9th May Charlestown Nevis

We left St Pierre at sunrise (6am) after a quick breakfast on the 2^nd May, and got the sails up without too much fuss and having shut down the engine did not start it again until we were approaching Basse-Terre Guadeloupe; the wind was light at first but built up to a healthy force 4 by 8am, we were anchored south of the marina by 2.15pm, the only worrying moment was looking for a place to anchor through binoculars and seeing a whole load of masts all along the bay, which turned out to be street lights (unlit) on the coast road!

I went ashore and found the marina looking very rough and most buildings shut or boarded-up so when I was back aboard we sailed 2 ½ hours up to Anse a la Barque, a small sheltered bay although there was a air swell coming in and our anchor did move but not too dramatically.

Basse Terre

Anse a la Barque

Snorkelling

Snorkelling

 I lifted our anchor on the 6^th after a leisurely breakfast (8.30am) and hauled up the sails and motorsailed in little wind and drizzle, which was the story of the voyage; we passed Montserrat at sundown

Montserrat

 and anchored off the beach at Charlestown Nevis at 8am on 7^th May. Having secured the boat, and allowed another shower to pass, I went ashore to clear-in, in customs the single form entry was duly filled in on computer (it was the girls first time so it took a while) only to find it would not complete, so the form was dug out, and had to be filled in by hand, then off to the police station for immigration which only took about ½ hour, and finally to the port office (since I had been told that anchoring was not allowed and I should pickup one of the many buoys in the bay) however the port captain had to deal with a passenger ferry first. So having been well fleeced I returned to Snow White at 1pm raised anchor and picked up a buoy, by coming alongside the buoy, jumping into the dinghy (tied alongside) and securing a line, easy!? Then it started raining again.

Approaching Nevis

Nevis at sunset from buoy