Christmas winds.
Oriole
Sat 3 Jan 2004 13:59
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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.
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