Rodney Bay
Lynn & Mike ..around the world
Mike Drinkrow & Lynn v/d Hoven
Thu 18 Dec 2008 14:11
|
14:05.39N 60:57.83W
Pigeon Island, Rodney Bay, St
Lucia
We have been in St Lucia for about a week now,
although the days and dates are getting harder and harder to remember, as we
settle into this laid back life. Our first two days were spent down at The
Pitons, which we visited earlier this year. Mike and I agree that this is the
most beautiful place we have visited in the Caribbean. The Pitons are majestic,
the countryside a lush green and the sea is a clear royal blue. We anchored with
"Dragon Slayer" whom we met at the Bequia birthday parties and had dinner with
them at a local restaurant. As there is no dingy dock the restaurant sends a
boat to fetch you, who then backs up the beach so you can jump off in a few cm's
of water. In town, we got a copy of the movie "Water" with Billy Connolly
and Michael Caine - a very light hearted movie filmed in and around
Soufriere. It was fun to recognise all the buildings and places on our
doorstep.
We had to motor up the east coast with a
strong headwind and a nasty swell - luckily we have lots of fuel from Trinidad.
Rodney Bay is a huge bay that then goes into a lagoon that houses a very large
marina, with all the associated shops, restaurants and yachting facilities. The
whole area is full of yachts, as the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) has
arrived from the Canary Islands. This annual event with over 250 entries
allows yachts transiting the Atlantic from Europe to join an organised, fun and
competitive rally. We have met the only South African representative in the
ARC - a beautiful Lagoon 50 called "Free to Be" Mike has also been playing
fridge mechanic, helping another Leopard re-gassing their freezer. This is a
very sociable and pleasant place to be.
St Lucia is a very popular tourist destination for
both Cruise ships (we have seen the Wind Surf & Queen Mary II in the last
two days) and resort hotels, including the "all-inclusive" Sandals across
the way. We are anchored on the side of the bay
in a protected area at Pigeon Island, which was a base for the British Navy
from the 1600's for their on-going battles with the French (who were base
on the south of Martinique, about 25nm away) The bay is pretty protected and
very popular for hobiecats, canoes and jet-ski's, which pass us daily. It
is easy to tell of the passer-by is from a yacht or a hotel ... the
tourists are the only ones wearing life-jackets on their
canoes!
It is hard to believe that Christmas is almost
here, and although we have put up our miniature tree and a few baubles, it's not
the same as being at home. We hope you are all getting into the swing of the
festive season and for those of you that celebrate, we wish you a very Merry
Christmas. Lots of Love, Lynn & Mike x
 |