We started yesterday with the intention of making a quick departure from Basse Terre and moving up the coast to the Cousteau national marine reserve at Pigeon Island. Somehow the day evolved differently. We ended up having coffee with Alex (salvage team mate) and the young couple from the yacht that we pulled back in. We were correct in thinking that it was not their yacht. They had sailed across with the ARC and then the owner (their boss) had lent it to them to sail in the Caribbean for a while. They seemed to be fairly experienced and worked for a charter company in Romania. I think they are requesting a new anchor from the boss. We enjoyed hearing about tales of sailing in Romania and the Black Sea, and we look forward to enjoying the very fine bottle of wine they brought in appreciation of still having a boat.

Then a quick book swap with Ute and Russ on S/Y Tiarua, with both sides seeming to do very well out of the trade.

And finally we did head off up the coast and enjoyed a squally and varied 12 miles sail, starting with a run, round to a reach and lastly a beat to windward, all with winds ranging from 3 to 28 kts and a few drenchings. So much for balmy tropical sailing – I’m sure that would be very boring though! Made it to the bay off Pigeon Island where we managed to find a place to drop the hook. The anchorage is a bit squally, but we are getting used to that in these islands.

We have come here for the underwater world and we were not disappointed. Today we took the dinghy over to Pigeon Island and enjoyed some really great snorkelling, despite the lumpy conditions. The place is teeming with brightly coloured fish and the corals were some of the best we have seen.