Simpson Bay Marina, Sint Marteens (Dutch West Indies).

We have moved onto a marina for a couple of days to take on some stores and water, and Ian is servicing one of the bilge pumps.

Ian was on the podium with the crew of the boat he was racing on last night at the Heineken Regatta prize giving event as his boat won all their races, and Christian made it to as his boat was awarded the prize for best endeavour, after their rudder fell off and then they went on to win some of the races in their category. The youngsters are now really 'pumped-up' and are firmly in race mode for the trip home. During the event, we met up with Rafael again (whom we met in the Canaries) and George who undertook some electrical work for us in Jolly |Harbour. As coincidence would have it, he was crewing on the same boat as Ian!

Our itinerary now looks like the following:

1 Cruise to Saba, Saint Bartholomew, Monserrat and then returning to Saint Martin on the 19th March to repair the Furlex and mainsail.

2 Leave for Bermuda on 23rd March.

3 A VIP is joining us from the 2nd to 9yh April.

4 We then decide whether to sail across to the Azores if the weather is favourable. If not, we will delay the return until the first week in May. The youngsters then have the option of racing in Antigua week whilst Andy and I might return home for a few weeks. All weather dependant though.

Mike White

Mob: 07825925838/Sat Phone:+881631528694

mike {CHANGE TO AT} tradewind {DOT} eclipse {DOT} co {DOT} uk