Benign conditions - no test for the leaks!

Oriole
Sat 29 Mar 2014 23:25
Admiralty Bay, Bequia.                                                Sunday 30th March                                        13:00.52N  61:14.30W
 
 
Another early start on Monday with the promise of light winds for the trip to Bequia, which we thought might be too light for good progress. However we had probably the best sail this season with 12-15 knots of wind on the beam clocking 6.5 knots. Even at the windy north end of St Vincent where the wind always bends round to give you a broad reach and then a run it only accelerated to 20 knots - almost unheard of.  This is the spot where yachts lose their masts! 
 
 
 
This inhospitable and precipitous north end of St Vincent is dotted with the fields and shelters of the ganja growers. 
 
Down at the south end of St Vincent the calm in the lee of the island gives way to the Bequia Channel and more wind, usually more than enough, but today even a Laughing Gull was able to remain standing on his surfboard, master of all he surveyed.
 
 
Circling this idiot bird for the photograph did not phase him at all!
 
We picked up a mooring at the top end of Admiralty Bay in time for the Admiral's afternoon tea - remembering Simon Julien's tales when, as a midshipman RN, the Bay contained the West Indies Fleet with destroyers, cruisers and fleet tankers and even a submarine, and he, while presiding over the captain's barge while executing an uncontrolled turn deposited the entire Royal Marine escort over the side!   Admiralty Bay is now also popular with bare boat charter yachts and using a mooring at the top end of the Bay prevents the repeated problem of inexperienced crews of giant catamarans anchoring just in front of you and dragging their anchor during the night!  This is just about the only place we pay for a mooring for self defence.
Once again there has been a gathering of the clans here and there are friends (mostly also on moorings) on five other boats in the Bay, so more jollification, meals ashore and sundowners. 
 
 
Oh no!  I am the only one having a starter again - excellent lobster soup.
 
The mild weather did not last long as today we are back to gusty winds and a big northerly ground swell from a so called "bomb low"  running up from Florida to Nova Scotia, and then no doubt heading for the UK.  It is almost unbelievable that these storms so far away can send swells as far south as the coast of Venezuela.  The sea breaking on the seawall and beach here have been impressive, in what is normally a quiet spot.
 
 
Belmont Walkway under attack. 
 
Time is running short and our sojurn in the sun is coming to an end so off south again next week. 
For anyone interested in innovative yacht design and building, some friends have appeared here in their brand new Stimson 56, designed and built in the UK, but came flat packed in a container from New Zealand.  Ikea are you listening?  See www.stimsonyachts.com