April 3, 2014 Across the Anegada Passage to St. Martin 18d, 03m N, 63d, 05.9 W

Up at 5am in April 2, we had breakfast, Sherri made sandwiches and got snacks handy for the all-day crossing. We got the boat ready for going to sea with all hatches secured and all the loose bits inside stowed in their proper places. By first light at 6am we were already in the channel for the exit to round the top of Virgin Gorda, just inside Necker Island, Sir Richard Branson's private Caribbean island. We stopped briefly before the narrow part of the channel to let a megayacht pass, giving him priority for the deepest course. The brilliant sunrise revealed a relatively calm sea, which stayed that way for the 80 nautical mile, 12 hour crossing. We experienced two heavy rain squalls as we approached St. Martin, but wind stayed well below 20 knots all day, and the highest seas may have been 6' at about 9 seconds; a very easy ride.

The sun had just set when we rounded the corner into Simpson Bay, St. Martin, and it was completely dark by the time we crossed the bay and got the hook down between the beach and a bunch of megayachts anchored in deeper water toward the center of the bay.

In the morning, we took the 9:30 am bridge opening on the Dutch side of the island, from Simpson Bay on the outside, into Simpson Lagoon. We had to wait a few minutes for a second bridge opening of the new bridge across the lagoon to the Princess Juliana Airport, so we could anchor on the French side of the lagoon. On the French side there is no charge for anchoring and the check in is only US $7.25, or 5 Euros. If you check in on the Dutch side they nick you $40 for each bridge opening and $40/week to anchor. The second part isn't so bad, but those bridge openings can add up by the time you pass both ways.

Anchor down, boat secured, we dinghied over to the town of Marigot on the French side and found the tiny customs office on the dock. They direct you upstairs to a garret with three computers, and you check yourself in. Of course, you have to interpret the French instructions, but it's not a great burden. Back downstairs you pay the fee, get a receipt and stroll around the dockside and back into the town to choose from the many elegant French restaurants. Toby was happy to be ashore again, and we enjoyed window shopping the high-end jewelry and clothing stores. We decided we could pass on the $200 shirts and $180 pants displayed. None of the many diamond shops had prices displayed in the windows. I guess if you have to ask.....