Saint Lucian Christmas

We left Dominica on Saturday, December 20th weren't sure if we would stop in St Pierre (Martinique) for a day or so as Brian has been reading alot about the origins of the Caribbean and it was prominent in the early days, known as “the Paris of the Caribbean,” until Mount Pelée erupted in 1902, killing all but 2 residents.
The winds were good for sailing from Portsmouth to Rousseau and then died off. Between Dominica and Martinique we hit a squall and we lost our GPS and autopilot forcing us to handsteer by compass. At that point, and knowing the sea state had higher swells then we suspected, I opted to continue to Saint Lucia. We would have gotten to Saint Pierre at dusk or dark and it was another 50nm to Saint Lucia so we pressed on, motoring, but then later in the evening put the main up again and had a great run untill close to Rodney Bay, when we were hit by another squall.
We anchored in the dark around 1:30am, wind blowing to 25knots, and went to bed. On Sunday we did lots of boat chores, went for a swim, lowered the dinghy and went in to the marina for dinner with friend, and fellow Canadians, Mark and Kris Richards.
They are farm owners from Drysden, Ontario and we met then in Antigua and spent lots of time with them in Saint Lucia last year. They are heading north and us South... So we are overlapping for a week during Christmas 🎄. The boat, now that we are in one spot, is decorated with lights up the mast in a triangle (tree), lights along the boom and in the helm, lite bulbs in the salon and forward head (bathroom), and a small Christmas Tree in the salon with a mermaid & crab decoration (from Oxford, MD) and the boat treetopper (Mystic, CT).... And my meditating Santa (Moncton).
On Monday we were supposed to have a reservation at the marina, but they were full and F2 wasnt available. At the end if the day (Mark and Kris had already gone in), we were given the option of G23 (smaller dock), or I dock (concrete with the super yachts). Brian wasnt happy with either, so we stayed in the harbour and swam, for that night. Mark and Kris send pictures of G dock and told Brian he could make it.... So he decided to try early in the morning.
Tuesday, with the help of lots of hands, and Mark pushing the bow with his dinghy, we got in by 9am... It wasnt pretty but we made it unscathed. We checked in, lowered the dinghy, and then I went with Kris to Ojas Spa for a pedicure and massage. Afterwards we walked to the grocery and Mark was supposed to pick us up in the dinghy, but it wouldnt start, so we had to walk back... Laddled with our groceries. Kris has a bad hip so I tried to carry most. Gaza saw us and came over, close to the Marina, and helped carry the rest of the way. I had seen him the day before. He had done varnishing work for us the year before and we had great conversations and stayed in touch via WhatsApp.
We have eaten out at Sea Salt (w Paul & Deb... Kris cousins), Razmataz (Christmas Eve), Ritual Sushi, Market Place Sushi (at Harbour Hotel and it was terrible), and La Mesa. Of course the ice cream shop was also frequented, and the grocery store (Masseys). On Christmas Day, we had a potluck with Kris, Mark and their friend Thomas Perkins who has a boat in Grenada called Halcyon. We had ham, scolloped potatoes, sweet potato casserole and salad. I also made brownies with walnuts and cranberries, and an appetizer - a combo of avaibale items in the fridge (base was cottage chesse, yogurt, oatmilk and spices), cranberry sauce in top and then roasted pecans. Fun evening!
Thomas was an interesting guy, a navy seal diver, a Bronze Star recipient (for removing mines underwater in Iraq, so that Aid boats could get in and rescuing people in a russian submarine). He has a daughter who is paraplegic and has a book coming out in March called “A Life Not Worth Living.”
On Christmas Eve we meant Clint and Dani... another interesting pair on a Gulf Star 80. Dani was in finance and corporate in Brazil (Chinese decent) and tossed it in to sail... She met Clint a year ago. He left the world of bike gangs, and owned one of the largest Harley Shops in Texas (and did custom choppers). By 38 he had the dream business, dream house, dream life but wasnt happy, so at his moms suggestion he put the business for sale at 3x its worth and there was a bidding war. He walk away and started a new life, crewing on boats and is now the captain on the Gulf Star after chartering and getting his license in Hawaii.
Brian and I havent left the compound much. In fact, Brian has only been outside the gates via taxi when we all went to a resturant. We did take the dingy to Pidgeon Beach and along that left side of the Bay on Christmas Eve, we also went to the right side to take a nice long walk on the beach two days ago, via the dinghy. We met a man name Phillipe (s/v Better Times) on a Trimaran.... He was from Luxembourg and had lived in the Bay for 4 years. He has a dog (french bulldog) who LOVED the water and would find big waves coming to shore and “fly” over them... Jumping high with her paw stretched in either direction, a joy to watch.
The rest of the time here at IGY Rodney Bay Marina was long conversations with family and friends and boat work: replaced the gypsy, tightened the stern gland, scraped, sanded and spot primed the port and starboard toe rail and pilothouse, then light sanded (220) those ENTIRE areas and put two coats of gloss on them. We are now working on the rub rails and have finished scrapping, sanding and priming the starboard side.... Today the port and then some sanding and gloss for both. Trying to get it all done before we leave for Bequia (Saint Vincent & Grenadines) tomorrow.Read more