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BVI via St Lucia - Part Trois! #120423
02/08/2017 07:55 PM
02/08/2017 07:55 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
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BEERMAN Offline OP
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BEERMAN  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
BVI via St Lucia – Part Trois!

Basse Terre….Capital City of Guadeloupe…I’ll bet you would have been fun to explore, but we need to get out of this oven otherwise known as a marina! Au Revoir !

So…..“Life” had thrown us a curve ball, now it's our “choice” in how we handle this unfortunate “opportunity” that will “control” our immediate “destiny”…..I think I remember hearing something similar to that in a self help audio book that my wife got me in the 90’s by Dr. Stephen Covey, ha! Don’t get me wrong, that audio book did nothing to change my outlook on life or modify my demeanor, I was more than a little frustrated in the marina! (Please remember this next photo until the end of the post and tell me if we made a good choice in leaving?)

[Linked Image]


Thorough preparation was the primary objective when planning this passage and I felt like we dropped the ball on our first destination, but in hindsight we had no way of knowing about the power issues? I mean… I thought I read everything I could find about cruising along our planned route, I had researched optional bailout points in the event of a problem, I noted where various marine supply stores were, hospitals/clinics, fuel and water, what currency is accepted, C&I info, and yes which marinas offered shore power. DANGIT! I can actually hear in my head the soothing audio voice of Dr. Covey saying remember.. only you control your physical response to the situation at hand! Breath in…..breath out… grab a cold beer!

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We tossed out several relocation options, some more convenient than others, but we ultimately agreed upon……. Les Saintes!! Yes, I read some of your responses to part 2 that Les Saintes was not to be missed and I can now agree! With our hostage safely stored with the jerry cans we plotted our course for the anchorage at Bourg des Saintes on the island of Terre-de-Haut. We would actually be back tracking a bit, but what the heck we heard this place was wonderful and what’s another 2 hours on the water! There was absolutely no wind, so we leisurely motored towards Les Saintes making about 6 knots. I think we had 15 miles to cover and it was just after 4pm, hope we have some light when we arrive!!

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As we approached these tiny Guadeloupe territories it became obvious that we made a good choice, very beautiful area! The approach to the mooring field at Bourg des Saintes was straight forward and we had plenty of light! The sun was just dropping behind the hill tops of Ilet-a-Cabrit a small island just off the coast of Terre de Haut. The small island contains the ruins of Fort Josephine and it makes sense that Terre de Haut is home to the larger Fort Napoleon.

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There were plenty of mooring balls to choose from in this relatively active port, including a regular ferry that runs between Terre de Haut and Pointe-à-Pitre on the mainland. We grabbed a ball further out in the bay with hopes of catching a little breeze. After we arrived at sunset I think we only saw and felt one last ferry.
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We were so excited to be sitting in this bay, even if the tradewinds were letting us down a bit. Donna and I have wanted to check this area out and couldn’t wait for the morning light. The sunset was beautiful here and the lighting was absolutely incredible. There was an interesting storm line building to our north east as we settled in, I was actually hoping that it would slide over us and bring a little relief in the form of a breeze. I honestly can’t remember sitting on a boat in the Caribbean when the water surface was so darn flat, look at some of the photo's!

[img]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums...%20to%20BVI%203/UT3A8572_zpsxo4uewjc.jpg[/img]


I can’t remember exactly what we ate, to be honest my journal contains maybe the first 48 hours of the trip then noth’in!, but from this cell phone pic it looks like a wrap, veggies and hummus and I’m positive a few cold Piton’s were consumed! I can also tell you with much certainty that the adults were in good spirits, but pretty dang warm, so warm that Matt and I tried to sleep outside in the cockpit for part of the night. Conner on the other hand handled the temps like a champ and slept through the night!

[img]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums...%20BVI%203/st20lucia2012_zpsbwoempdn.jpg[/img]


[img]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums...%20to%20BVI%203/UT3A8585_zpshyjdddag.jpg[/img]


It had been a very long 24 plus hour journey and we were all exhausted. As much as we wanted to stretch our legs and explore, we chose to save our dinghy ride for the morning. Yes it was warm, it was perfectly still, it was perfectly quiet, we were sweating perfectly! and we wouldn't have traded this light show for anything. Have you ever been to a place where the colors just didn't seem real? it was like we were sitting in a pastel or vibrant watercolor, thank god for little curve balls!!!

