St Lucia, 08/04/2017

Having had a lovely time in Bequia, we departed early in the morning, around 5.45, to get to Marigot Bay in St Lucia well in before dark. It's a long sail after all, about 60 miles! I chose to sail up the East side of St Vincent so as to get a better angle on the wind. This meant motors ailing for the first hour or so to get out of the channel between the islands.
The sail was lovely, with 15 knot easterly Trade Wind breeze and calm seas. Cruising along at 7 to 8 knots. When we got north of St Vincent, an island with a very poor reputation here in the Windward Islands, we had several other boats in view who had come up the West side. We left them all behind us, including Chronos, a 154 foot ketch.
Once in the Lee of St Lucia the engine went down again and the sails were put away. We passed a couple of lovely little towns with beaches and anchorages but didn't stop.
Visibility was poor all day, apparently this is due to unusually warm conditions.
Once into Marigot Bay the marina people put us onto a very convenient dock.
Customs was easy. However I had spent several hours in Bequia filling in the online system for easing checkin in several islands, only to be told that it doesn't work! So back to the paper ones again.
The immigration official did not turn up for a day or so, but then stamped the passports OK. I gave John back his as he's leaving on the 11th by plane home to Florida
Last night a lot of us went across the bay here to dinner in a very expensive restaurant, the Rinforest
Hideaway. I found the service very slow, the food arrived eventuallyin a very haphazard fashion and the staff refused to serve tap water! Only expensive, imported bottled water. In the end John took our glasses into the Ladies toilet and filled them. I really could not recommend the place.
Today, Saturday, is the Parade of Sail from here to Castries Harbour and then on to Rodney Bay with a final dinner tonight.
The Parade is being joined by Northern Sky, who sailed with me on the inaugural WARC. Should be good to see Gerry and Isolde again.
More news later, now I have to settle the marina account, go to a meeting and then leave here.
All is good here and we will be moving on to Martinique after my sister arrives on the 15th.