Portsmouth, Dominica
True Colours
James Scrimshaw
Sun 18 Jan 2015 14:07
Arrived in Portsmouth, Dominica on Thursday. Leaving The Saintes at 09.10, the wind was 15 kn, but more southerly than we needed, so it looked like we would have to be tacking; however after 20 minutes, the wind backed and increased to 18-20 knots, and we had a cracking very close reach, covering the 23Nm in less than 3 1/2 hours. Lost our ensign on the way 😞
On arriving we were met by Monty, one of the Cobra PAYS boys, who took us to a mooring.
Met up with Sid & Peggy from Limin' Time, which was great.
Following morning Monty took Sarah on an Indian River Tour (thoroughly enjoyed, apart from the bites) while Rosemary went aboard Limin' Time to 'catch up', and James chilled out.
Yesterday we all ate out at the Riverside Hotel. Good 3 course meal, Piña coladas to drink, and less than £20 per head.
We enjoyed Revisiting Portsmouth. The people are so friendly and helpful, it's a secure mooring, and while here we have seen turtles swimming, flying fish scattering out of the way of the tender, and even seen the "green flash" at sunset - a first for us all.
But there was some sadness too. Shortly before we arrived, an American boat had broken its mooring line in the middle of the night (single line led through the mooring buoy and fastened each side had sawn through), and while re-anchoring the wife had a heart attack and died. Not allowed to bury or cremate in Dominica and so he had to register his yacht as a cargo vessel, and then was sailing single handed with the coffin to the USVI where he could arrange burial at sea. James had a beer with him and Sid (who had been helping him out and assisted putting the coffin on board) before he left yesterday.
Today (Sunday) we plan to fill our tanks at the water buoy, and then move to Roseau at the South end of Dominica for a few days.