64) Martinique

Marina du Bakoua, Pointe du Bout, Martinique, 14° 33.382 N 61° 03.265 W

We tried to get out early but it just never happens.  We were plagued with heavy rain and that caused some delay.  I once again volunteered for dinghy duty for the dismount from the dock.  We were med tied with stern lines to the dock and 2 bowlines to mooring balls.  My job was to motor out, disconnect the bowlines from the balls, meet the boat at the fuel dock a few slips away and attach the dinghy.  This went well and no lines were wrapped on the prop. 

We also needed to fuel up and that is a long, long process.  Unfortunately, this boat is not fill-friendly.  John sits on the deck and nurses the fuel in.  It takes a while to get 200-300 gallons. 

I sat up in the chair for a couple hours of clouds and sprinkles.  The winds were blowing into the mid thirties and hit 34.  But, we were motoring.  After turning east the waves were on the nose and it was a slow go.  We were down to going only 2.5 knots.  Ugh.  

  

We passed very close to Diamond Rock on our way to Le Merin.  This is a popular dive site and the dive boats I dove with come here too.  From a distance the rest of the island does not look spectacular.  It’s pretty low but still has lots of lush greenery.

Le Marin, Martinique (anchorage near the floating dry dock), 14° 28 N 60° 52 W

The first attempt to anchor failed and we got it set on the second try.  Some sitting around and settling was going on until it was time to get the sail.  The reason we anchored here was that the sail loft was close by and we were to pick it up with the dinghy.  

It was getting to be late afternoon and John, Alan and I took the dinghy to the shoreline.  The loft was tough to find and we had to ask for directions.  They said go that way and turn in…  it was a slough.  We thought this couldn’t be the way.  But it was.  The sail loft was part of a new large commercial complex.  This particular building was designed for a loft including an electric winch that ran thru the length of the building for loading sails.  You can pull your boat in and they will lift it and put it in the building and the process is reversed on the way out.  On the other side of the building you can do the same from the ground or vehicle.  This place was fantastic and very well designed. 

  

OK, we got the sail and it’s time to leave.  But, Alan says he’ll walk a mile down the road and meet the boat when it comes back for dinner.  It’s dark now and John and I head out the slough and he’s puttering along and it started sprinkling.  He says, no problem we’ll dry off soon.  Then it pours.  Hard.  He floors it.  The rain stung our eyes badly and I said that I could not see forward and he said don’t worry.  And then, bang!  I thought we hit a rock or tree.  The boat stops dead in its tracks.  I turned the engine off and said get the paddles.  Are we going to shore or the boat?  He says the boat is right over there and I start paddling.  It’s pouring rain and for yesterday and today it was a bit cooler and on the water it is noticeably cooler.  It was now cold.  He said he thought that the transmission just popped out of gear and he was right.  We got it started and then made it to the boat.  We still had to lift the sail in the boat with a halyard and were happy that is all we had to do.  Now, I hadn’t had a shower for a couple days for whatever reason and I decided to take one.  I knew that I was not going to get back in that dinghy after I was clean and warm and go to shore for dinner and that was a good decision.  While they were away I was able to shower and make pancakes for dinner.  Mmmmmmm…

I also watched almost an entire movie and thought that they had been gone for a long time.  I kinda figured it was because of the bad service or maybe they were enjoying themselves.  When they showed up the first thing Nancy said was that they were all the way down by Club Med.  We passed it on our way in so that means it is on the way out; and, at least a mile past the boat.  They had been looking for the boat for almost 45 minutes.  They got lost.  I could not believe it.  I asked how hard is it to see when you get to the end of the anchored boats, or there are no more anchor lights, or why didn’t you follow the shoreline and why were you way over there and how did you get lost?  They all said they could not see the boats or the boat lights because all the lights on shore were too bright.  They were all soaked.  They motored past the boat and realized when they got to Club Med that they were going out to sea.