Our Passages - page 3

Sometimes, even if there is wind, you can’t sail. This was one of those days where the direction we had to go was directly against the wind. Even though it was blowing at 20 kts we would have had to go off the wind by 40-50 degrees and tack back and forth beating against a moderate sea to get to Antigua. Instead of a 7:30 hour passage it would have taken at least 12 hour or more.

Hate to sound repetitive here but yet another wonderful day with wonderful winds taking us along the southwestern coast of the Island of St. Kitts across the “Narrows” (a 2 mile stretch of water between St. Kitts and Nevis) continuing along the northwest coast of Nevis to the Pinney beach area. Nevis Port Authority has kindly put up a large number of mooring buoys for visiting yachts to use.

Another terrific day of sailing on a five hour passage from the posh island of St. Barths to the green and lush island of St. Kitts. The consistent trade winds that are here give us a delightful 20 kts every day right out of the east so our passage to St. Kitts was on a fine reach in moderate seas. As we came around the corner of the north end of St. Kitts we noted how St. Eustatius (next island to the north) was almost barren while St. Kitts was covered with vegetation.

After waking up in our nice anchorage, we headed out after breakfast on our way to St. Barths. We loved visiting there last year and looked forward to spending time in Gustavia, the largest city on the island. Good food, provisions, wine and restaurants. What a lovely place to spend an afternoon.

Finally, work and repairs are completed and we are off on our winter sailing season here in the Caribbean. As we needed to check out the rigging, sails and hydraulic systems we took a short sail this afternoon around the area between St. Martin and Anguilla. We zig-zagged back and forth and then made a bee-line down toward St. Bart’s.

Today we left St. Lucia, BWI on a passage of 280nm to St. Martin, FWI. After enjoying the completion of our trans-Atlantic crossing and all festivities at the conclusion of the ARC we dropped Gustavo and Roland off to take a taxi tour of St. Lucia before they pick up their flights back home tonight. We started out the day at anchor with a sunrise breakfast followed by one last swim in the 29c water.