April 21st.1500hours..Leaving from Virgin Gorda we went through Necker Passage as we wanted to see Necker Island. Necker Island is owned by Richard Branson, who wrote "Loosing one's Virginity"(highly recommend as a good read.)
1615hours..We've got our foresail out , traveling with the wind virtually on our nose, so we'll see how long we want this challenge. We are travelling between 5.5 and 5.8 knots.
2010hours. Incredible moon rising. we continue on our heading of 145* magnetic. Right now it's beautiful---not enough wind for the foresail, but the main is helping; the seas are a gradual swell.
Sorry picture did not do the moon any justice.
2100hours. All unnecessary power is off as the alternator is not working. Winds have died down.
2200hours. Engine off again; foresail out again and we're sailing at 4knots.
By 2300hours we're down to travelling at 2knots. At this rate it will take another 20hours. No thank you. Back on with the motor.
By 2300hours we're down to travelling at 2knots. At this rate it will take another 20hours. No thank you. Back on with the motor.
April 22nd.
0100hours. It's either getting colder or we are getting more tired. We spell one another off every hour from the helm. Where is AUTO?? Randy really only rests about 30 minutes at a time.
0700hours We're in Marigot Bay on the French side of St. Martin and by 0800hours we are anchored. The trip took 16hours.
St. Martin/Sint Maarten is approximately 7 miles square. It is divided in the middle, the northern section is French and treated as part of Guadeloupe;the southern section is Dutch and is part of the Netherlands Antilles. The French side uses the Euro or US funds while the Dutch uses primarily US and the Dutch Guilder.
Checking in to customs on the French side was very simple. We really felt welcomed to their country and they said we can stay as long as we want.
April 23rd.We've moved in closer to shore to get out of the heavy boat traffic that seems to want to fly by us on a regular basis.
The pattiserie; La Lucriere, our favorite internet hang out with friends Kathy, Kerry, Yvon and Carmelle.
April 24th. We got our phone up and running--Took all day and such a frustrating time it was.--Too long a story to bore you with.
Towing Yvon so he can get his new dinghy motor.
April 25th. Randy replaced our alternator to-day.
April 28th. The last few days have flown by. We're amazed we haven't had much time to actually sight-see the island. We have gone over to the Dutch side a few times to the Yacht Club to watch the boats come and go through the bridge, we've done some hiking, plus dropped off our laundry.
Oh yeah the laundry. There is no where that we can do our own laundry, we must take it to a laundry service. Well,,,, 4 towels, a set of sheets, one cotton blanket, shorts, shirts and lingerie--probably 3 wash loads....cha-ching, cha-ching...$47.00U.S. MAY AS WELL CALL IT $50.
Randy retrieving our grocery cart that accidently rolled into the sea.
Once more saying good bye to Taima. Until we meet again.
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