Sunday 19/12/10
Today was the official start of the charter, we left Rodney under light winds and pouring rain. Sailed down to Harmony Beach just south of Soufriere. The road from town was buried under a mud slide and additional slides were visible in the mountains. We anchored under Petite Piton and went for our first swim off the boat. We made reservations at Harmony Beach Restaurant, our usual stop. Benny Jr. picked us up at the arranged time. I had the Creole Chicken which came with raw salad, ground provisions, rice and steamed vegetables, with two beers and tip the bill was 72EC each split evenly. The food and service were good as always. The rain continued throughout the night so we had a nightcap of Chairmans Reserve in the saloon.
Monday 20/12/10
We were up early and Will made a fine breakfast of bacon and egg wraps with plenty of coffee. Dan and Em went to town to clear customs. While they were gone two young boys rowed up to the boat and asked if we had any milk we could give them. We had a couple cartons that were set to expire at the end of the month so we dug them out from the forward locker and gave it to them. We left again under pouring rain and headed to St. Vincent. As soon as we cleared the mountains of St. Lucia the rain cleared and blue skys were then the order of the day. We had a lively sail down to Willalabou Bay, the set of the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The boat boy told us they had just finished filming a documentary of the movie last Friday. We went for a snorkel at the rock arch, it was Nicks first real attempt at snorkeling, he struggled a little at first until he got used to it. Dinner was taken at the restaurant in the anchorage, not sure of the name. I had chicken creole, as they were out of fish. Nick had callalou soup and Caribbean samosas, which were very good. With drinks the bill split evenly was $60EC.
The crew of a Swedish boat, that had mutual friends with Dan, came over for my famous rum punch, two batches and much boisterous singing later everyone was ready for bed.
Tuesday 21/12/10
We shoved off reasonable early, considering the amount of 160 proof rum we drank, and motored on the flat calm sea to Young Island Cut. A deal was made for a lunch stop mooring, $25EC and some ice was bought. We all took the bus to Kingston for a look around and some shopping. We stopped at a lunch truck and got a beef roti $9EC and a water. We then headed to the market where we were able to get some avocados, star fruit, green sauce and plantains. Bus back to the boat and then some snorkeling around the corner of Young Island. A downwind sail took us the Admiralty Bay, Bequia, my favorite harbor on the trip. Ashore we visited the Whaleboner and Tommy’s Cantina for drinks. The Whaleboner has an arch made of two large whale ribs, well over 8 feet high at the entrance and the bar stools made from whale vertebrae. Dinner onboard was tenderloin steaks, potato and christaphine grautin, and steamed broccoli. Tomorrow is laundry day, as we will be staying another night and will give me a chance to show Nick around the lovely town of Port Elizabeth. Photos should be coming soon.
