OK, this morning we pretty much bashed into for over three hours to sail on a close-hauled reach from Saint Lucia to St Anne's in Martinique. At first, the seaway was not that bad with seas lumpy and bumpy at 3-4 feet. Lover Of The Light was actually holding her own, sailing well and pointing higher than nearby boats (a little unusual for our big heavy cruising boat) but we were powered up with one reef in the genoa and one reef in the main; in fairness, a couple of the nearby boats were catamarans that do not sail well to weather. We were holding an 11° course heading and making Saint Anne's, until we weren't. Still we persevered, getting blown a bit west and off course by wind and current, but we held our starboard tack for three hours until we were less than four miles from St Anne's.

The northeastern swell built to about a 6 foot significant wave height on a nine second interval, which was very annoying as the waves occasionally piggy-baacked over the steep wave chop that was building with the winds now blowing 20-24 knots. At any rate, it made for sporty sailing as waves crashed over the bow, decks and dodger!

I suspect the First Mate was especially glad to reach the anchorage by noon today; the seas are forecast to build to 6-7 feet tonight and 8-9 feet over the next few days as the trade winds continue to increase in strength.

Pictured here was our view looking east at the large rocks off the coast of Saint Lucia this morning.

The crew on Lover Of The Light plans to "hunker down" in Martinique for the next several weeks and enjoy cruising life in the tropics.