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I'll be on one of the committee boats again this year, with the best seats in the house for the races

Apart from the biggest boats, who travel faster and further and have marks at places such as Anguilla or Tintamarre, all of the boats will be turning marks close to Simpson Bay and Philipsburg. See page 9 of Sailing Instructions 2023 for the map from last year.

The race officer for each class gets up before sunrise on the race days and, armed with wind, waves, weather reports and the speed ratings of the boats in each class, will compute the best race courses. The goal is to make it fun and challenging (not just windward-leeward) but keep the times around 2-3 hours per race. It is a both a science and art to do this; there's safety aspects about not crossing courses or having head-on potential at the marks or finish. All this means that the courses for each race can be changed until about 10 minutes before each class starts on a race. And the second set of races on each day are set after the race officer looks at the result of the previous one.

All this means that nobody can know with confidence which of the many turn points are going to be used. If you are on a spectator boat with a knowledgeable captain, he or she will know which of the course marks are most likely to be used. The only guaranteed places are the start and finish lines (the finish is separate to the starts at the Heineken).

Just curious, were roads on the French side similarly affected?

I've logged close to 300 dives through this dive shop. Check it out. Unless you are an experienced diver I would not recommend Saba.
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Fortunately we did not watch that mess. Got home on the 11th. Thank goodness for new Saints coach.

The launch from Texas was a test of SpaceX starship and not a Starlink launch. This rocket is supposed to be used for the next Moon trips.

Interesting that MAHO at SSB bar is back today but La Plage right next door has no beach, huge rocks and waves smacking the retaining wall and and a couple of times today coming up and over my first row beach lounge….dave

Thanks very much for your loyal and continued great loving support 😊👍👏

Wow, that sounds very uncomfortable. What was the reason for the power outage, do you know?

The law is not new, but the practice of the agents strong-arming you into purchasing it is. I suppose they could refuse to rent to you if you don't buy it.

We were there in October, I believe usually weekends are more family oriented. We've been multiple times in recent years and I think week days are fine, either end of the beach are usually where there's CO people set up. We usually stay to the left side of the beach where there's some rocks for privacy, have never had any problems, but also we've learned not to go during the weekends to avoid the crowds. Hope this helps! Baie Rouge would be an option as well, 100-200 yards past the entrance is usually okay for CO

When we were there in July I think it was $7 for an umbrella at $25 for the set of three that would make the chairs $9 each. I imagine Cerick will keep the ratios close now that they are $30 per set

In 2021 the Marina was closed due to Covid and off-season but they were permitting marina guests to use the main facilities and that was great. Night on the dock was fine but getting docked was a bit of a challenge. We were backing in with a fairly strong east wind off our starboard bow. I just couldn't get the bow to kick around even with bow thrusters. One of the very helpful dock crew jumped into our dinghy and used it as a tug boat to push the bow around.

We had a great swim and dinner at the main facility but that access got shut down in subsequent years. However the marina looks like a pretty good substitute.

It was L' Hoste before IRMA wiped it out. Beautiful renovation and awesome staff. Walk through their garden and you are right on the beach

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I dont want to be " a portion of the passengers bumped" especially returning to SFO and missing my SJU connection...ferry for me.

Meg,
When it comes to airplane schedule changes, assume nothing. You may be in the same assigned seats but then again, if there is an equipment change you might be scattered all over the plane as has happened to us once way back when. Can’t hurt to call or email and verify the seat assignments or at least, that’s what I would do.

Le Pressoir in Grand Case has Surf and Turf on their menu. I noticed it when walking by their restaurant last week.

It’s 95 Euro, but I’m sure it’s excellent.

Thanks for the reports as well, and good choice on the lemon - that is my favorite of his by far.

Need to be active because, due to rain, beach days have been few and far between.

Tonythe pilot I just sent you a PM

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