 10 years. Tourism is now the only industry and there are very few people about despite extensive facility for yachts, hotels and apartments. We liked Charlestown and the island, it is clean and friendly with better infrastructure than many. The hills and slopes of Nevis Peak are green and thickly wooded in parts with monkeys a common sight. The gardens of most of the houses are well cared for with lots of colourful flowers. Plenty of birds too, a tiny humming bird entertained us during lunch.

It was getting quite late when we got back to the dinghy dock and the NE wind which had been increasing in strength all day had built up the swell, so getting into the rubber boat which was rising and falling quite alarmingly, was tricky and there could be no mistakes getting the outboard going as the waves were braking against the rocky edge just downwind of the dock.

We had a light meal on board watched a DVD and went to bed with the wind continuing to increase with occasional squalls.

Today, Thursday we have spent the day on board. Actually I don't think we had a choice as the swell is now much larger. We both read in the morning and we've taken advantage of free internet access and done some jobs. The wind has dropped through the day and is forecast to continue to do so. We hope to go ashore in Charlestown before our short sail over to St Kitts.