St Lucia – Marigot Bay

13:57.96N 61:01.47W

15th January 2015

5510 Miles from Ramsgate by log.

            Guess what, it is still raining! I was just about to go ashore to complete the customs formalities in Marigot bay, St Lucia when the skies opened up and torrential rain came down, which even though it is warm rain has definitely put the stoppers on that manoeuvre. We arrived at 5 O’clock last night with the boat and us covered in salt crystals from stem to stern after another bit of a bashing by the weather on the way over. The wind was just free enough to sail but in order to make real progress we also ran the engine at slow revs to help push us through the confused seas and boy were they confused seas. With the wind steady at 25 Knots the seas heaped up at the top end of St Vincent and came at us from all directions at once, poor old Spectra had the decks awash on several occasions and if you know the boat suffice to say water was pouring out over the top of the bulwarks at times, so not nice at all. As if that wasn’t unpleasant enough a rather large wave washed a giant flying cockroach out from under the life raft on deck which immediately started a manic hunt as there is no way I’m sharing cabin space with any of those little buggers. Steve attacked it from the safe end of a long broom, while I chased around with two dust pans trying to heard it into a corner, Norma meanwhile accused us both of squealing like little girls while standing a very safe distance away. Finally the battle was won and Mr Cockroach was consigned to the deep, hopefully he didn’t fly in with any pals. Strangely enough when we looked up the seas had calmed considerably as we were coming  into the lee of St Lucia.

    The Pitons rose ever higher as we sailed past busily snapping pictures and headed up to Marigot bay for the night. After studying Mr Streets instructions on finding the entry to Marigot bay, I gave up and followed the plotter which as always took me straight in, I am sure there is a conspicuous red roofed house on the hill Mr Street but it is hidden amongst all of the other red roofed houses that have been built since you wrote your guide I am thinking. Marigot bay is really, really nice a proper picture postcard type of Caribbean port. We decided to go for a good nights sleep and accepted the boat boys offer of a mooring buoy at $80 EC a night which was a bit steep I thought. As it turns out the fee covers taxi rides ashore and to the restaurants, showers, garbage removal etc so it didn’t turn out too bad after all.

    As Norma and Steve finished tying the lines onto the buoy and I switched the engine off Norma stood up and announced in a really loud and clear voice for all the adjacent yachts to hear, “I am always happier when I get on a buoy at night”. My ghast was absolutely flabbered I can tell you and the boat boy went away with a huge grin on his face.

Must go rain has stopped I will update pictures next time from Rodney bay when we get there tomorrow..

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