March 2018 - Caribbean - Virgin Islands, Leeward Islands

Eastern Caribbean | USVI | St. John | Maho Bay

Feb 28 - Mar. 10, 2018

Great 11 days with Christopher Mary and kids. The weather was gorgeous sunny warm and great sailing. Lots of boat out this week with kids aboard so Maddie and Jack had playmates.

Al and Christopher got the 15hp engine up and running for the first time since 2008. So we had fast rides around the bays.

Eastern Caribbean | USVI | St. John | Maho Bay

Eastern Caribbean | USVI | St. John | Maho Bay | Artemis at anchor

We started at Maho Bay USVI snorkeling and ended there before they left. The kids were in the water more than out. The beaches are fabulous with beautiful sand and shells to be found. We could find internet at the beach bars so of course Happy Hour was enjoyed by all each day.

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Jost van Dyke | Customs and Imigration

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Jost van Dyke | Foxys Beach Bar

We stayed at Jost van Dyke Great Harbor, Prickly Pear Island North Sound Virgin Gorda, Marina Cay and Trellis Bay, Norman Bight, Cooper Island. We had great snorkeling at Prickly Pear, Indian Islands off Pelican Island, Norman Bight and caves, and Cooper Island.

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Beef Island | Trellis Bay

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Virgin Gorda | The Baths

Eastern Caribbean| BVI | Norman Island | view sunset from Pirate's Bight beach

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Virgin Gorda | The Baths

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Norman Island | Pirates Bight Bar Restaurant

Great fun snorkling with Maddie and Jack.

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Indian Rocks near Norman Island

Eastern Caribbean |BVI | Tortola | Road Town | Moorings Marina

We tried going to the Baths on Virgin Gorda again but the waves were shooting 10 feet into the air as they hit the rocks. The kids got a sun rash and Maddies was extreme. Her face began to swell so we cleared customs at Soper’s Hole and took her to the doctor in Red Hook. We spent our last night together at Maho Bay. Once again we ate lunch at the Fish Tail before seeing the kids off to the airport. We called Emma in Mn for her 8th birthday. So sad to see everyone go. Al and I are alone now until we come home in June.

Eastern Caribbean | USVI | St. John | Maho Bay

March 13, 2018

Al and I are resting up in Maho Bay after an Ocean Crossing and a month of family on board we are just chillin’. Sunday I was resting in cockpit and Al came out looking for something. Finally I realized he was trying to get my attention as he had shaved off his beard! I think I was beginning to get use to it but he looks younger without it! Yesterday we walked the beach and road over to Leinster Bay. It seemed strange to be on the beach just the two of us. We changed oil in the genset and gear lube in the dingy motors. I worked on the website offline. Strong winds this week form the east so we don’t anticipate leaving BVI for St. Martin (Dutch side) until the weekend. Today clean clean clean and fix fix fix. New friends Ken and Jen from Cornwall UK stopped over for visit and drinks. Back to BVI tomorrow.

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Norman Island | The Bight| Pirates Bight Bar/Restaurant

Eastern Caribbean | Norman Island | Pirates Bight dock | Zeus our 11.5 dingy

Eastern Caribbean | BVI | Tortola | Sopers Hole | Pussers Landing view sunset

March 17, 2018

We sailed to Sopers Hole on the 14 and stayed for couple of days catching up on internet and enjoying a few Caribs at Pussers. Yesterday we stopped into Nanny Cay for fuel then on to Road Town to clear customs. We picked up some provisions at Bobby’s and had a nice lunch near the quay. We sailed over to Norman Island our favorite haunt in the BVI this year. We plan to leave early morning to motor east to St. Martin.

March 18, 2018

We had an uneventful passage from Norman to St. Martin. We left about 0130 and arrived about 1830. We had changed our clocks only Caribbean doesn’t do Daylight Savings Time. Oh well we arrived at Marigot Bay, French St. Martin in daylight so happily set anchor before dark. Big dophins huge group arrived early afternoon. Usually see smaller dolphins.

Eastern Caribbean | French St. Martin| Marigot Bay | La Terrasse Restaurant

Eastern Caribbean | French St. Martin | Marigot Bay | sunset

March 19, 2018

Customs since the hurricane is in Galisbay so we hiked over there to clear into St. Martin. It was a bit more of a hike than we had anticipated on a hot day. Fortunately the Customs Officer gave us a ride back to Marigot Bay. We found a pleasant lunch spot over looking the bay The Terrace and had great fish. Al had Mahi and I had perfect sesame crusted tuna.

Eastern Caribbean | Dutch St. Martin| Budget Marine | Dingy repairs

Eastern Caribbean | French St. Martin | Galisbay

Eastern Caribbean | French St. Martin | Marigot Bay | Dingy dock by ferry

March 23, 2018

Yay finally got the 11.5 dingy back after repairs at Budget Marine. The 2 day job took 4 days and cost twice as much as estimated! It was a pain going back to the little dingy our Praire Chicken as every ride was a wet one. We found the part we needed for the toilet so finally it doesn’t leak! The Lagoon in St. Martin is shared by French and Dutch. We found many more submerged and beached boats from Hurricane Irma on the French side but both sides had lots of damage and many shops and business still not up and running. Still think Tortola looked worse. We provisioned and hiked down to Galisbay again to clear customs. Only this time we stopped for lunch at a Take-a-Way spot set up on the street. Great Creole chicken and ribs with all the fixin’s. But then we arrived late for Customs so had to wait for an hour for their return from lunch. Got the dingy on deck preparing for departure tomorrow for Guadeloupe.

Eastern Caribbean| Saba Island

Eastern Caribbean | St. Eustatius

March 25, 2018

Yesterday we left about 0630 for Guadeloupe about 130nm. Fortunately we had great sailing conditions as we had up to 2kts of current against us at times. Beautiful day passing by Saba, St. Eustache, St. Kitts and Nevis. The passage along Montserrat turned enough into the wind that we had to motor/sail the last 30nm into 3-4ft seas. We arrived at Deshaies about 1100 this morning. Once we were settled we had lunch and took much needed nap. Oops now the day is gone.

East Caribbean | Guadeloupe | Deshaies |Deshaies River Walk

East Caribbean | Guadeloupe | Deshaies|Deshaies River Walk