Heading north

 

Sorry for taking so long in posting this blog….been procrastinating a little.

Heading North

We had a perfect window to start our journey north the day after New Year’s. Winds 15 knots south-east , seas 2 to 4 feet high….wine and cheese sailing as some would say.

Left Bequia at noon for an overnight sail. We usually try to avoid them but having debated different routes, we felt  it would be better to do an 18 to 22 hour passage instead of stopping in St Vincent where the anchorage is not the best or St Lucia that has a bad reputation for being boarded by robbers/pirates.

We had a great sail from Bequia to St Vincent, doing 6 knots or more, then got in the lee of the big island. Winds died down, sails fluttering all over…time to motor sail. As we reached the bottom of St Lucia island, night had fallen, pitch black, couldn’t see anything so we didn’t see the big squall on the horizon.

We only had the mainsail on and we were just about to put on the Genoa when the squall hit us. Thank god we didn’t have time to put the second sail on. It would have been a bad day. It was a horrible 4 hours. Winds howling, couldn’t see a thing. No lights from shore, totally soaked and of course our navigation system stopped working, and we’re hand steering because our autopilot had given up on us just as we got back in the water this season. It was a challenge.

Try as I could, I got so turned around at the wheel after taking over for Mike who needed an emergency pee break. I kept turning the boat in a circle, afraid that I’d do an accidental jibe with the sail all the while screaming MIKE……help!!!! It was a very quick trip to the bathroom…poor guy.

To say that it was a rough night would be an understatement.

We arrived in Saint Anne, Martinique a little too early. We had hoped to arrive just as the sun came up but we arrived in the dark. Both so tired,… on the bow, sweeping the water with the spot light, I kept seeing men and women dancing and walking on the water. Ouf…not good. Saw huge ships and apartment buildings that really weren’t there, Time to put the anchor down and go to bed. 

We did stay back and away from other boats. Time to reposition after a few hours of sleep and no dancing people 😂 

We stayed for 3 weeks in Ste Anne’s, time to buy a new outboard motor since our 30 year old Nissan 5hp was starting to act up. We needed a reliable motor to take us around. We bit the bullet and splurged on a brand new 9.8 Tohatsu. Unfortunately, we got a lemon. After 4 days, it kept stalling and eventually it wouldn’t start anymore. The dealership wasn’t the most friendliest nor accommodating. After spending the weekend stuck on the boat because they were closed, we had to argue with them to get a mechanic out Monday morning. Long story short and many heated discussions, we got another outboard motor that works really well.

We have finally departed Martinique and have arrived in Dominica. 

The weather was favorable for our 36 nm crossing, winds 15 to 20 kts from the south, southeast. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Perfect.

The reality….winds were straight north. Between 5 to 9 kts, and we saw waves up to 10 feet. Don’t always believe the weatherman 😂 

We’ve been having the most crazy weather this season, even the locals are saying it’s unusual. Lots of swells. Very difficult to sleep at night. Boat is rocking, things are rattling in the cupboards, crashing…not very pleasant. Looking forward to calm seas soon.

Cheers

Mike and Pierrette

Great sunset

Dinner in the making

Pilot house and also our second salon

Lizard 

Great balconies full of flowers Dominica 

Our last beer on the beach in Bequia

Night shot in Bequia

Cemetery, Bequia

Bequia

Beautiful flowers

Perfect spot for a hammock 

St Vincent

On our way to Martinique

Honah Lee

Busy dinghy dock

Nap time

Eye of the Needle ship

Mike and Kurt at favorite bar in St Pierre, Martinique

St Pierre (Mt Pelee volcano in the background)

View of the anchorage, St-Pierre

St Pierre, Martinique 

Roseau, Dominica

Tuna diner, St Pierre