The Windward Islands
Windwards - Following the euphoria of crossing the Atlantic and the parties and prize giving in Rodney Bay St Lucia Pat and I departed South alone to Marigot Bay staying here for some 5 days we took one night off the boat on Xmas day at the famous Jalousie Plantation hotel.
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Between Xmas and New Year we sailed back North to Martinique, then back to St Lucia to meet friends for New Year. Next day we left for St Vincent then onto the lovely Island of Bequia.
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Lloyd and Maria flew out to Mustique where we then met them for dive training which we completed in the Grenadines. With them we visited the wonderful Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Bequias fabulous Princess Margaret Beach and finally back to Mustique which is just sheer paradise.
Pat and I chose not to sail further South as we had been to these islands some 20 years before.
The last leg of the Windwards for us was a beat back up to St Lucia via Marigot Bay to Rodney Bay where we left the Yacht.
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Leewards - Following a 6 week spell back home and a frantic work schedule we returned to St Lucia and BriZo on Sunday the 4th March 2012.
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During this period we had arranged for the Yanmar engine service and Onan Generator service, luckily the latter just in time as the Impellor had started to break up. During the following few days Pat and I prepared the boat and had the Yamaha outboard serviced and the hull scrubed by a diver. We then set-off on the Thursday to Dominica then Guadaloupe and to Antigua - see the blog for this period.
In Antigua we spent a week in the great English Harbour. We have since been to Barbuda and back, both glorious sails in either direction of some 4 hours each.
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We then sailed clockwise around Antigua to Nonsuch Bay a huge lagoon with Reefs to the West and a few wonedrful houses with Gardens to the beach. Then via Falmouth harbour and onto the Island of Nevis, then St Kitts - both very friendly and a history of sugar plantations. Then a longer sail to St Barth, very French and very expensive - luckily we are anchored in the Bay, working and catching up over the week here.
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Leaving St Barth and heading for St Maarten on the 6th April had a great sail. St Maarten we stayed in for just a few nights then onto wonderful Anguilla just across the water. Leaving Anguilla on the 14th April for an 80nm trip to the BVI where we were welcomed by big winds and rain.
We spent two weeks in the BVI with friends visiting the various islands and we had a really good time, weather was sunny and winds good for sailing. The BVI was a lot busier than when we had been here before on charter yachts. More mooring buoys and many more sailors from the USA, in fact it was 10 days before we heard a UK accent !
Murray flew out to join us and we left the BVI for Bermuda a 5 day trip which we did as part of a WCC rally the Atlantic Cup. We had to motor some of the trip but arrived in time for Pats Birthday 9th May (I always take her somewhere special). We anchored in Hamilton adjacent to another Discovery 55 John and Jane's ​ - Seaduced.
​We were very happy at anchor with the 55Kg Spade and it performed well during a storm. We toured the island by car. Reuben, our first grandchild was born as we refueled in Hamilton. We left for the USA the next day which took 4 days into Chesapeake and Hampton Virginia, making the Blue Water marina BriZo's home for the summer.
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For Xmas 2011 Pat and I headed South from Rodney Bay to the famous Marigot Bay in St Lucia - Pat buying within minutes of arriving. You can see a famous yacht Twizzle in the background.
We stayed on a Marina buoy in the outer harbour which was tranquil yet easy access to restaurants and good Internet from Doolittles Hotel.
After a fairly tough days sail from Mustique to St Lucia with wind and waves on the nose we opt to pull into Marigot Bay stopping just short of our final destination Rodney Bay. Stay 2 nights stern to the Dock and next to a multimillion dollar Gin Palace. The one time I was more worried about scratching their boat than mine ! (we are not in this shot of the dock).
For Xmas 2011 Pat and I headed South from Rodney Bay to the famous Marigot Bay in St Lucia - Pat buying within minutes of arriving. You can see a famous yacht Twizzle in the background.
The Leewards Islands - Antiqua to St Barth
As the blog describes this was the vessel we narrowly missed during the previous rainy nights entry into Dominica.
These are the two suprised looking fishermen who saw knowone at the helm as we passed at 8 knots !
Pat and I's no. 7 mini hired for the day.
As the blog describes this was the vessel we narrowly missed during the previous rainy nights entry into Dominica.
Full of lovely restaurants and bespoke boutiques.
This one has its own swiming pool, presumably they empty it when its rough !
Pat and her Cray fish
Full of lovely restaurants and bespoke boutiques.
The Leeward Islands - Barth to BVI
We have been coming to the BVI on chartered yachts for 20 years and this is always on the visit list. We did take on fuel at this dock although the cleats and dock struggled to hold the yacht in high winds at the time.
Pats sister Terri and husband Martin joined us for week. The water is crystal clear, we stayed in Bight Bay Norman Island and this was the caves off Treasure Point. Lloyd (our son) would remember it as on a previous trip many years ago the fish all chased his shiny camera and he popped out of the water onto the transom like a penguin onto ice !
1 week after we left BriZo in Hampton Va friends mailed us to say a water spout had come into the Chesapeake entrance and touched down just 400m from the marina. You tube had video of the yacht masts over at 30 degrees. Luckily BriZo was not damaged even though I had only left her on summer lines. Luckily she had not been lifted.
We have been coming to the BVI on chartered yachts for 20 years and this is always on the visit list. We did take on fuel at this dock although the cleats and dock struggled to hold the yacht in high winds at the time.
The Leeward Islands - BVI to USA via Bermuda