Trip Update - 27th February 2009 Grand Anse d'Arlet, Martinique
Position: 14:30:10N
61:05:20W In the interests of
self-sufficiency, I decided that it was time to start relying less on the engine
and the electric windlass. So we
decided to sail off the anchor.
This involves me pulling the chain up by hand (usually about 30 metres,
plus a 25kg Delta anchor), with the mainsail up, and unfurling a bit of jib to
sail off downwind. It all worked
fine and was a good bit of exercise leaving me nice and hot and red in the
face. I don’t know what the other
boats must have thought of our antics. We had a short sail round to Grande
Anse d’Arlet, a bay just south of the capital, Fort de France. We had a music session with the girls on
the way, playing all the musical instruments in time to one of their CDs. Their music CDs are imprinted on our
brains and most of the trip can be choreographed with one of their many
songs. Just playing a song evokes
such a strong image of a place.
However, it is now getting to the point where I may cheerfully smash up
the CD player with a winch handle if Linda Arnold and her “Coral Reef” song
comes on again… Jamming session off
Martinique Grand Anse is another lovely bay
with turquoise waters, a long sandy beach and lots of bars and cafes. It is quiet here, mainly because of the
strike, but there are still a huge number of yachts anchored throughout the
bay. We went ashore and watched the
sunset with a drink. I opted for a Ti Punch which is rum and sugar syrup and I
think is the Swimming off the boat, Grand Anse
d’Arlet, Martinique Another hard day at the beach, Grand
Anse d’Arlet Martinique |