High pressure sailing
Oriole
Sat 7 Feb 2004 18:18
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Fortunately the French side of St Martin went a
long way to redress the balance of the less attractive characteristics of
the Dutch side. Like the other French Islands, it is just France in the
tropics. We were told on the Dutch side that the diving tanks we wanted
were not available in St Martin. 'I know because I do all the wholesale
importing into the Island' However we found a delightful French
guy who was only too pleased to sell us exactly what we wanted at a knockdown
price, provided we observed his lunch hour from 1200-1500. We were also
able to restock with all the French food goodies that were running
low. The officialdom on the Dutch side is the most bad mannered we
have experienced in the Caribbean so far. Perhaps if they took their example
from the French, John would not have had chips spat in his face while trying to
pay our Clearance Fees. The Coast Guard cutter dangerously and needlessly cut us
up while we were close tacking up the shore today and had rebuked another
yachtsman who complained on the radio that they were running at night without
lights. 'That is our policy' he was told. On balance St Martin gets
the thumbs down but its neighbour Anguilla, which is of course British is
top of the pops. We sailed across the channel from St Martin and up the
magnificent coral sand fringed shore of Anguilla to arrive in Road Bay where the
colour of the water was brilliant turquoise. We had an exciting exhibition
by two 12 metre yachts practicing for a regatta as we approached.
 Here the Customs Officer, was a delightful young
lady and there were no fees to pay!! Chris was in danger of falling
for another dive instructor who unfortunately but wisely declined to take
us diving as he considered all the dive sites were too rough. We would like
to return to explore this island in more detail and particularly to sample its
diving when the conditions are better.
 We reluctantly raised our anchor this morning
to start our way south. High pressure has established itself in the last week
and the tradewinds have started blowing in a major way, gusting up to 40 knots.
Currently there is a northerly component so we aim to make use of that
before it turns south easterly and blows in our face. We are
sheltering this evening in a bay on the south side of St Martin and plan to
move down to St Kitts and Nevis tomorrow.
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