Yesterday afternoon the crew of the Picton Castle had a last swim call at Marigot Bay in Saint Martin, hoisted the boat, loosed sail and sailed their barque off the anchor with no engine assist. All sail set to the t’gallants. We sailed northwest, rounded the western end of Saint Martin and squared away WSW for Panama, some 1,000 miles away. And, if all goes well, all downwind sailing. Should be about a week’s passage in the expected fresh tradewinds. Sailing along at 6.5 knots just now.
We had not planned on putting in to Saint Martin this time around but fueling up was a must. We had steamed quite a bit on the 15 day passage south from Nova Scotia. Yet a delighful visit it was, with much of the credit going to our hosts, the Caribbean Sail Training Association.
Before Saint Martin, we had put into Anguilla just to the north here. It seemed that it was a nice idea to get everyone’s toes into the sand and that a “first” tropical island need not wait too long. Anguilla did not disappoint. Very friendly folks and very accomdating as well. Friends and former Picton Castle shipmates Deb and Laurie sail the beautiful island trading sloop Tradition taking folks out to nearby small cays on daysails. Some of us were lucky enough to join them. Elvis’s Beach bar saw plenty of PC crew of an afternoon. Island dogs wander about being friendly and chickens seem to be ubiquitous, often with a few small chicks in convoy. Some of the gang slept on the beach one night and claimed tha they liked it. Just that the roosters do not wait for dawn to cockledoodledoo. They do this any old time and all night long. Breaking free of the long day work schedules of our times getting ready, mandatory swim calls were established for the duty watch. The water is beautiful. You just need to jump into it, often.
Just now as the sun rises we are south of St Croix and it can be seen on starboard. The 4 to 8 watch has trimmed some braces and sheets and are now starting up that age old custm of morning deck wash. Warm, fresh breeze on the port quarter, fishing lines out, the day is full of promise.