The Leeward Islands

This is actually a beach bar in Sint Maaarten, and should be at the end of the post.

From Les Saintes, JT sailed north up the west coast of Guadeloupe

 

 

to a lovely anchorage off the village of Deshaeis

 

 

where the fish were sold out of the back of the ute

 

 

and the locals protested outside the Town Hall.

 

 

From there a great sail north - the sailing has been just wonderful -

 

 

two reefs in the main and the genoa one third furled

 

 

closely supervised by the First Mate

 

to Antigua where we anchored in English Harbour, in the foreground with Falmouth Harbour in the background.

 

 

We climbed the hill to the famous Sunday evening Jump-up.

 

 

The steel band was excellent,

 

 

the cook looked well

 

 

he made hats for the tourists

 

 

We checked out Nelson`s Dockyard in English Harbour

 

 

 

 

and the Yacht Club in Falmouth Harbour

 

 

where we saw the Maltese Falcon, a modern windjammer

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and embarked important supplies.

 

 

Then on to Nevis where the pelicans were black and powewr dived into the water for their catch.

 

 

Great fresh fruit & vegies

 

 

Checked internet at the local bar

 

 

and took tea in the garden.

 

 

Next was St. Barths, where the rich and famous like to strut their stuff. Large motor yachts and boutiques.

 

 

A very pretty harbour, though the weather was a bit variable.

 

 

The anchorage at St Barths.

 

 

 

St Barths

 

 

We were there for carnival, a very French affair, and an excuse for all the locals, mainly French, to get into fancy dress.

 

 

There was a parade of sorts

 

 

and some action in the restaurants.

 

 

into the spirit of things again

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then on to an island with a split personality, Saint Martin on the north French side, and Sint Maarten on the south Dutch side.  So split is this small island that the electricity supply on each side is different.

We entered the lagoon through the bridge on the Dutch side

 

 

past the lovely Yacht Club

 

 

where people gather to watch the traffic

 

 

This old bus was a beach bar.

 

 

The harbour catered mainly for megayachts and we were small fry.

 

 

The Sunset Bar was where people again gathered to watch the trasffic, this time aircraft landing.

 

From here we are bound north via Anguilla to the Virgin Islands.