Good Bye Saint Lucia

So nice to finish the year 2025.... Waking up on the last day, at the base of the Pitons!
Sadly, we said goodbye to our friends, proud Canadians on Rhodopis, Mark and Kris on Dec 29th. We had a large check-list and recruitedthe help of Gaza and Anthony to finish the scraping and sanding of the toe rail. As our last meal in Rodney Bay, we went to the Spice of India... Always a hit (although it was Brians last meal with his ex-wife, Karen).
On Dec 30h we completed the chores, checked out of the country and Marina, moved the boat forward to lift the dinghy, took down the Christmas decorations and headed 20nm south to Soufrière. We read the No Forgien Land blog and sawthat many people us Jahleel to help find a mooring ball. There are security concerns and talk of boatboys hustling people, but we were greeted by a rainbow and had no problems. We got a mooring at the base of the Piton and went for a swim, and saw 100,000 or more small fish in the clear waters. The Marine Patrol came around 5pm to collect the park/ mooring fee (54ec).
The night was rolly and I was up at 3am, and noticed the moon setting, a spectacular sight! Once up, it was time to leave and continue towards Trinadad with our next stop being Bequia...Enroute, we caught a Mahi mahi... Which we enjoyed for Supper.
The anchorage in Bequia was very full, known for its NYE fireworks, so we stayed further out on the northeat side of the bay (Port Elizabeth), to the lee of the headland. As we arrived we saw a giant turtle swimming close to the boat, and decided to go swimming ourselves and make sure the anchor was set.
Sailors midnight is 9pm, and strangely I abide by that timeline, although on land I am usually awake untill midnight, on the boat I am nodding off early. The fireworks were set to ring in the new year, and I was set to nap untill 2026 was ushered in....Read more