Christmas winds.

Oriole
Sat 3 Jan 2004 13:59
Saturday saw our first coat of varnish go on at around 4pm which with the normal lack of dew would normally be ok.  However there was a very heavy dew and the new coat looked a bit milky in places on Sunday morning, but by the time the sun had had a go at it the clarity returned and we put on a second coat.  This had just dried when the wind switched round from east to west and blew at 30 knots with inpenetrable rain.  Anyone who sails in the Caribbean will tell you that in the winter the wind never blows westerly and as most of the "protected" anchorages face west that is normally fine. 
However the thirty knots was shortlived but the wind continued westerly for 24 hours making all the normal anchorages untenable or extremely uncomfortable, and was combined with a big north-westerly swell. From our safe vantage point tucked up in the mangroves the all round protection of Marin was invaded by scores of yachts caught out in the west facing anchorages and stories of dragging anchors and yachts on reefs were circulating on the airwaves.  Somewhat reluctantly we prised ourselves out of our hideyhole on Tuesday and joined Saltwhistle for New Year on the west side of Martinique.  The anchorage at Trois Islets where we met up remained pretty bouncy over New Year but that did not stop us having a menu gastronomique from pooled resources on Oriole lasting from 8pm till well after midnight.  Land of Hope and Glory whistled down the wind at midnight and Union Jacks were to the fore. 
There has been little movement of yachts over the last week or so since the strong Christmas winds set in, but we plan to move north to St Pierre, Martinique tomorrow and then on up to Dominica and Guadaloupe. The winds and seas are forecast to calm down during the week so with any luck the fair weather sailors will be happy.   A very Happy New Year to all and many thanks for all the well wishing emails.