Caribbean 2006/2007 - 2006-12-12
Port St Charles |
After arriving in Barbados we are now enjoying this relaxing island with family and the beautiful climate and surroundings. Carlisle Bay Bridgetown was a all happening with live music into the early hours, Port St Charles is the classic Caribbean anchorage with golden sands, palm trees and excellent snorkling. After 3 weeks of fun, Christmas and new year celebrations we left Barbados with some sadness, it is a shame that just a hand full of cruisers choose to use this beautiful island as there first stop after crossing the Atlantic as it has so much to offer for the nautical and shore side visitor.
The relatively new Facility at Port St Charles allows for easy customs and immigration clearance. The west coast anchorages are as good as any in the Caribbean. Chris Doyle’s guide has a lot to answer for, keeping what cruising community that arrives bottled up in Carlisle Bay. Our old years night celebration anchored off Holetown with Michael & Penny off Yvonne of Ipswich, to watch the fireworks and then delving into Barbados street party at its best will stay with me for longer than 2007.
We had another fast passage over to St Anne en Martinique, Chao Lay just loves the trades, 13 hours for the 105 miles, the crew suffered after the festive excesses. Marin has been a great revitalling spot with red wine and French cheese adding to the Chao Lay hard tack. All Atlantic renewals have now been complete with new charger and engine vents all found in this thriving yachting centre.
We had a relaxed passage from Marin, stopping at Marigot Bay St Lucia, Port Elizabeth and Friendship bay on Bequia, before spending a couple of days in Tobago Cays. The islands are quiet with about a third the boats using the islands compared to my last visit in 1998. This makes for perfect cruising with plenty of space and friendly locals. The fishing has turned up two of Barracuda for one lure, we are spending a couple of days in Clifton, Union island on routine maintenence.
We had a great week with David and Ros on board, enjoying the delights of Tobago Cays, Mustique, Bequia and Chatham bay Union island. David was the star turn with the karoke on Mustique, treading the same boards as Mick Jagger, and being called back for an encore, Ros carefully guided Choa Lay from port to port. We are anchored in the lagoon in St Martin, waiting for the start of the Heineken regatta after some great cruising the through the islands.
Martinique was its usual mix of French charm set in the Caribbean, with stunning scenery and friendly people. Dominica with its tropical rain forests with a feel of the Wild West is a jewel in the islands. We enjoyed Antigua with its fantastic anchorages and snorkelling and active cruising community. Barbuda is timeless with 7 miles of pink beaches and numerous coral heads alive with all types of sea life. We took the dingy over to Codrington to see untouched life in the Caribbean. St Barts was total contrast, dripping with wealth and the most stunning super yachts. We have been in St Martin for two weeks, the regatta turned up some exhilarating racing, I managed to hitch a ride on a lightweight flyer an Olson 30 from the late 70s, the original sports boat that bites if not respected. The racing was excellent with 25knots wind plus on some of the days showing the boats planing abilities to the full. We are heading back to Antigua via Saba St Kitts and Nevis to collect crew later on in March
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