Anegada Passage
St Martin is only 80 nautical miles from the BVIs but is often a notoriously rough trip across the Anegada Passage against both prevailing wind and current.
After New Year, we monitored the weather forecast and waited for a lull in the stronger-than-average ‘Christmas winds’. In the meantime we did another circumnavigation of Tortola, stocking up with fresh groceries in Road Town and visiting Soper’s Hole and Cane Garden Bay, a pretty spot but one of the most touristy we’d seen. One enterprising local was trying his luck at selling coconuts, loudly proclaiming that they were ‘the natural Viagra’!
After a week we were rewarded with a drop in the wind to a force 2, barely a breeze, and minimal swell.
We went to Virgin Gorda to check out with Customs, left from there at three in the afternoon and had a peaceful overnight trip. There were plenty of lights to watch out for - several yachts were making the same passage as us, a handful of cargo ships crossed our path and a bunch of cruise ships drifted slowly towards St Martin, each one lit up like a small city.
Sixteen hours after setting off, we motored in to Marigot Bay along with a five-masted cruise ship. It was just after dawn and there was barely a ripple on the water as we crept in amongst the anchored boats and dropped our hook. The water was crystal clear and we could see starfish laying on the sandy bottom beneath us.
Our first job was to string up the hammock to enjoy the early morning peace and tranquillity before the anchorage came to life. Within an hour it was buzzing with dinghies and cruise ship boats dropping passengers ashore. Time to start the day…
After New Year, we monitored the weather forecast and waited for a lull in the stronger-than-average ‘Christmas winds’. In the meantime we did another circumnavigation of Tortola, stocking up with fresh groceries in Road Town and visiting Soper’s Hole and Cane Garden Bay, a pretty spot but one of the most touristy we’d seen. One enterprising local was trying his luck at selling coconuts, loudly proclaiming that they were ‘the natural Viagra’!
After a week we were rewarded with a drop in the wind to a force 2, barely a breeze, and minimal swell.
We went to Virgin Gorda to check out with Customs, left from there at three in the afternoon and had a peaceful overnight trip. There were plenty of lights to watch out for - several yachts were making the same passage as us, a handful of cargo ships crossed our path and a bunch of cruise ships drifted slowly towards St Martin, each one lit up like a small city.
Sixteen hours after setting off, we motored in to Marigot Bay along with a five-masted cruise ship. It was just after dawn and there was barely a ripple on the water as we crept in amongst the anchored boats and dropped our hook. The water was crystal clear and we could see starfish laying on the sandy bottom beneath us.
Our first job was to string up the hammock to enjoy the early morning peace and tranquillity before the anchorage came to life. Within an hour it was buzzing with dinghies and cruise ship boats dropping passengers ashore. Time to start the day…
posted by Katie at 3:37 PM
2 Comments:
Wishing You Both a very happy and safe New year . The new pic's are lovely to see .
Speak to You Both soon love Jill & Nikita xxx
Hello David and Hazel, David Eddington gave us the info on how to reach your site. Have read all your posts. Enjoy very much reading of your travels. We still have our little sloop, the Faraway. Warm regards, Bucky and Janice Andry, Mandeville, Louisiana.
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