Arrival in St. Lucia

Approaching the Pitons

Bob at Fort Rodney overlooking Rodney Bay

The sail from St Vincent to St Lucia on Sunday, the 23^rd, was a successful although boisterous one. Waves were about 8 feet and wind 25 knots. Rob and I had salty bedding from some leak with the bow pounding into the waves that we will have to track down. The engine worked, but not as well as expected. Yesterday we had a good mechanic look it all over and go for a test run. He did a few more repairs and suggested others so we feel much more confident in it now.

This being our last week to do boat work this trip Rob and I have been tackling the “to do” list in earnest. Once we get to Martinique we have to deal in French, not our forte.

Bob and Barb have hiked up to the fort on Pigeon Island and gone snorkeling and swimming. Mon at sunset we were lucky enough to see the “green flash”. Tonight we are going for pizza with our friends on LAIMA and some of their and our sailing friends, many being Canadians. Tomorrow is going to be the first break in the windy weather in awhile so I expect there will be a big exodus in the morning. We will also take that chance to get to Martinique.

The organizers of the Blue Planet Odyssey are seriously considering a change of route past South Africa now. The political situations on the other route through the Red Sea to the Med are deteriorating. A final decision will be made at Tahiti in the spring. We leave Galapagos for French Polynesia Mar 10.

The mall here has a huge Christmas tree up. It seems strange in the warm weather. But I hear there has already been more than a touch of winter back home. Our flight is late Sun, the 30^th via Montreal. I’m sure by the time we get home we’ll feel right in the middle of the run up to Christmas and a different “to do” list.