Friday 27-April: We debate over breakfast whether to keep the hire car for another day, or hand back this morning as planned.
The next few days forecast looks windy so not ideal to get to St.Lucia. On one hand our guests say they want to give it a go again, sailing to St.Lucia, but on the other hand they only want to see “civilized” places! So we are a bit perplexed exactly want they want from their holiday. One thing for certain, they don’t seem happy. At least, not this morning!
It’s decided, we keep the car another day and go to one more beach on the south, which we would not be able to access with Cloudy Bay.
Before we set off for the day Glen submits all the forms and backup documents for the insurance claim. He’s never claimed anything on insurance before, and all this form-filling, document collection, scanning and sending seems more like a punishment than any relief for our outboard engine loss!
We drop Teo, Geta and Darius at a small beach in Ste.Luce, then head off by ourselves to Marina du Marin where we have a peaceful coffee and check up on some services and parts we have ordered. Firstly, the vang parts from Reckmann, then see how our AIS antenna repair is going.
Then we head to see the SE tip of the island that shows a nice beach on the map, Grande Anse des Salines. And yes, nice it is. In fact, probably the best beach we have seen for weeks, long and curved with clean white sand and backed by palms and shady trees. It’s only just around the corner from the incoming Atlantic weed; there is a bit on the beach, but nothing like the windward beaches. But it’s close enough to the Atlantic to have large waves crashing onto the sand. We walk in the surf from one end to the other. It’s too hot to walk on the dry sand. The sun is very intense here and there are very few clouds, compared to anywhere on the central part of the island.
And sure enough, as we drive back north towards Teo and Geta, it clouds over and by the time we reach them it’s raining again. Such are the micro climates within these islands. We have a quick swim but it’s not really fun under dark skies and drizzle.
As we plan to depart the marina tomorrow we go for shopping at a large Carrefour before heading back to the boat. For dinner we have bought some Marlin fish steaks which Glen cookes on the BBQ. Interesting taste and texture. It’s like tuna steaks but squeaky as you chew it! Not sure we liked it or not.
Although this marina is quietly situated in a valley next to Fort de France, we are “entertained” all evening by some young numpties who have their cars parked outside the marina, doors open, blasting us with loud rubbish black music. Surely, unlike other islands, France must have laws to protect the peace and quiet for decent yachtie people, no? Well, we guess not!