SailBlog

Wow... It's so hard to keep up with this when you're off sailing around or at the beach every day! Actually, I just say that to make everybody think that's what our life is about these days. The truth is, it seems there are more boat projects than leisure in our life.
We did, however, just finish a several day sail around some of the islands here. First stop was Anguilla- Road Bay, then Crocus Bay, with a sail to Prickly Pear Cay and Dog Island. From there we sailed back to St. Martin (note the different spelling) French side and spent a night in Marigot, which really is a 15 minute dinghy ride from where we started! We had to do it to check in with the French side to visit the north and east sides of the island... Crazy rules around this island!
Anyhow, from there we went around the north side to Pinel Island. This is a VERY picturesque spot, and was Laurilea's favorite spot. It's the perfect tropical island with white sand beaches, azure water, palm trees and a bar to quench your thirst after working on your tan, located in Orient Bay... We spent a night anchored there.
Next day we were off to St. Barths on a rollicking sail. Weather was windy and rainy, so we started out with one reef in; then ended up putting in the second reef as the wind picked up. It was definitely an experience for Ryan. He'd never seen waves that high! Ron and Casey got totally soaked at the helm station from the rain and the occasional wave splash over the boat. We anchored that night at Columbier Bay on St Barths, where we hiked a trail across the island to a town called (are you ready?), Columbier! Next day we cruised down the Gustavia, anchored out in Corossol Bay and checked into the country. St. Barths is also French, but of course they have their own government to support with cruiser Euros! The girls loved the cute little town with the red roofs, and the fact that it was SO clean! This is where the rich and famous go to see and be seen, so you can imagine the prices here... The store names read like a listing of 5th Avenue in New York and downtown Paris... We visited town a couple of days and went to a cute, tiny beach just outside town called Shell Beach. It's located in a tiny bay that somehow seems to funnel all the shells from the area onto the beach. There are spots on the beach where the shells are a foot or two deep! Laurilea added a few pretty ones to her collection here...
Next day we were off to Fourchue Island, which is still part of St. Barths, but on the way to St. Maarten (again with the spelling- Dutch side!) We spent another, unplanned night here just because we wanted to. The snorkeling was better here than anywhere else we've tried so far. We saw several turtles just hanging around munching on seaweed. Ryan borrowed my underwater housing and got some good shots of them. He then hiked up the tallest hill around and took some pictures from there.
Early next morning saw us head for Simpson Bay again. Laurilea was glad to be "home" again. She says it's because she likes to see our new friends, but I know the real reason is she is glad to be hooked up to unlimited water and electricity!
BTW- more photos have been added so check them out...