Blog week ending 6th February

Nightsong
Thu 25 Mar 2010 14:35
Dear Blog
 
I need to catch up with the events of the last month on board Nightsong. As ever the boat has had a fair share of problems particularly in the first week of February. Kevin Parker and Alastair Murdoch arrived at St Lucia airport on 29th February where I met them because they kindly carried the replacement autopilot motor/gearbox assembly out with them - the previous week's failure which Lewmar acknowledged and sent a new one under 3 year warranty. We spent the first morning fixing this and quite a job it was too with the sprocket having to be removed at a nearby workshop with a puller. Eventually it was installed and after a few rum punches to celebrate we motored out of Rodney Bay marina, said goodbye to St Lucia and set sail for the island of Martinique 25 miles away. Great anchorage at a place called Grande Anse d'Arlets. Excellent meal ashore at a bar with the waves lapping our feet. Next day another good sail on to the old capital of Martinique, St Pierre, (destroyed by the volcano in the 19th century) where AJB spent the afternoon clearing customs and we had another meal on the water front.
 
Up early the next day for the long haul to the Saints about 75 miles in all. Wind was blowing E5/6 and we were rollocking along on the west coast of Dominica when there was a bang and we noticed that the top 6/8ft of the mainsail had ripped off - in an area where I had noticed delamination the week before and had put in a few hours work with the repair needle. Unfortunately this looked terminal so we pressed on to the Saints under jib alone (at 5.5/6 knots still) arriving about 1730hrs. Lovely anchorage and ashore for an excellent meal at another shoreside restaurant. Curious place the Saints as there are very few blacks (no slavery here) and it looks almost European - it is in fact a part of Guadeloupe and therefore France and the EU.
 
Shopping on the attractive main street the next day
 
Next day we decided to take it easy and do lots of snorkelling so we went to the next bay Anse a Cointe and anchored pottering around on shore and in the water. Next day on to Guadeloupe unfortunately because of the lack of main under jib and engine. Wind was quite light and NE so against us but we got to Pointe a Pitre the capital by 1530hrs. I had been getting quotes from Caribbean sailmakers for a new main and after a visit from the boss of North Sails decided to buy one from them. I was promised delivery by 1st March in Antigua. Ashore that nuight to explore the centre of the Pointe a Pitre but regretted this as soona s we got out of the taxi - very empty and looked dangerous  - despite the lovely colonial buildings there was no atmosphere and no milling crowds of tourists as we expected. So back to the marina on the outskirts of town for a reasonable meal. Weather not so good for the last 2 days! Rain!
 
 
Up at 0400hrs the next day to go up the river (Riviere Salee) that bisects the 2 halves of Guadeloupe and which has 2 bridges that only open at 0500hrs. A bit hairy feeling our way up to the first bridge in the dark but managed it with the keel right up and then really enjoyed our short trip through the mangrove swamps still in the dark - spooky and James Bondish! Minimum depth 2m so impossible in most boats of our size. Finally set sail (motor sailing) the 40miles for Antigua - tried the Code 0 by itself for an hour but otherwise had to motor for 7 hours. Decided to go into Falmouth harbour which was a mistake - designed for superyachts with concrete jetties and not at all friendly to 46fters. Still we explored neighbouring English Harbour by foot (5 mins away).
 
Early the next morning Kevin and Alastair had to leave to take the plane to St Lucia and home so I took the boat round to English Harbour by myself being hjelped to moor by Sherwin the harbour master. Lovely spot. Made contact with the local North Sails rep and left the stacpac to be repaired. Then home to Polly and Matt's wedding