Rodney Bay - 14th January

We remain without a dinghy!  The ancient trusted Avon has been scrubbed and stowed away.  After making gentle inquiries about the new dinghy today, we are told that it will be ready tomorrow morning.  We know that this will be delayed for a short while, as our Agent would like another prospective client to try our size of dinghy on the foredeck of his Rustler 42, before it is handed over to us.  It so happens that in the past Noel has corresponded with the owner via the Rustler Owner's website, so another new friendship has begun.  We were invited onboard for "sundowners" last evening, his Rustler is new and very beautiful and spacious down below, but the design has somehow lost the traditional style and is more in keeping with the modern style of today's yachts, luxurious and completely furnished in wood and although the cockpit is large the huge steering wheel and column does not leave a lot of space.  One would assume that our 8ft dinghy bought to fit on the foredeck of a 36ft boat, would easily be accommodated on a 42ft boat, but I am not so sure, the foredeck although larger than ours has far more fittings and fixtures but we shall see, I just hope that it is going to fit on Whisper. 

We were also surprised to meet a chap from Brightlingsea on our pontoon.  We do not know him personally, although his voice sounds familiar but this could just be that lovely soft East coast accent that he has.  The connection is that he has sailed with Chris and Kevin a few times out here and hopes to again later this year, he even told us that they are at present in Martinque.  This small world just gets smaller by the day. 

Tomorrow, looks as if it will be a day of trying out the dinghy in the water and finding a technique for getting it on board and lashed down, checking out at Customs, as Martinque is a French Island, paying for our stay here and maybe purchasing a few provisions so that we will be ready to leave first thing on Wednesday. 

The good side of being delayed so long, is that the winds have calmed down, so we should have a gentle passage, not quite to windward!

Photos: "Whisper Gleaming" & "Fruit & Vegetables Delivered To Your Door"