14:4.30N 60:56.54W

Whisper
Noel Dilly
Fri 11 Jan 2013 00:04
"St. Lucia - 10th January"

We are still in Rodney Bay waiting for our dinghy, it has been a little frustrating, simply because everyday we have needed to do something regarding the dinghy, so our days have not been free.  The dinghy was delayed by customs for some reason, so was not delivered the day it should have been, not so important, if we had only been told! It was released yesterday and we had sight of it when it was brought to the marina for us and the final paperwork cleared.  It was then taken away again to have a cover made, evidently a necessity as many ribs get damaged on the barnacles growing on the landing pontoons.  It is not unusual to see vast collections of dinghies tied on various lengths of rope to a small wooden pontoon in close proximity to the nearest supermarket.  Getting amongst them to reach the pontoon to tie on, can be quite fun, as can battling your way through them to escape with your goodies. 

Also, the weather has not been too good.  It has rained every day, not all day, but heavy showers with lots of strong gusts of  wind, a good time to be in harbour though.  It has been quite exhausting simply having to keep rushing to close hatches, retrieve any towels or clothes drying on the guard rails, cockpit cushions etc.  One minute the sky was bright blue the next black with the heavens open.  I cannot believe that a week has gone by since we arrived back here, despite the rain it is warm here and one soon dries out.  It has given us a good opportunity to brighten up Whisper.  All the transatlantic tea stains in the cockpit have been removed, as have all the rust stains caused by the volcanic dust blown onto her  whilst in Madeira.  Her top sides have been scrubbed and polished and she looks lovely once again!  She really was looking tired and as if she had sailed a long way,  now  I am looking tired and as if I have sailed a long way!

The cover will be ready tomorrow (Friday) hopefully and as the weather is now improving, we should get away on Saturday and head north to Martinique.  The island  is only about 20 miles away, so just a day sail away - but to windward!