3/12/2017 We left Antigua at 1737 for an overnight passage to St. Barth’s. We stopped in Anse Columbier (north end of St. Barth's) for one night on our first journey south but had yellow flagged through and never visited the island. We had light winds and low seas until we got out of the shadow of Antigua.We were sailing with the jib and a single reefed main (our usual configuration for night passages). Around 2300 we started getting rolling seas on the starboard quarter and 20 to 25 knot winds. We put a second reef in the main which balanced the boat better and made steering easier. We were hand steering because the rolling seas on the quarter made it hard for the autopilot to keep us on track. We had the big rollers all night, so we got no sleep. We arrived in Anse Columbier at 0830 the next morning and took a free mooring ball.
3/13/2017 We took the long dinghy ride over to Gustavia to check in, going through the cut between Grand Jean and Ile de Petit Jean where the seas come crashing in and you have to time your passage in order not to get thrown sideways and wind up on the rocks. We walked around town and admired the old buildings and churches. St. Barth’s had once belonged to Sweden (Gustavia being named after King Gustav) and then was purchased by France.
The old Swedish church tower and what was at one time a school and now administrative offices.
Gustavia Harbor: a very busy place
3/14/2017 We walked around the Anse Columbier anchorage area and over the hill to see the Eastern side of the island. Baidarka and Prism arrived today and we had sundowners and appetizers on Prism this evening.
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The old Rockefeller Estate on Anse Columbier, now abandoned
The entrance to the old Rockefeller estate
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| On the East side of the hill from the anchorage |
Looking out over the Eastern side of the island
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Appetizers on Prism: Anina and Billie; Greg, Liz Ann and Charlie
3/15/2017 We went on a hike with Anina and Charlie and walked to the airport to see the planes come in right overhead. The hike up the hill was long with a lot of steps carved into the ground. The airport is about 1/3 of the way across the island from Anse Columbier. It is a very short runway and pilots have to be specially cleared to land here. They have to come and get checked out in St. Barth’s before they can land or take off here.
Anse Columbier anchorage
Gustavia Harbour
Sign at the road into the airport. People gather here to watch the planes come in right over their heads on their final approach to land.Stay tuned for a video of the plane landing when we can figure out how to post it.
Statue at the roundabout by the airport
Some of the wildlife on our hike
We stopped in the town of Colombier and had lunch on the way back. Cute little patisserie with good lunches and pastries.
3/16/2017 Greg’s Birthday!! He got to celebrate by walking along the docks in town and riding through the harbour to check out all the mega yachts. It was also the first day of the St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta. We walked up to a high point in town and to a park where we could watch the J boats race. Unfortunately, they were pretty far out from shore so we couldn’t get any pictures.
The North Sails temporary “loft” before the races began. And after the first day of racing.
Mega yachts in St. Barth’s including one with its own helipad. It is a very ritzy island.
The Maltese Falcon
Greg’s birthday celebration- his favorite, carrot cake. With Billie and Joanna and Anina and Charlie.
3/17/2017 We walked back over the hill and out to the East side across from our anchorage to watch the next day’s Bucket regatta events.
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We walked along to another area to watch the boats round a mark.
Anina and Liz Ann hiding out in a cave waiting for the rain to pass. Practiced our rock climbing skills. Greg and Charlie hanging out below.
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Tropic birds were flying around this cliff area. They must have had young in their cliff nests because they "fussed" at us and would not leave the area until we did.
We walked back over to our anchorage area and watched from up on the hill as boats came around Anse Columbier to the finish.
Lagniappe at center of photo with dark green sail cover.
The Maltese Falcon sails past the anchorage.3/18/2017 The last day of the Bucket, Greg went out in the dinghy and got “up close and personal” with the racers. He sat on the starting line as they zipped toward him vying for position.
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3/20/2017 We checked out of St. Bath’s and then motored over to Ile Fourchue which is an uninhabited island that is part of St. Barth’s. There is nice snorkeling there and it put us a bit closer to St. Martin where we headed next.
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| Turtle swimming just near our boat |
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Blue Tangs
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A porcupine fish
3/21/2017 Headed north to St. Martin.
