13:00.628N 061:14.491W
Whisper
Noel Dilly
Wed 5 Dec 2012 13:07
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"Bequia - 5th December"
We left Rodney Bay on Monday, there was not a lot
of wind so we motored most of the way to Soufriere Bay. We were greeted
some way out by a Boat Boy, who offered to find us a good buoy for a EC20
(Caribbean Dollars). We accepted and were led to a very nice sheltered
spot under the rocks with a magnificent view of the Deux Pitons. Later the
National Reserve officials turned up and wanted EC40 for use of the mooring! Our
first activity was to find our swimming togs and go for a swim. The water
was glorious and warm but wonderfully cool to our bodies after the heat of the
day. We didn't go ashore but had a pleasant evening on board under the
clear starlit sky. During the night I woke up and was concerned that
I could smell gas. Close investigation in the dark, surrounded by sleeping
bodies, proved that all was switched off and that we were quite safe.
Slowly it dawned on me that this smell was familiar to me, it was sulphur, the
off shore breeze was wafting the gases across the bay from the sulphur spring
inland!
We all awoke with the dawn and decided to set off
straight away serving breakfast on the way, as we wanted to go to the island of
Bequia some 30 miles away (20 minutes by car but all day by
boat). There was not a lot of wind to start with so we motored,
enjoying the coastline of St Lucia until we left the lee of the island when
the wind finally offered us a peaceful idyllic sail south to the
island of St Vincent. We were then forced to motor sail but we made good
progress. After having the Atlantic Ocean to ourselves for so long,
it was strange to see other yachts around us. We arrived at Admiralty Bay,
Bequia and two boat boys rushed to help us find a buoy. This was not
necessary as we could actually see, but they would not take "no" for an
answer. Having picked our buoy one of them rushed to it and held the rope
out. A verbal fight broke out between the two boat boys as we took in the
line, whatever was said, it didn't sound very polite. We were then charged
for the mooring, only to discover in the morning that this buoy belongs to a
Charter Boat which is away for a couple of days! Then, whilst the boys are ashore, shopping and clearing Customs
etc. another boat boy came to say that he was in charge of the mooring and
thought that we had only just arrived. I explained that we had paid Julian
(the name on the receipt) last night when we arrived. He was not very
happy and went off no doubt to look for Julian! I am looking
forward to the quite bays where we can anchor without hassle.
As we relaxed last evening with our drinks in the
cockpit, the sun began to set. The sky was gloriously on fire
with streaks of red, yellow, gold and orange lining the entrance to
the bay. A perfect end to a long day!
Photo: "Whisper and
the Pitons" (taken by Noel whilst swimming)
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