St Martin, Caribbean – 16.04.2009

A Very Nice and Tasty Mahi Mahi... Compliments of Lois: "AC Fisherwoman"


AC 108 Nautical Miles from St Barts


Taking Time-out


Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary at Sea


Cocktail Hour at Sea


Crew at Work.. Polishing between all the other Jobs! (Note the small Gennaker Flying)


Even Lois Needs a Rest from Time to Time (in rolling seas)


Happy Easter.. Lois's Talent at Sea


Ready to Launch the MPS


..... Launched and Romping


At Work During Cocktail Hour at Sea


At Anchor at St St Barts at last..


Ashore at St Barts


Up From the Deep.. Removed whilst at Anchor in 8.5 Metres


Captain Working on our Propeller

It has been 12 days since we arrived in St Barts (4^th April) at the completion of our second Trans Atlantic passage!

Our journey across the Atlantic…….

This was the passage I was not looking forward to basically because of our experience with our previous encounter of the Atlantic in the North from Halifax to Falmouth in October 2006 but as we said on our previous update – we understand what they mean when they call the mid Atlantic passage the ‘milk run’! According to all the literature we have we were suppose to have at that time stronger north east trades but in fact we got the opposite which at times was most frustrating. However the upside was, apart from the action of a little rolling with confused swells and following seas, most of the time we were relatively comfortable!

We had the usual maintenance issues en route which Terry, as per normal, was able to resolve. I think the most scary moments for me as well as for him was taking him to the top of the mast – twice – in lumpy seas to reattach the halyard for the MPS! It was quite challenging for him to hold on to the mast as the boat swayed from side to side and do what he had to do at the same time! That certainly got our adrenalin going!!

We encountered little traffic, just 5 ships in 27 days – sheer bliss compared to our passage across the Mediterranean.

During the first week we headed south towards and beyond the Cape Verde Islands. We saw many large pods of Dolphins which visited us pretty much every day, just a great reminder what a delightful mammal they are!

As you would appreciate our day pretty much centres around meal times and fortunately I did not experience any sea sickness this time so was able to deliver a consistent standard of meals enhanced by the fabulous Mahi Mahi’s we caught. I prepared some of it tempura style – delicious!

We are every grateful, especially on these long journey’s, for the refrigerator space we have on AC and we were able to make our vegetables last for the whole time and with some to spare. However these were embellished at times with the beans sprouts, mint, and rocket I grew!

You wonder how in earth do you fill in 27 days – well the 24 hour days seems to go quite quickly really by the time you do what you must to keep everything working and the boat moving not to mention the meals, washing and general cleaning to ensure we are ship shape! As most of you would know our focus of the day is cocktail hour where we enjoy the time listening to music, having our meal and an accompanying drink!

Terry has added another dimension to his many talents this journey – now also known as Doctor Rogers as he bought a blood pressure machine in Malta to monitor himself but of course he checks on me as well. Delighted to report that we are both in good shape and it didn’t even cost a visit to the GP!

Day 27 – we are finally within sight of land – how exciting! About 5 miles out – still with our lure out – yippee a tuna jumped on the line – couldn’t believe it!

We anchored (at 4.27pm local time) under sail as we had a problem with the propeller (couldn’t use the engine) which was rather tricky manoeuvring amongst the many anchored yachts and motor yachts – I can tell you we were rather relieved to be finally anchored safely.

Once we were all secure, as you would expect , we opened the champagne followed by a raspberry vodka martini and I cooked dinner. We were not long out of bed but feeling pretty happy with ourselves having arrived safely and most things in tact!

The next morning, upon putting the dinghy into the water, found that the outboard wasn’t working properly – only operating on full revs- which was a problem being anchored out quite a way from the township!

We did manage to get into town and clear in with the authorities. Unfortunately for us it was Sunday and very little was open in terms of bars and restaurants but we managed to find one. It was after 3pm and the kitchen was closed so we had a couple of drinks and a packet of chips!

St Barts is an attractive place and certainly popular with sea going people, however it is expensive. We had to pay 18 Euros a day just to anchor in the harbour which isn’t well protected!

It was great to see it but have to say that we thought it a little overrated!

The next 3 days Terry spent resolving the issue with the outboard, he ended up taking the entire fuel system apart, and then addressed the propeller, which he took off and repaired with parts from our original propeller… underwater – no mean feat!

We then spent the next few days in a lovely bay further north on the island just chilling out! The weather is warm and sunny and the water warm and clear!

Last Saturday we made our way to St Martin – the French side! It is a little more casual and low key compared to St Barts but has a good feel to it albeit over Easter weekend it has been very quiet! Being duty free and very reasonable we have stocked up on our liquor cache. You can fairly much buy most things in terms of food however at times the produce is looking a little tired!

We met a French gentleman from Switzerland, Jean Christian, off a catamaran moored along side us a few days ago who invited us to dinner on his lovely boat. He has a crew of 2, Captain and Stewardess /Chef. His wife and family join him regularly. We had a delicious dinner and lovely evening. Hopefully we will catch up with him again in the BVI’s. But if not he is intending to make his way to Tahiti, New Zealand and Australia next year!

We are off to British Virgin Islands today and looking forward to cruising around the many islands there. From there to the US Virgins and will then make our way to Panama by late May and through the Canal to Panama City. We are looking forward to catching up with our friends Willie and Mary again whom we saw when we were going in the opposite direction in 2006! For now we are in cruising mode!

Just a reminder; we will pick our normal mail up at alphacrucis@110pct.com intermittently when we can connect to a wifi and at this point we do not have a mobile telephone.

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing good wishes of love and support – we are very humbled and grateful! To quote one of our dear friends Seally Gordon, who is a constant companion on our journey; “Right now there is nothing that would give me greater pleasure that the vision of two sailors (of your vintage) having crossed the Atlantic, safely moored, successfully cleared customs, clean shaven, brushed hair with a touch of lippy walking joyfully to the nearest public house in the knowledge that for one night no one does it better than yourselves – Fond Admiration”!

Love the Jolly Rogers