Knot Normal - The Adventure

It is the end of Barry's Big Adventure, at least for now.  The boat is in Tortola, BVI and will join the Conch Charter fleet.  It is a sad day to leave her behind.  I am already looking forward to getting her back and sailing her home to Elizabeth City.

We sailed into Marigot Bay, the French side of Ste. Martin.  A charming town busy with life, traffic, and markets designed to snag tourists.  The French pastery shop was a must stop each morning for our expresso, buns and baggets.  We climbed the hill to the ruins of the old French fort that protected the city from marauders and the English who without the fort in years before pillaged and burned the town. 

We arrived at Saba on Sunday 14th. What a wonderful experience!  The view of the island from the sea is ruggedly breathtaking.  Rising vertically from the ocean to an elevation of 3,084 ft., Saba is raw volcanic rock at its base soaring to lush verdant tropical greenery. The central mountain, Mt Scenery, is perpetualy covered with inspiring cloud formations.  We crossed from St Eustatius in  18-24 knots of wind with 5-6 foot following seas. Anchoring overnight in Wells Bay we had strong winds but relatively calm seas overnight with Tropicbirds chattering overhead. Add caption Today we toured Saba with Wayne, a native Sabian of 8 generations. This is a relatively unknown place due to its inaccessibility. It is, hoowever, very special. The main town is The Bottom which should be named Bottoms Up since that is the only way to get there. Dutch owned Saba is orderly, tidy and picturesque. All the buildings are white with red roofs and green trim. The ro...

Another interesting and energetic sail today from St Kitts to St Eustatius (Statia). Culminating in 32 knots of wind this made lowering sail and dropping an anchor an interesting event!!  All made more exciting by thunder and lightening. All settled now in Oranjestad after a wonderful dinner of curried Mahi with rice and spinach with occasional lightening and rolls of thunder. David Fynn First time to this little island, which if some one asked me where it was last year I would not have known it existed.  It has an oil depot  There are at least a dozen tankers at anchor or on the loading pier.  Tugs abound in the one port where we are anchored. Lights from the ships and the port plus the hum of generators gives an industrial feel to the island from the vantage point of the port.   The industrial nature of the port belies the charming and gracious little town behind the centuries old fort guarding the town in days of old. This tiny island nation...

Wednesday we crossed from Antigua to Montserrat. One of the most pleasant days I have ever enjoyed at sea. 10-13 knots of wind flat seas and flying the gennaker. Arrived late afternoon and took a shortish tour of this volcano ravaged island. Of an original 12,000 inhabitants only some 5,000 remain ( the rest having left under voluntary evacuation many to the UK).  A good overnight at anchor waking to rain and a storm front. We sailed past Redonda (part of Antigua but annexed by a self appointed monarch). There is nothing on the island steep cliffs in the middle of nowhere. On to Nevis where we just arrived. David Fynn MAKK and Nancy in front of the clock in St. Kitts Montserat, Little Harbot MAKK and David with a wood and wire fish pot in Charleston, Nevis 

David flying the gennaker Knot Normal from the beach bar in Antigua Our anchorage in English Harbor, Antigua Becky's beach bar Gary Mayo  An old fort guarding the entrance to English Harbor Beach of the beach bar

Pina Colta heaven Becky had a big birthday while on the Knot Normal in Antigua. She and Gary also had anniversary. Gary thinking of his anniversary

We are in Bas-de-Pitre, Guadeloupe now.  We are sorry to say that the Kubat's will be departing today for the long sad journey home.  The Mayos and the Keyes will sail on to Antigua.  It has been a wonderful trip except that the girls are one rubber ahead of the boys in bridge. Breakfast at a French bakery- aaaaahhh The French bakery Mayo with a beer bigger than his head The gang Sunset over the island of the Saints in Guadeloupe 

Mayo with the catch of the day Mottly Crew Dorothy with her fist catch On the route from St. Lucia to Martinique we hooked 6 fish: 4 dolphin and 2 amber jacks.  We landed all but one.  Today we made up for the one we missed and landed another dolphin.  We are now in Martinique in the town of St. Piere. Becky with today's dolphin.  Gary in the background.

We did the crossing from St. Vincent to St. Lucia in record time.  We consistently achieving 8 knots and frequently hitting over 10 knots.  Frank caught a nice dolphin which we will eat tonight.  We picked up the Gary and Becky Mayo in Soufrere, visited the Dasheen Hotel with the wonderful view between the massive Gros Piton and Petit Piton. Today we sailed to Margot for lunch and then tied up in the Rodney Bay Marina for tonight.  Its a great place to provision, wash the boat, turn on the AC, charge up the batteries and just chill out.  Tomorrow we set sail for Martinique. Frank with the fish of the day -Dolphin Becky with Frank's new hat Capt'n Barry at the helm with the Pitons behind Gary and Becky at Dasheen Petit Piton from Dasheen Hotel Frank, the dingy captain, fell in fully clothed getting in the dingy Knot Normal