[img]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums...%20to%20BVI%203/UT3A8588_zpsnfasqnpc.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums...%20to%20BVI%203/UT3A8575_zpsknusdgyc.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums...%20to%20BVI%203/UT3A8567_zps7xdqyesq.jpg[/img]



TO BE CONTINUED...........................

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Re: BVI via St Lucia - Part Trois! [Re: BEERMAN] #120424
02/09/2017 12:21 AM
02/09/2017 12:21 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
Another great memory!

And Rick may not have slept all night in the cockpit, but I did - too hot down below! Especially with Stephanie, Conner and I having to share a bed!

A generator is high on my list of wants for our boat smile


Matt
Re: BVI via St Lucia - Part Trois! [Re: BEERMAN] #120425
02/09/2017 05:35 AM
02/09/2017 05:35 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,996
U.K. and Spain
Jeannius Offline
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Jeannius  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,996
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Quote
Our plan was to grab a slip at Marina de Riviere Sens in Basse Terre, Guadaloupe. With Conner on board we wanted to hook up to shore power for a little a/c.


I could have told you about that place if you'd asked the question... Is there anywhere we shouldn't go? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

I tried to go in there once on a trip from St Lucia up to St Martin as a couple of people aboard weren't feeling that good after a rough trip. No one was around when we arrived, couldn't find a suitable vacant slip and incredibly hot. No customs at the customs shack which was also a bit of a problem as we needed to clear in. So we turned around and headed for guess where... Les Saintes. My favourite place in all the Caribbean.

Shore power difficulties are pretty common throughout the Caribbean. Jeannius was set up with U.S. electrics and as soon as we left the BVI for the first time we realised how rare it was to be able to find 110V, 60Hz shore power. My solution (this is for Matt) was a cheap 220v/110 transformer, less than $100 in St Martin and a European style 16 amp fitting for the boat end of the cable. Before doing this though, check with your a/c supplier that it can handle 60Hz supply though as the transformer just changes the voltage, not the frequency. This is worth doing even if you have a generator as most marinas will not allow you to run your genny while at the dock and, even if they let you, it's a bit anti-social.

That solution worked in most places although on our round the world trip, we did end up in several marinas where the land end of the cable had to be switched for whatever the national domestic fitting was as they didn't use the standard marine fittings. Nothing you can do about that in advance however, just do whatever it takes to get it working once you've arrived.

Enjoying the reports so far, takes me back to some great trips with so many people from TTOL. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Thumbsup.gif" alt="" />

Re: BVI via St Lucia - Part Trois! [Re: Jeannius] #120426
02/09/2017 06:25 AM
02/09/2017 06:25 AM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
VIRGINIA
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BEERMAN Offline OP
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BEERMAN  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2011
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VIRGINIA
Great info Jeannius-Mike! Asking that question surely would have been useful, but your answer would have steered us away from Les Saintes <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> My wife and I want to go back and spend more time in Les Saintes, it's beautiful. For future or others....what marina do you like on Guadeloupe?

Re: BVI via St Lucia - Part Trois! [Re: BEERMAN] #120427
02/09/2017 09:10 AM
02/09/2017 09:10 AM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,996
U.K. and Spain
Jeannius Offline
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Jeannius  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 3,996
U.K. and Spain
Quote
BEERMAN said:
Great info Jeannius-Mike! Asking that question surely would have been useful, but your answer would have steered us away from Les Saintes <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> My wife and I want to go back and spend more time in Les Saintes, it's beautiful. For future or others....what marina do you like on Guadeloupe?
Not sure why you'd have steered away from Les Saintes when I said it is my favourite place in all the Caribbean? When you go back, if you like fine food, go to Ti Kaz La. Great setting and wonderful menu.

I don't have a marina recommendation on Guadeloupe, I've always anchored in Les Saintes (no mooring balls until recently) or up the west cost at the beautiful Deshaies. No marina at Deshaies but beautiful sheltered anchorage and friendly village.

Re: BVI via St Lucia - Part Trois! [Re: Jeannius] #120428
02/09/2017 06:19 PM
02/09/2017 06:19 PM
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,493
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BEERMAN Offline OP
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BEERMAN  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2011
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Well....I screwed up by not asking again! and we were right there and didn't go in!! But now I know exactly where it is for next time <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

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