Hello

Hope you are all well and managing to keep warm
We have now left Simpson Bay Lagoon, St Maartens to sail north to the BVI. We sailed up here with our friends on holiday from Antigua. As the winds to return to Antigua weren’t favourable they decided to get a flight back leaving us in St. Maartens. This is a good centre for boat work and as we had quite a few jobs to do, we decided to not to return to Antigua. The month has passed very quickly and I thought you may like to hear what we have been up too.

Firstly we decided to have a weekend in St Bart’s an island known for its expensive shops, beautiful people and mega yachts. We sailed across and anchored in the bay near the town of Gustarvia. Beside us was a French yacht on anchor, during the afternoon they were joined by another smaller yacht who moored up to them. The two couples spent the afternoon drinking and swimming off the boats. We then became aware of raised angry voices coming from the boat as they began to argue. Eventually one of the females cut the mooring lines between the yachts and cast the yacht a drift. She then pushed the bloke into the sea after it. The man went into the water and swam for his boat clammed on and then returned to the anchored boat where upon a battle went on, as the couples on the two boats shouted and threw pan and dishes over to each other. Most of which landed in the sea. Finally the man must have had enough, went below and surfaced with a large knife which he threw with force across and into the deck of the yacht. Things then went quiet, he then let his boat drift off a distance anchored and lit up. As you can image all the anchorage by now was watching, especially as none of the player had a stitch of clothing on. An interesting way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

We continued our tour round the islands, St. Kitts, Nevis and Statia returning to St Maartens. Waiting for the bridge to rise and allow traffic into the lagoon at Simpson bay we were boarded by customs. Why us, we have no idea. Suddenly this large powerboat drove up behind us; six armed men in black uniforms came over to us in a rib and requested permission to board. Well you can’t really refuse? Four came aboard asked to see the boat paper, passports etc.

Then one went below with Graham and made a search of the boat, other three stayed on deck with me asking me questions. Where we had been, what we were planning to do, was the boat ours. Did we have a gun and most peculiar did we have injectable medicines. After a good half hour of turning the boat over, they thank us and left. We never found out why they had singled us out and they never gave us a reason. ?Just as well we don’t smoke. Though I have said I would try the cake.

Anyway we came into the lagoon and Graham set about getting his boat jobs done which included spending a week fitting a holding tank to the toilet. We have been told we need one to go into US waters.

Day 1 Graham spent the day in the chandlery choosing the tank and fittings. Along with long chats with the salesmen, trips back to the boat to measure. I left him to it and did the grocery shopping..

Day 2 Making the tank fit. Not an easy job cutting out new holes and blocking off existing ones to ensure they don’t leak. It wouldn’t do to have toilet waste leaking. I had to be on hand to fetch and pass the required tool and then clear up after each operation.

Day 3 This was the worst the removing the old used plumbing and replacing with the new system of tubes. Sanitation tubing is not very flexible and a boat loo area is small. Graham had scuffed bloody fingers, hand and elbows and the loo smeared with his blood.

Day 4 Nearly there placing the tank in position and attaching the tubing. Here we had plenty puffing and cursing as Graham managed eventually to get the ridged tank into position and attached to the tubing. I hope we don’t need to get at it again. Don’t want to think about a blockage.

Day 5 All finished, joints sealed we try out the new system and look for leaks. It all works, though it only took us a day and a night to fill the tank, size could be a problem. But we are now legal for the US.

An interesting month!

Keep in touch
Joy

Categories: Travels
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