Catwalk in Bequia.
Oriole
Mon 12 Mar 2007 20:29
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Admiralty Bay, Bequia. 13:00.19N
61:14.60W
It became quite clear this week that the weather was not going to permit a relaxed visit to the east side of Martinique for a while, with strong winds and big swells, so we reluctantly turned south back to Rodney Bay, St Lucia and then on down to the beautiful Anse de Pitons. When first visited in 1971 this was virgin undeveloped territory but now has the doubtful benefit of a Hilton Hotel and some rather tasteless opulent residences. Whether its status as a World Heritage Site will prevent further desecration is anyone's guess.  The Pitons of St Lucia in all their
glory. At this distance the development is fortunately
invisible.
Helicopters fly in frequently, depositing punters
at the hotel and boat boys roar at top speed disturbing what peace there might
otherwise be. If you think this sounds jaundiced, yes John
is very jaundiced about this anchorage which was probably the most
beautiful they visited in 1971-2, but time moves on and more people have an
opportunity to enjoy what is left of its beauty in a day that was previously
possible in a year or more. It is also a good staging post for the day
passage to Bequia, 50 miles to the south, which we did on Sunday. Starting
in light airs with full sail, the wind steadily picked up during the day.
With the approach of a particularly black cloud the wind speed doubled over
a couple of minutes, but we had already prepared with one reef which was rapidly
followed by another. Even then we were excitingly over canvassed, but
as usual it was relatively short lived.
 Oriole on the catwalk displaying
her best (and only) suit of clothes.
We emerged from the lee of St Vincent into the
Bequia Channel for the 8 mile crossing to Bequia in ideal sailing conditions
with a flat sea and a full sail breeze. Shortly after John had
remarked how convenient it would be if the local photographer appeared,
there he was in his dinghy camera in hand. We are now the proud possessors
of a computer disc full of great pictures of Oriole.
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