Thursday, February 21, 2013

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.
 
 


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