Lyn's Log, 28th November 2006
Bequia to Martinique

Marin, Martinique.
N14º28', W60º52'
11,229 miles.

Believing that we would have the usual easterly force four with seas of 5-7 feet, we set off towards Martinique on Tuesday 21st November after checking out of the Grenadines. The beat to St Vincent was quite exhilarating but the clouds were collecting and we sailed through four squally downpours before anchoring in Chateaubelair Bay at the northern end of St Vincent as it got dark. This bay is notorious for piracy and we were not surprised to find we were the only yacht there. But it was welll out of the way of customs, since we had now checked out of St Vincent.

For forecasts, we relied on "Metal Mickey" the automated voice from the US Coastguard on the SSB radio. For an hour twice daily, he painstakingly gives the wind direction and speed, height of waves, direction of swell, precipitation etc, for each of the many areas of the wetern Atlantic and Caribbean seas. Unfortunately his promises of gentle breezes, calm seas and isolated showers was not actually happening in our area. It rained many times during the night but at 5.30, after another squall, we raised the anchor and continued northwards. The seas were up to 10 feet and kept slowing Sentinel as she ploughed into them. I caught up a bit on my lack of sleep during the short night.

The Pitons of St Lucia came into view but again the clouds had gathered and it was an extremely gusty and wet sail up the western side of the island. We anchored at dusk in Rodney Bay under the fort on Pigeon Island, where we had anchored before. (Again, we didn't plan on seeing customs in ST Lucia). Now there was a posh hotel complex on this beach. It rained much of the night and next morning, it was blowing half a gale and the clouds were spread in a layer over most of the sky which was unusual for the Caribbean. Metal Mickey was still predicting 15kts of wind, though had we but known it, the local forecast was for squalls of up to 40kts! The rain eased a little around 11 o’clock and we set off on the 20 miles to Martinique. As soon as we came out of the shelter of Pigeon Island, the seas were really high and the wind a force 6. On a course just off the wind we made good speed even though Sentinel was kicking solid water over the decks. Lunch was just going to have to wait till we arrived, which was at nearly four o'clock. We found Cul-du-Sac du Marin and with the weather improving, motored the long way in around the corals to the anchorage. Customs, in the marina, was closed till morning, the bar produced a very fine ‘cocktail of the day’ and we bought some fresh food for dinner so as to relax on board with a bottle of wine. Welcome to a little piece of France in the Caribbean!