New Year in Martinique
Serai
Jason and Emily Willis
Tue 2 Jan 2007 02:14
14:27.70N 60:52.20W
Arrived in Martinique at noon after a really annoying sail from Dominica. First of all we had no wind for 3 hours. The we cleared the Dominican coast and had 20 knots from the beam and 8 foot seas. We charged along at 7 knots for 3 hours. Then we got in behind Martinique and the winds came and went. Sometimes 5 knots and then sometimes nothing. The sails kept flogging and we would be doing 1.5 knots. It was so frustrating. We kept putting the engine on and then turning it off again.
For some reason we also keep approaching islands from far too far away. I guess we are being over-cautious. This time we had a 7 mile cross track error, which became a beat to windward to make up the error and get back on course for Le Marin, Martinique. This, of course, took for ever. We thought we would be anchored by about 8 am, but instead we did not get settled in till noon. But it was new Year's Eve, so we slept for a bit and then got ready to paint the town red!
So where was the party? Well it seems this is a one hprse town, so we partied at the only bar that seemed to be open. Le Mango provided us with great Moules and frites and the worst ribs I have ever had in the Caribbean - c'est la vie! By midnight we were knackered and back onboard. We saw in the New Year with a brandy coffee and watched a free firework display put on by Club Med. All pretty awesome but wished we could be with friends and family - the price you pay for the lifestyle...and we're certainly not complaining!
Hope 2007 brings all you wish for and certainly all you expect.
Lots of love
J and Ems xx