Deshaies Bay, Guadeloupe
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We returned to Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour and tied alongside to see the New Year in with champagne and fireworks. The dockyard put on a splendid party which we were able to enjoy. We then spent a couple of days relaxing before clearing out, signing Andrew off the crew list (literally) and signing Robert on. Andrew has managed to find a weeks work on the largest single masted yacht and has an interview for a more permanent job on Monday so we keep our fingers crossed. We finally said goodbye to Antigua on Friday and had a fast, boisterous passage down to Guadeloupe, wind on the beam, 20 knots with one rainsquall of 35 knots. We dropped anchor in Deshaies Bay on the west coast of Guadeloupe at 1500 and from the cockpit watched the best sunset we have seen this trip - followed by a green flash..
 For Christmas Robert gave Chris an underwater
case for her digital camera so yesterday afternoon was spent snorkelling off the
reef just inside the northern headland taking underwater pictures. Robert was able to dive down and hold
his breath for longest so his results were best.
 The atmosphere is definitely French West
Indian, a patisserie greets you just as you step ashore and we are able to use
euros once more. The terrain is very green and lush as the rainfall is high. We
are hoping to take a trip inland to do some more exploring while we are here.
Robert is with us till the 16th Jan so we plan to sail down to The
Saints, a group of islands to the south of Guadeloupe, then drop him back in
Guadeloupe to get a flight to Antigua then on to the UK. Meanwhile we will
continue to eat the lotusand try not to go to
windward.
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