Dominica, Martinique and St Lucia
True Colours
James Scrimshaw
Sat 24 Jan 2015 20:51
We had a good couple of days in Roseau, Dominica. We took a Roseau Valley tour with Octavius (Sea Cat), who was recommended in Doyle's Guide. Sea Cat was excellent, stopping to show plants, fruits and vegetables, and James & Sarah also swam in Trafalgar Falls, and got most of the way to the end of the Titou Gorge-the current eventually proving too strong.
A great sail on Thursday to St Pierre, Martinique. Full rig, close reach, 14 knots of wind, 7 - 8 knots boat speed. One day of swimming, and visiting some of the ruins left by the 1902 earthquake, followed by a nice meal at Alsace (we do like it when, on ordering 3 gin & tonics, the owner just brings the bottle plus plenty of tonic and ice and leaves it all on the table).
We left St Pierre this morning with a reefed main in deference to the forecast. Another close reach, winds up to 20 knots (towards the end we also furled some Genoa in). The 45 Nm took us 6 1/2 hours, and that included probably 1/2hour circling in Rodney Bay, stowing sails, preparing ropes and fenders, and waiting for a berth allocation.
New process for clearing in - we had to visit a nurse and fill in a questionnaire, satisfying them that we were not potential Ebola carriers.
James and Rosemary will stay here a few days before moving south towards the end of next week.