Blog week ending 6th February
Nightsong
Thu 25 Mar 2010 14:35
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Dear Blog
I need to catch up with the events of the last
month on board Nightsong. As ever the boat has had a fair share of problems
particularly in the first week of February. Kevin Parker and Alastair
Murdoch arrived at St Lucia airport on 29th February where I met them because
they kindly carried the replacement autopilot motor/gearbox assembly out with
them - the previous week's failure which Lewmar acknowledged and sent a new one
under 3 year warranty. We spent the first morning fixing this and quite a job it
was too with the sprocket having to be removed at a nearby workshop with a
puller. Eventually it was installed and after a few rum punches to celebrate we
motored out of Rodney Bay marina, said goodbye to St Lucia and set sail for the
island of Martinique 25 miles away. Great anchorage at a place called Grande
Anse d'Arlets. Excellent meal ashore at a bar with the waves lapping our feet.
Next day another good sail on to the old capital of Martinique, St Pierre,
(destroyed by the volcano in the 19th century) where AJB spent the afternoon
clearing customs and we had another meal on the water front.
Up early the next day for the long haul to the
Saints about 75 miles in all. Wind was blowing E5/6 and we were rollocking along
on the west coast of Dominica when there was a bang and we noticed that the top
6/8ft of the mainsail had ripped off - in an area where I had noticed
delamination the week before and had put in a few hours work with the repair
needle. Unfortunately this looked terminal so we pressed on to the Saints under
jib alone (at 5.5/6 knots still) arriving about 1730hrs. Lovely anchorage and
ashore for an excellent meal at another shoreside restaurant. Curious place the
Saints as there are very few blacks (no slavery here) and it looks almost
European - it is in fact a part of Guadeloupe and therefore France and the
EU.
Shopping on the attractive main street the next
day
 Next day we decided to take it easy and do lots of
snorkelling so we went to the next bay Anse a Cointe and anchored pottering
around on shore and in the water. Next day on to Guadeloupe unfortunately
because of the lack of main under jib and engine. Wind was quite light and NE so
against us but we got to Pointe a Pitre the capital by 1530hrs. I had been
getting quotes from Caribbean sailmakers for a new main and after a visit
from the boss of North Sails decided to buy one from them. I was promised
delivery by 1st March in Antigua. Ashore that nuight to explore the centre of
the Pointe a Pitre but regretted this as soona s we got out of the taxi - very
empty and looked dangerous - despite the lovely colonial buildings there
was no atmosphere and no milling crowds of tourists as we expected. So back to
the marina on the outskirts of town for a reasonable meal. Weather not so good
for the last 2 days! Rain!
 Up at 0400hrs the next day to go up the river
(Riviere Salee) that bisects the 2 halves of Guadeloupe and which has 2 bridges
that only open at 0500hrs. A bit hairy feeling our way up to the first bridge in
the dark but managed it with the keel right up and then really enjoyed our short
trip through the mangrove swamps still in the dark - spooky and James Bondish!
Minimum depth 2m so impossible in most boats of our size. Finally set sail
(motor sailing) the 40miles for Antigua - tried the Code 0 by itself for an hour
but otherwise had to motor for 7 hours. Decided to go into Falmouth harbour
which was a mistake - designed for superyachts with concrete jetties and not at
all friendly to 46fters. Still we explored neighbouring English Harbour by foot
(5 mins away).
Early the next morning Kevin and Alastair had to
leave to take the plane to St Lucia and home so I took the boat round to English
Harbour by myself being hjelped to moor by Sherwin the harbour master. Lovely
spot. Made contact with the local North Sails rep and left the stacpac to be
repaired. Then home to Polly and Matt's wedding
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