Ballast Bay and Christophe Harbour

Persephone... Cruiser/Racer
Nigel & Karen Goodhew...
Fri 7 Apr 2017 18:02
We upped anchor in Basse Terre, and headed south in search of peace, calm and less rolling on the anchor. For old time's sake we thought we would head for Ballast Bay. The pilot book suggests that the shelter is as good as it gets in St Kitts, and we were pretty sure this was where we stopped over 4 years ago on our way down from the neighbouring island, Nevis.

But my! How things change. In Ballast bay, the beach has been breached and a channel pushed through into the salt pond beyond. The salt pond too has been dredged, apparently to a depth of 18 feet and a marina development is under way. Two or three superyachts graced the new facility, none of which was even started in 2013.

We elected to stop in White House Bay, next door and later, explored the new marina by dinghy.

It's going to be a pretty special and very up market development, with housing plots apparently for sale around the lagoon for between 700000 and 7.5 million us dollars!

Meanwhile, in our little bay, our rendezvous with Win2Win was successful and we all enjoyed a convivial evening aboard W2W last night, eating some of the fish Eltjo caught on his way to the meeting point.

We have been discussing Nautor Swan yachts, of various ages and sizes....and Karen has been teaching Lilian the vernacular for the times when ones partner discusses wistfully the merits of owning a boat which is almost certainly perrennially beyond ones financial reach.

There's a very chic little bar in the bay too. Reassuringly expensive, they play the right kind of music, make very decent cocktails and attract the beautiful people of or visiting St Kitts. The bar faces west for the delightful sunsets, and we have succumbed to temptation each of the 3 nights we have been here so far.

Pete and Debbie on Chat Eau Bleu were with us last night as well as Lilian and Eltjo. We might not see the Chat Eau Bleus again as they are heading south while we will turn north again in a day or two.

Its altogether very agreeable here. The wind is down a notch or two from the strong blasts in February, just enough to stay cool and move the boat at full speed.



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