Montserrat

Little Bay
 

 

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New Town above Little Bay
 

This was an Island which had not been on our itinerary. We wanted to go out to Antigua, and after reading the cruising guide were advised to sail down to Montserrat to get a better angle on the wind to head out to Antigua. Also it would make the trip shorter. Oh are we so glad we did this. Leaving Nevis we sailed out down the Islands eastern coast taking advantage of the winds, and not on the western side in the lee of the Island.

The 34nm leg was a good one and we dropped anchor just after lunch in Little Bay on the north western side of the Island. Plymouth, the old capital, and the waters around it and to the south of it – in fact over half the Island and its waters - are now in the exclusion zone due to volcanic activity. Little Bay in the north has now become Montserrat’s main port. The anchorage gave us excellent protection, but I understand it can be uncomfortable if winds are from the northeast.  Clearing in was nice and easy here.

St. Bart's (St. Barthelemy) St Kitts (St. Christopher) and Nevis

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SHAMAL at anchor, St. Bart's
 

 

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Fort Oscar
 

This delightful little French Island lies just 15nm slightly to the south east of St Maarten. For us – 30nm tacking on a close reach in winds of 25kts and 3mt seas, but a lovely warm sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. Just us, the frigate birds and the sapphire blue ocean with sparkling breaking tops of waves. Oh there are a couple more sails off on the horizon.

Gustavia Harbour
 

Gustavia
 

But once there it is well worth the visit. It is claimed to be the party Island for the very rich and famous who bring their super yachts into the picturesque harbour of Gustavia to spend Christmas and New Year here. High-end boutiques and upmarket restaurants line the quaint little streets, but for us as it is now the down season, much was closed while their owners take their summer breaks. We found a lovely restaurant for coffee and Wi-Fi. We must keep a very close eye on the weather. Our coffee was 8 euros each! My Nespresso machine on board makes a nicer latté. The whole place is lovely and clean with sidewalks, so one is not run over while browsing the shop windows. After walking right around the harbour, we climbed to the lighthouse at Fort Gustav which has lovely panorama views over the red-roofed buildings tucked around the harbour. Fort Oscar stands on the opposite side of the harbour, and one can see back to St Maarten and out to the Island of Saab to the South West.

Sint Maarten/St Martin

 

Leaving Leverick

 Bay
 

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Thursday 21^st June. 0600  We up anchor from Leverick Bay, Virgin Gouda in the BVI’s, and motor on out passing between Prickly Pear Island and Necker Island, the Island  owned by Sir Richard Branson. We are heading out across the Anegada Passage to St. Maarten, a leg of about 80nm, but with our familiar E. and E.S.E. winds we know the trip will be longer.

Sunset Anegada Passage. Virgin Gouda behind
 

Bridge opens into Simpson Lagoon
 

 It is not until after 1100 the next day with 156nm passing under the keels, that we drop anchor in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten. The following morning we enter the lagoon at the 11.30 bridge opening and drop anchor in the rather murky waters. There are not too many boats in here now as we are in the low season (hurricane season) and most have moved on to destinations further south.  There will be no swimming in here. As it is now the weekend we will have to wait until Monday to see about getting our boat jobs started.