We have been here six weeks now and we are just raring to go. David and I are frequently asked how this compares to our last time around. Comparisons are odious, so the saying goes, and we do not wish to compare. We are just as excited about this around the world rally as we were the last time. As far as we are concerned it is not just about the people who we hope will become our close cruising companions for the next 15months, it is all about the next great adventure that lies ahead of us. Making new friends, having new experiences, seeing new places. The sheer joy of sailing under the stars, the whole experience of sailing upon the ocean. This is what we have come back for. This is all that we desire.......

Our Christmas Eve celebration started off with dinner in a local restaurant. Christmas day, a quiet affair, with David and I taking a day off from boat preparations. A glass or two of Buck's Fizz followed a breakfast brunch, an afternoon nap, a swim off a deserted beach and finally dinner in the Royal Rex Resort hotel where we enjoyed a sumptuous buffet with lively entertainment to follow.

Xmas entertainment

Lorraine & Erick strutting their stuff

We brought in the New Year at the St Lucia Yacht Club, World Arc donating a bottle of champagne to each boat. Everyone congregated on the beach at midnight to watch a spectacular firework display.


Farewell lunch with Lorraine & Erick

A t last the water maker is fixed. It had had an intermittent fault for some time. The Amel agent in Las Palmas replaced the seal on the low pressure pump but it failed to cure the problem. During our crossing the problem grew worse so David emailed Amel who in turn contacted the manufacturer of Dessalator. As a result of this a spare part was sent to their agent in Martinque who we contacted on our arrival in St Lucia. A week before Christmas we sailed the 26nm north to the anchorage of Le Marin on Martinique. There Kaou replaced the capacitors and after testing it worked perfectly, that was until he got off the boat. It never seemed to break down when a mechanic was present! With growing frustration and rising repair bills David hailed him back. It was agreed we return after the Christmas vacation when the high pressure pump was removed and stripped down and when it was replaced David noticed that the circuit breaker kept tripping out. That was it! A faulty circuit breaker. A new one was ordered from the Amel agent on Guadaloupe arriving by post the following day. Now all is well. The whole day we were awash with water, making hundreds of litres to top up our 1000litre tank while at anchor in the bay. Now I can have lots of showers all the way across the Pacific...