176. Heading South

Budget Marine

(I spent a lot of time and money there, and at the other chandleries nearby – Island Water World, FKG, Electec)

In a week I’ve managed to get loads of boat work done. Actually it turned into a mini refit; I made a new cockpit table and a bed base so that now the sofa turns into a double bed, serviced a winch (FKG couldn’t fix the mast winch), installed a new stereo and three speakers, put a new zinc on my propeller shaft and cleaned the hull and propeller. I had my salon cushions recovered, filled my propane tank and petrol can. I also bought a new alternator that I will put in when I’m in the marina in Basseterre.

Lagoonies

(near the chandleries, free Wi-Fi – I also spent a lot of time here)

I really like St. Martin, especially the French side. I bumped into one or two friends from when I was here last time, and one day my friend Eddy, from Dominica, dinghed over after spotting Sonic Boom. It would be a great island to stay for a while if I could find some work. For now though I’m headed to St Kitts to meet my sister and have ten days of doing nothing. I did a big shop in Carrefour supermarket, so I’m all stocked up with French stuff; coffee and cakes, bread and wine.

One of many sunken boats in the lagoon

(most likely tied to those surrounding buoys during the hurricane, it might be still tied to them, probably the owner is still getting charged)

Feels so good to say I’m heading south, instead of east. I’ll probably make an overnight stop in Statia on the way to St. Kitts. It looks like there’s a bit of a storm on Monday, the day I’d like to leave, so I’ll leave Saturday instead, and get to Zante Marina before it arrives, which sucks because I will probably get charged immigration overtime fees for arriving on a Sunday.

175. St. Martin

Fort Louis, overlooking Marigot Bay

I’m so happy, and relieved, to be back to St. Martin. I hadn’t really been looking forward to the crossing; the Anegada Passage has a very bad reputation, and last time I did it I had a nightmare. I left at dawn, and for the first two hours struggled to get past Richard Branson’s island with some very strong current, lumpy seas and wind from the southeast. I sailed through the day and night, tacked twice, dodged two very big squalls but then went right through one about eighteen miles from Marigot Bay. I finally arrived very battered and bruised; it had taken me thirty hours. I cleared in, had a pizza and a beer and went to sleep aching all over.

Sonic Boom anchored in Marigot Bay

I have lots of boat part shopping and repairs to do. Here is the cheapest and easiest place to get things done, so the next day I dinghed into the lagoon and hit the chandleries. I got my mainsheet truck fixed at FKG, got my winch repaired, bought a new wind vane, new halyard and loads of other bits and pieces. 

After I dinghed back over to Marigot Bay and went for a swim. I noticed lots of half sunk yachts in the lagoon. Hurricane Gonzalo, I think a couple of years ago.  NOAA have released their hurricane season forecast – it’s going to be an above average year for hurricanes, 5 to 9 is their prediction.