Whistle stop charter
Oriole
Sun 21 Jan 2007 20:22
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Isles des Saintes, Guadaloupe. 15:52.18N
61:35.04W
So far our new charter party (non-paying but very
supportive) seem to have enjoyed their brief Caribbean tour. We plucked
Erik and Fran off the dock and renewed their acquaintance with English Harbour
and on Monday took them for a brisk beat to Nonsuch Bay.
 Oliver Taxi deposits Erik and Fran on
the dock.
This was not quite the Caribbean they
were expecting, with big seas, contrary currents and force six with a procession
of squalls. Much to their surprise we found prefect shelter in the
lee of a tiny island on the SE corner of Antigua with additional shelter from
off lying reefs. The beach was within swimming distance, the sea brilliant
turquoise and the re-cycled breakfast was soon forgotton.
Chill out, over we made for Guadaloupe on another
squally day with the wind clocking around the compass, not what we are used to,
but the last few hours of the trip were textbook sailing with a brisk beam wind.
Deshaies entertained us with a visit to the exotic botanical gardens and a
lobster blowout lunch. (6 between 4).
 Deshaies Garden
inhabitants.
Prince Rupert Bay, Dominica was our next station
stop and after Erik and Fran had done the obligatory trip up the Indian River
with its rain forest flora and fauna we took a tour around the north end if the
island taking in sulphur springs, bay rum distillaries, magnificent views and
finally a dip in a fast flowing river. Our tour guide was a mine of
information and if we had managed to assimilate all his tropical herbal remedies
we would never need the NHS again.
 The windward side of Dominica on a
quiet day.
The downside of Dominica and its wonderful mountain
scenery is the rain which we had in abundance where the clouds cling to the tops
and deposit on the sheltering yachts below.
Now on our way back to Antigua we are in the
Saintes (small islands south of Guadaloupe) where with luck we should be dry and
enjoy France in the tropics
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