Mahi Beach is on the Dutch side of the island at the end of SXM airport runway. The easiest way to get to it would be either three buses at $1 each, but time consuming and not necessarily reliable, or we could sail around, but there is no anchoring in the bay due to low flying aircraft. So Darrell decided we would dinghy across the lagoon to the airport and then walk around to meet Boddas. We both thought ahead and packed spare clothing, no waddling round in wet underwear for us today! However, for once we arrived at the dinghy dock, next to the bright pink tug, dry, due to Darrell's skilful manoeuvring and there being little wind. This is a rarity for any journey let alone one of thirty minutes. We were just tucking into pancakes and French toast (eggy bread) when Boddas arrived resplendent in his Dutch orange shirt, looking a picture of health. We caught up on life in Bellingham, grilled him about the cruise ship system and compared notes on islands visited, while watching planes coming in to land only a few metres above the heads of people on the beach. Our enduring memory of our day together is videoing Boddas as a KLM 747 prepared for take off at the end of the runway by the beach, and the force of the thrust from the jet engines sent him and the other bystanders on the beach tumbling down the sand towards the sea, (luckily that orange top stood out on the video clearly) Boddas managed to avoid ending up in the surf. He returned to the bar covered in sand and wearing the biggest smile, his day was definitely made! If you get the chance when he gets back ask to see that video. All too soon we had to part company as he had to get back to the cruise ship as it was leaving for Tortola. 

Our dinghy ride back to Stream was not as successful as earlier and to say we were both dripping by the time we got back is not an understatement. For the first time on our trip Sarah needed a shower to warm up! DJ respect was again entertaining us from the nearby beach.

We were awoken early on Saturday by another carnival event. 'Jouve Jump Up' which started at 5 am on the dot, a first for Caribbean Island events. We are not sure where in Marigot Bay it was, but it could have been on deck as it was so loud. The music had the popular beat that DJ Respect would approve of and appeared to move around the streets. By 7am we had given up all hope of sleep and decided to get up and go ashore for breakfast and wifi. The beat was still going strong, but the almond croissants did go some way to improving our mood. Although unusually the wifi was useless, as there were so many yachties on in the cafe as they too had been driven ashore by 'Jouve Jump Up'.

As we had decided to sail south we needed to clear out through customs. So at opening time we were queuing at the door (9.30am) to be informed by a nice young lady, with Controlleur on the back of her smart uniform, that the customs officer was "absent for professional reasons" She asked us if we had errands we could do, but we had completed everything due to our early start. She then suggested we could clear out at the marina, but we informed her we were not allowed to as we had tried that last time we were here. So she went off to make a phone call, leaving us standing outside the locked door. She returned a few minutes later with no clear idea of what was to happen, when she received a phone call. The good news was "the Director" was on his way over. Five minutes later he arrived in his casual dress, obviously working wasn't on his list as he was in jeans, but once he had  re familiarised himself with the computer he quickly completed the form and we could leave, with no payments required. So half an hour later off we set for St Barth's in the sun, under reefed main and full genoa.

This was not one of our best sails. We had two good hours along the coast of St Martin, but as soon as we tacked for St Barth's the wind changed direction (southerly) and was soon accompanied by driving rain, which was cold and very wet and lasted well over an hour. The visibility dropped so Sarah could see no land, well actually she found it hard to see past the end of the boat. After a change of clothes we furled the jib and motor sailed the remaining ten miles as the weather slightly improved arriving at the anchorage on Ile Fourchue about 5pm.

This little island off the north west of St Barth's was once the home to herd of goats. However, since they ate everything in sight the population crashed and the few remaining ones were removed to another island (they actually did eat themselves out of house and home!). After seven years the vegetation on the island is beginning to recover and you can actually see some trees now.