Escaping from mega swell to St. Kitts

Regina
Espen Aalstad
Wed 19 Mar 2008 20:38
17:13.3N 62:38.5W
Majors Bay St. Kitts.
 
Already in Antigua, we heard of big swell (dønninger) expected from a winter storm system in the north with hurricane winds. On arrival in St. Martin, this was the big topic among sailors in the immigration office and in the internet cafe. We all checked for the latest forecast and for a change all sources agreed: unusually big swell from the north of up to 5 meters at sea and breaking up to 8 meters coming ashore. Forecast said: 'this could become the most significant winter swell event in years'.
 
Boats to other islands were canceled. Our plans for Anguilla  and St. Martin's North coast was out of the question. Touristic ports on the South coast was not appealing to wait for calmer seas for 4-5 days - especially with visiting cousins who has come to see more than beaches. With Espen's birthday approaching we also wanted a more special place.
British Virgin Island was an option (though 90 nm) until the rather unfriendly and bureaucratic immigration office would not let us check out ....'the office hours are different for check out , you see'. St. Kitts was in the wrong direction, but positioned nicely with a southerly coast and would give our tourists more island experiences.
We were not concerned for the sailing as such as the swells are long in between, but want to avoid rolly anchorages.
 
St. Kitts was nice cruise down as well - all cousins on deck until we caught a barracuda. Unfortunately, we can not eat it this far north.!
 
 
So here we are in an excellent protected southerly bay rolling only gently - even here the big, long swell creeps around. 
 
A short walk to the Atlantic coast showed a different surf:  the top is expected tomorrow.   look careful how breaks are breaking far out above Elin.
 
 
Certainly memorable birthday conditions for Espen. Ahore also. We found a reggae bar in Cockshell Bay for a long lunch (note sailing friends: Doyle is wrong. The 'famous' bar/restaurant has moved from Turtle Bay. The food is indeed very good). Seems we can not escape cruise ship tourists, but fortunately they prefer the beach and the rum punch so we could explore alone. Just up the road we found the wild monkeys (brought originally by English colonial ladies) among the goats and salt pond.
 
A huge tame boar on the beach eating restaurant left overs, and a big eagle ray in the water has made the days for the cousins. Ingeborg at a real rasta toilet!