I’m anchored in Simpson Bay Lagoon on the French side, very
near Marina Port le Royale, which is a great marina. It took me longer than
expected to get here, but it’s exactly where I’d planned to be. There are lots
of cool restaurants and bars around the marina, which is right in the middle of
Marigot, the capital of the French side. I’ve been going ashore to a nice beach on Marigot Bay, and abusing a
nice hotel’s sun loungers and showers.
The day I came
through the (very narrow) bridge into the lagoon, I anchored alongside a lovely
English couple in a beautiful Gulf star 54. Dane (who is from Barnsley!) is a
canvas expert and is fixing my dodger - the canvas cover, a bit like a
convertible car roof. What a great guy! Amanda his wife is lovely, they’re
giving me some good advice, and pointing out some of the insider information:
the cruisers’ net on VHF channel 10 at 7.30am; the flea market at TOBY’s every
month; how to not get my dingy stolen. Although even Dane questioned whether
anyone would, reasoning that when you steal a dingy you need to make a quick
get away, which really wouldn’t be possible with mine. I could probably swim
after anyone who tried.
I shop at the
cheap supermarkets, and very rarely eat out. Supermarkets and bakeries here
have lots of good French food and wine; much cheaper than the BVI. Lots of good
French and Dutch food; bread, cheese and stroopwaffels. Pain au chocolat for
breakfast with a coffee, orange juice and a banana. Lots of baguette sandwiches. I read a girl called Jack’s blog for tips.
the lagoon
bridge on the Dutch side
I’ve been
working on Sonic Boom. I had my engine serviced, new oil and all new filters. It
seems to be running fine again. When the mechanics came aboard it ran good as
well, so I’m worried whatever the problem was, still hasn’t been fixed. I
insulated my fridge with Styrofoam and turned it down, so it’s now using less
power. I’m trying to get the fridge running on power just from my wind
generator so I don’t have to run the engine. Really I need a solar panel as
well. The fridge is my main power consumer. Without it the wind generator would
make enough for everything – lights, GPS and depth gauge, fans and pumps.
I’m looking for
work. Hard. I got a phone and signed up with a few crew placement agencies on
the Dutch side around Simpson Bay Marina, and Isle del Sol. It’s a short bus
ride to the Dutch side, where there are casinos and cheap department stores. I’m
looking on the French side for day work too, and I’m also looking for English
language teaching. I contacted a school yesterday and sent them a CV. I figure
the more things I try the more chance I have to get something. I feel like
buying the boat, then sailing out of the BVI, were the first two difficult
steps, but this might be the hardest part. To stay afloat.
Philipsburg
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