January 31 St Martin

On January 26th we decided to head north after the front had passed. We had a window of opportunity, knowing that another front was on the way. We raised anchor in St Kitts at first light, 630am and aimed for St Barts. The winds were 15knots and even though the seas were building, ultimately to 10 feet on this journey, we screamed along at 7.5 knots. We found ourselves in range of St Barts around noon and decided to press on to St Martin while the getting was good.
We rounded the southwestern coast and found ourselves headed right into the wind and swell, so it was rough and slow going the rest of the way into Marigot Bay, on the French side. Same island, but in addition to customs/immigration fees, the Dutch charge for anchoring and passing through the draw bridge into the sheltered lagoon of the bay. The French do not so it appears they do have a few redeeming qualities. Obviously, most cruisers enter and check in on the French side. We did not make it in time for the last bridge opening, so we anchored in Marigot Bay. The winds were very brisk but fortunately the anchorage was not rolly so we were able to rest.
Dinghy rides were proving to be wet and long so we entered the sheltered lagoon the following day to wait out the ever-building front before we proceed to the Virgin Islands. This proved a good decision since the winds have continued to build through the week, currently 20knots sustained with gusts to 28knots. Until today is has been cool and very rainy. I have been wearing long sleeves and even a jacket for dinghy rides. I contemplate socks…the horror. Weather reports indicate offshore winds 25-30knots and seas in excess of 12 feet. This thing is supposed to blow itself out in the next day or two, and we have to wait until it passes and the seas lay down before our next journey. It is a 75 mile run to Virgin Gorda.
This harbor is very protected, so although at times it feels as if we are sailing while at anchor, Hakuna Matata sits calmly and quietly in the water. We have been messing around with chores and light maintenance…laundry, proactively replacing lazy jack lines on the stack pack that holds our mainsail, refilling the extra deck fuel jugs, etc. We are also having a little fun. A surprise visit from Renatta and Jim of S/V Emerald Seas was a treat. We have not seen them since Grenada and as it turns out, they are anchored right behind us in the lagoon. Boat fever coupled with a cook’s night off took us into a bistro we had visited when Dave Damm was here. We went all-french and had escargot, French onion soup, French-style pizza and crème brulee. They may not anchor worth a hoot but they sure can cook and make good wine. We went into the Dutch side (duty-free) Budget Marine and scored a 44 pound Bruce-style anchor and set it up on the bow for immediate deployment should the primary fail. It serves as our new emergency secondary anchor and is also the style we will need in Texas. We previously had the Fortress up there but that wasn’t working out with the jib without a dual bow roller (item #2 on the upgrade list).

Leaving Basseterre, St Kitts.
Playing with camera settings while cruise ships pull out and dawn from the boat, overlooking St Kitts with Nevis in the background:











At anchor in the lagoon between St Martin and Sint Marteen.
This point is called Witches Tit...not making that up.

Jim of S/V Emerald Seas up his mast, winds still 20knots....

Internet is poor in the anchorage so we have ventured into town to a cafe (le bar de la mer ) for a Sunday afternoon of free wireless and cold Belgian beer.

All is well on Hakuna Matata as the winds howl through our rigging and we wait....