This Week: Dutch

After a quick 16hr overnight trip we arrived in St. Martin at dawn on Tuesday morning. We dropped the hook, went to sleep for a few hours and then had celebratory feast of pancakes and eggs around noon. The next chore was inflating the dinghy, finding and clearing customs. Mistake on our part: Entering on the Dutch side.

It is lovely but costs money. Later we found out that to anchor on the French side of the lagoon is free. To pass through the Dutch bridge and anchor on the Dutch side for one week it costs $30 ($10 bridge, $20/week anchor fee). What we heard from some other frugal cruisers is that you sneak through the bridge opening and then clear in on the French side, thus saving some cash better used for a happy hour somewhere ashore.

Needless to say, we love St. Martin and plan on staying for our paid week, clearing out and clearing in further north in the French waters of the same lagoon. You can come and go by dinghy or on foot between the two countries but to move your boat you have to get official.

Our 24hour assessment is that this place is super cool. We plan to stay here for a while and have a great time! There is lots to keep us busy!

The weather in the last 12hrs has kept us aboard with 20+kts winds through the anchorage accompanied with steady squalls. Anastasia could use the bath and Maxwell spent the day sewing new courtesy flags for both sides. He is an amazing "seamster."

We hope to upload photos and videos of the last week soon!