Monday 5th May
We went into town and completed the checking in/out formalities and picked up a few things in the supermarket before making our way to bay eight miles down the coast which is very close to Pigeon Island where Ange and I stopped on our way north. There was a lack of wind due to us being on the leeward side of the island so our progress was very slow to say the least with the current against us at some stages Pannikin was down to 0.8kt. It was relaxing if nothing else. When we arrived we found the swell was refracting around the island and coming straight in, so a stern anchor was set to hold Pannikin bow into the swell to try to make it comfortable enough to sleep.
The next morning we took Mr Slappy across to the island and had a snorkel which was well worth it as it is a marine national park with loads of fish and corals of all varieties.
We were about to leave when a dive boat pulled up and told us of a good dive site so it was back to the boats to get the scuba gear. The dive was fantastic, a steep drop with lots of large mackerel, trevally and snapper. There were even a few good sized lobsters but as this is a no take zone they were left alone.
Jeremy and I later took the tanks in to be refilled and while we waited found a place that sold beer, (how unusual) followed by a couple more refreshments back on Joy.

The next few days we made our way down the coast of Guadeloupe and across the Iles Des Saints which are a small group of islands just 6 miles to the south.
Thursday I woke to find the water pump that supplies all the water to the taps and showers had failed, so I pulled it to pieces only to find it was terminal and I won't be able to get another until I get to Martinique 4 or 5 days time, guess I will just have to drink beer instead.
The sail across to Dominica was only 20 miles but it had a bit of everything. It started with little or no wind then as we left the island we sailed straight into an acceleration zone which is where the wind funnels down the side of an island and increases in strength, sometimes up to twice the speed of prevailing wind. Then it eased back for a while until we approached Dominica where we were hit with another acceleration zone, this time well over 30kts. As we neared the island a flotilla of race yacht engulfed Pannikin which was fun watching them struggle with the conditions too. Pannikin thought she was a race boat for a little while until they all went zooming past her as we entered Prince Rupert Bay. Dominica is a beautiful island with its rugged landscape and tropical rainforests and the people have always been friendly and helpful and always keen to say hello. It is good to be here. Customs check in and some grocery shopping and the back onboard Joy for a feed of fresh fish and cuscus.