DOMINICA TO SINT MAARTIN

DOMINICA TO SINT MAARTIN

APRIL 27-29, 2017

We departed Portsmouth, Dominica at 1830 hrs on April 27^th enroute to Simpson Bay, Sint Maartin: 180 nm.  The Wx was unsettled as we left Portsmouth.  There were black clouds forming in the bay with an increase of wind.  These conditions deteriorated and followed us for most of the voyage to Sint Maartin.  The wind was ESE 15-25 kts with 5-8’ seas in the gaps between the islands.  We carried a double reefed main and jib.  As long as we have 10+ kts of wind, the main will not flog but anything less than this requires dropping it and sailing on the jib alone.  Our mainsail in fully battened: this has advantages as well as disadvantages.  One of these disadvantages is flogging in light winds and rolly seas.  We have sailed with other boats that are able to hold onto the mainsail by sheeting it in flat to the center line but it doesn’t work for us, therefore we drop it when it starts to flog.

We arrived off Simpson Bay, Sint Maartin at 0530 hrs AST on April 29^th and waited for daylight.  At 0615, we anchored in the outer anchorage of Simpson Bay to wait for the first bascule bridge opening at 0930 hrs.  We had some very good sailing friends, Jim and Kathy, on their boat “Innishnee” waiting for us in the inner harbor.  They were our berth mates when we departed Tower Marine in Douglas, Michigan on June 24, 2011.  Now they were preparing a transatlantic voyage to the Mediterranean.  We were anxious to see them again.

The bascule bridge opened at 0930 hrs and we entered the inner lagoon and dropped anchor in 20’ water depth on a mixture  of sand/mud with 150’ chain out.  There are strong katabatic winds in this bay so plenty of scope is needs to soften the violent swings in the gusty winds.  The anchorage is very well protected with plenty of room to swing around.

Sint Martin is divided into two parts:  French and Dutch.  The French have a larger piece of the pie but the Dutch side is more economically developed and tax free.  It’s a great place to buy liquor and provisions.  We didn’t go to the French part but many yachties go there for French cuisine.  During our time there, the Mardi Gras Parade in Phillipsburg took place and was a loud colorful event.  We had to wear ear plugs to soften the enormous boom boxes carried on the Mardi Gras floats.  Most of the participants in the parade were of African decent and very animated in their dancing.  The parade went on for many hours but we cut out after about two hours and went to a bar for drinks.

We found Sint Maartin to be heavily influenced by Americans and Canadians.  Being tourists, we didn’t really experience any significant Dutch culture.  Because it is tax-free, it attracts many yachts from around the world.  After visiting with our friends, Jim & Kathy, we heaved up anchor at 1545 hours on May 2^nd and left the inner lagoon, with the 1700 bridge opening, and set sail for St John in the USVI’s.  Our daughter, Samantha, was going to meet us there and sail with us for several days.  The Trade Wind was light at 10-12 kts for most of the journey.  The seas were kind and gentle.