Poor Bob is suffering somewhat from a gripey tum and although we have everything else known to man in the First Aid kit, we have no gripe water.  Hopefully gin will have a similar effect.  As a result of Bob’s discomfort we had a light supper at La Vague and a nice bottle of Muscadet sur Lie.  Being somewhat tired from our night manoeuvres, and Bob’s discomfort, we were ready for bed at an early hour.  We set the anchor drag alarm just in case and slept soundly.

This morning we rose at a leisurely pace and prepared to move on to Fort de France.  Our departure was interrupted by the most extraordinary sight of a school of swimmers each dressed in wet suit with snorkel, towing a buoy and some with paddles strapped to their hands.  They solemnly and steadily swam right across the bay which is miles and miles.  They swarmed on the beach for a bit and then made their return, equally stately, back again across the bay for more miles and miles.  Quite mad.

We set off into no wind at all.  Even when t huffed up to anything significant it was right on our nose.  We made the decision just to motor all the way, a really good chance to charge the batteries and for Bob to charge his with a day off from pulling ropes and sweating over a hot winch.  We watched the coast go by and enjoyed the sunshine, a bit too much on my behalf as I forgot to get Bob to put sunscreen on my back so am somewhat glowing.

Fort de France is incredibly civilised.  It is the largest town we have yet to visit in the WIndies with high rise flats, smart park and waterfront and everything up to EU standards for health and safety.  We very much admired the extraordinary library, shipped in brick by brick and rebuilt in situ, and the contemporary extension to the colonial style parliament building which cleverly reflected the columns and very French louvre windows.  It is also one of the quietest yet, it being Sunday and everything is firmly “ferme”.  It did mean that our gentle stroll to get our bearings was very soothing, the only obstacles to our complete enjoyment the number of random people asleep on steps, against the pissoir and just in the middle of the square outside the cathedral.  Sunday is definitely a day of rest.  Nowhere is open, except MacDonalds, so we are eating on board tonight  (Bob is obviously unwell if he is turning down the opportunity of a Big Mac). 

It is exceedingly pleasant on deck, a lovely temperature, a gentle breeze and the most fantastic sunset show.  Bob is just about to go and make me a gin and tonic.  Cheers!