We didn’t make it to this small island on our visit to Guadeloupe in February and since it is less than 25 miles north of Dominica, we decided to make the short trip now.

We had a nice sail from Prince Rupert Bay and anchored outside the harbour at the main town, Grand Bourg. Going ashore we found Customs closed as were many shops and businesses; the Covid-19 effects are being felt here. The town was very quiet.

The following morning we motored the 5 miles to Port Louis, the second town of the island. This was very quiet too, but we found a beach-side café open where we had a coffee before heading off on a long walk which was a lovely mix of beach, coast path, wooded hills and farm-land.

                    Walking on Marie Galante 

Dinner aboard and a peaceful night at anchor. In the morning we went ashore to get some provisions and were met by a Gendarme who advised that “the island is closed” as were all the French islands. He said we could come ashore to go to the super-market and/or the pharmacy and then we would have to move on.

So we did, and headed south again to Dominica. We had a great sail, except that we picked a loose fishing-pot float and line half-way across. 

                       An unwelcome catch!

We hauled in about 30 metres but the line was clearly caught on the propeller, so we anchored in Prince Rupert Bay under sail and Nick went under the boat to cut the line free.

The next day we had a lovely gentle sail down to Roseau with a few nice puffs off the hills. En route we contacted a diving centre in Soufriere south of Roseau and booked a PADI Open Water Diver course staring the following Monday.