4/24/2007 St. Martin to St. Barts

Mileage:  22.5 miles

Time:  4 hours 21 minutes

Average SOG:  5 mph

 

8:15:37 AM                1.9 mi 0:30:20           4 mph 42° true           N18 06.364 W63 03.393

8:45:57 AM                0.1 mi 0:01:31           5 mph 81° true           N18 07.581 W63 02.246

9:27:08 AM                2.8 mi 0:30:04           6 mph 149° true        N18 05.741 W62 59.950

10:27:41 AM              2.7 mi 0:30:05           5 mph 152° true        N18 01.619 W62 57.297

11:27:52 AM              2.8 mi 0:30:08           6 mph 142° true        N17 57.538 W62 54.882

12:28:10 PM              0.1 mi 0:18:54           0.4 mph 248° true     N17 54.100 W62 51.408

12:47:04 PM                                                                                      N17 54.057 W62 51.517

 

Clearing in, we needed eight Euros to pay for Immigrations.  As we had not had an opportunity to acquire Euros before we checked in, the officer told us to go have lunch and pay him when we were finished adding we should not fret about currency exchange.  He directed us to the currency exchange located directly behind the Immigrations office.  (Don’t you just love the French?)  Consequently, we took his advice and had a very nice stroll through town to Shell Beach for lunch at a restaurant he also recommended – Do Brazil.  

 

St.  Barts is quite the place…so much for our original plan checking in and out the same day. It looks like we will be here until at least tomorrow…or the next day…or the next day.  Oh, there are so many shops and restaurants.  (There is a Lacoste here, where I quickly picked up three more dresses.) 

 

Let us just say, St. Barts is c’est magnifique!  One proprietor, who originally lived in France, told us St. Barts is more "French" than any other island in the Caribbean.  We have already made New Year’s Eve dinner reservations at The Wall, where we ate the best Chateau Briand we have ever had.   (Actually, we are going to make New Year’s Eve reservations at any place that completely captivates us, canceling those we do not intend to use in October.  There are SO many gastronomic experiences…so little time.)  Is this fun, or what?!?!?!?!?!

 

April 25/26, 2007

 

Our anchorage was a tad rolling.  However, access to off-the-boat-snorkeling made it all worthwhile.  The "wall" next to the boat is actually a dive site, frequented daily by local dive boats.  How nice to have it right "outside our door".

 

Hiring a car gave us access to the many fine beaches around the island.  We have decided to rent a car as often as is practical, to move beyond our anchorages, to visit attractions not within walking distance.  Although we stayed put in one anchorage, we will gunk-hole the island when we return during the winter sailing season of 2008.