We arrive in St Barts but when Mike goes to the Capitainerie to check in he is told that we can’t park Jeannius on the left side of the marina but that we have to go over to the right by the Hotel de Ville. That’s a bit of a pain in the arse as on top of being a long walk around to the shops or a dinghy ride, that side also has no shore power. There’s a part of me that thinks Mike is not being honest about this – it’s a long, hot walk to all the nice shops and he knows I won’t drive the dinghy unless I absolutely have to – I think it’s all a big plan to keep me out of the shops.
Photo: Billy-no-mates in Gustavia, St Barts
Anyway, the plan doesn’t work and Debbie and I hit the shops – first stop – Bulgari – Debbie has her eye on a particular piece of jewellery but they don’t have it in stock. She has to make do with a single pearl necklace instead.
We then all go over to Tom’s Beach Hotel on the other side of the island to eat at the beach bar and restaurant – and for me to shop – and it’s the second disappointment of the day as the shop is shut and instead they are doing a fashion shoot there. Although the food is good, the atmosphere is just not the same.
Photo: Mike and a moment
While Mike, myself and Russell decide to take the taxi back, the others walk back – no mean feat in that heat – of course this necessitates an afternoon sleep for all. I catch Fred taking his 40 winks as I walk past his cabin. How sweet to find him clutching his pillow. I wonder what he’s dreaming about?
Photo: Sweet dreams, Fred?
I catch him later that evening, calling out to the ladies of the night – the feline type of course – trying to get them to come on the boat, but with Mike standing there glaring, they get the picture and don’t risk it! I can’t risk teasing Fred about his entreaties and from then on the rest of the crew make meowing noises every time he walks past and we start to make up stories about him and the ‘alleged cat affair’. Doesn’t sound funny now, but it was!
Before leaving St Barts the next morning, Debbie and I visit the St Barths shop and get a few nice bits, then we motor round the bay for a snorkel stop.
Photo: Debbie strikes a pose
In the afternoon we pull the anchor up and head straight for the BVIs on yet another overnight sail. It’s an easy sail with a great following wind and an awful lot of cruise ships hanging around.
We check in at Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda. Today’s fee for entering is $10 for 6 of us and the boat. The last time Mike and I entered the BVIs here it was $135 just for the two of us and the boat. How does that work? Anyway, Mike knows better than to argue.
We carry on round to Leverick Bay and manage to meet up with Monica and Nick for a quick drink. We have just got back on the boat when we turn around to see a cat nonchalantly strolling through the cockpit. I turn to Fred. I bet that cat just came out of his cabin!!!
Sunday is the last full day of the charter and we sail down to Cane Garden Bay. In the evening we make our usual rendezvous at The Elm. The boys are playing, Candace and Mal are there and we have a great evening.
Photos: Another night at The Elm
The following day we go back to Conch and say goodbye to our guests. We then have the nightmare task of clearing Jeannius of all our possessions. When we returned to the boat in July, we had 23 boxes, some bags and a washing machine. Having sold a lot of stuff in Grenada (and thrown quite a bit of Mike’s hoarding out too), we manage to whittle it down to just 7 boxes and a bag for storage at Conch. The rest we manage to get into the bow locker which Mike fits a lock to and then seals with silicone. It takes us nearly 2 days to pack, label and ‘stuff’ and we finish just in time to catch the ferry to St Thomas – except it breaks down on the way and goes to St John instead. And so begins the nightmare journey home – but that’s just not sailing so the tale doesn’t belong here!
The sailing tales however, will continue next year.
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