Just before we left Martinique two days ago, we discovered that the 'national holiday' was in fact a general strike and is still ongoing as we speak. All to do with the value of the Euro. Everywhere in Martinique was shut for our last week there, so it was a good time to return to Rodney Bay. The windlass is repaired again (another seized bearing...), the salt water tap is now re-plumbed and working again, and we have completed provisioning today for the onward voyage south. We had intended to leave today, but got invited to a rum punch party on board a yacht called Ula, so we delayed departure - must get the priorities right when sailing! The other reason for delaying departure is related to the tropical storm off Bermuda at the moment which was resulted in a bad sea building up over the next few days from the north. Most of the anchorages we will be visiting are very exposed to the north and west, and untenable in a northerly swell which is rare but inbound, with wave heights due to peak on Saturday at around 4 metres (average of biggest third of the waves). This means you can expect the odd 20 to 23 feet wave now again which is too big for a relaxing sail south! Those very limited anchorages that are OK will be cram packed full of boats leaving all of the other ones that will become unsafe or very uncomfortable! And then there's the French....all down from Martinique due to the general strike so they can buy fuel and food from Saint Lucia. Result? No fuel available in Rodney Bay and the Super J supermarket nearly empty of any useful food! Reminds me of the sugar crisis when I was a child. The marina is full at the moment and has no spare berths available so we are staying put until the sea state improves which should be by Sunday. The anchorage in the bay is absolutely packed with people trying to get into the marina by Friday. Anyway, apart from all of that, the sun is out and setting in 10 minutes, so time for a rum punch sundowner, as you do in the Caribbean, but only on days ending in 'ay'.