04-03-2011: St. Barts

The French have a relaxed approach to Customs & Immigration & don't mind if you stop at a few anchorages before checking in.  So instead of going directly to Gustavia in St Barts, we picked up a free mooring ball at Anse du Colombier a few miles to the North. 

It's a pretty anchorage, with good snorkeling.

The queen had a touch of laryngitis, so could not accompany Wister & me on our hike across the hill overlooking the bay.  Here's Dance Aweigh on the mooring ball, with St. Martin  in the background:

And here's the other side of the mountain, with Flamands Beach in the background:

After 2 relaxing days, we moved South to check in at Gustavia.  We squeezed in to the crowded, rolly anchorage of Anse de Corossol on the North side of Gustavia harbor:

Gustavia was busy with Les Voiles des St Barth regatta hosted by Jimmy Buffet. 

Here's one of the mega yachts under sail.
Yes, those are people on the rail (rail meat):

We took the mandatory photo of the clock tower:

And climbed Fort Karl for the view of the harbor:

And the view of Shell Beach.

(Editorial note:  While it is local custom for ladies to eschew the upper garment,

the author has been careful to avoid recording any such displays photographically):

Took this shot for Herm. 
Herm, with enough chain this would be almost as good as a Bruce:

Unfortunately, our buddy Wister had to take off - he's trying to see a few more islands before leading the hurricanes North.  So on his last night in St Barts, we had him over for dinner on Dance Aweigh. 

We'll miss you Wister!



Back in St Martin we bought a Rock & Roll Stabilizer to reduce the annoying roll of the boat when anchored in a cross swell:

We deploy it from the boom. 

Maybe psychological, but the queen & I think it actually works (chicken soup?):



It collapses as it falls & opens as it rises.

Here's the underwater view:

While snorkeling, I discovered a few stow-aways on our keel.  In the decreased illumination under the boat, the camera would not lock focus, but you can see they look pretty bizarre (? Remora):

Sunday April 10, we departed St Barts for St Kitts. 

We sailed a beam reach past Statia - how about that for volcanic origin:

As we sailed the straights between Statia & St Kitts I heard the sweet sound of the drag as line peeled off the fishing reel (thanks for the equipment D.B).  We were doing over 6 kts with full sails.  The queen did a great job at the helm, turning back on our track & holding course against a backwinded jib before all my line ran off the spool.  After battling for a while, though, we had to pull in the sails while I fought a 44" Mahi to the boat:

By the time the fillets were in the freezeer, this old boy was pooped - but happy!