We always planned to be in St. Lucia for the arrival of the ARC. (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) It is an impressive collection of ocean going sailboats. About 200 sailboats loosely 'group together' for safety in numbers and a sort of race across the Atlantic. http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/ (The largest transocean sailing event in the world, every year the ARC brings together over 200 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 14 and 21 days.) So here we sit on our little sailboat in Rodney Bay watching the boats arrive. A light rain just hit and as i went up on deck to close some hatches and zip up the plastic awning in the cockpit, 4 boats were sailing in circles around us looking for a spot to anchor in. I anticipate that there will be lots of sailboat shuffling throughout the weekend.
Craig and Angela were here at this same marina back in the summer and it had only about 5 boats in it, the restaurant was closed and the entire place looked like a ghost town. Today it swirls with activity as hundreds of boats are tied up and flying their flags and pennants, the entire parking lot is set up with vendors and a large bandstand for some massive 'Sail-a-bration.' Maybe we'll go back over there and mix it up with the beautiful people? (we went to the marina yesterday to check in at the customs office) *to my untrained eye these are "yachtsmen" and not the 'Dock Rat' characters i see at other ports. These are the people who wear little captain hats and white matching outfits. These are the very, very big multi million dollar sailing yachts.
Today we want to dingy across the bay and climb up to an old fort at the Harbor entrance. It was a signal fort for early warning of invasion. The island has changed hands 14 times between England and France over the years. Got the history lesson when I climbed up some winding city streets yesterday to get a photo of the bay from way up. So, after getting lost for an hour climbing the wrong side of the mountain and backtracking through numerous forks in the road, all bad choices, i get good directions and find the road i have been searching. (only got lost once more) It's almost straight up, in the sunshine with no shade and the breeze is blocked by houses. By the time i reach the summit i'm huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf... As luck would have it i meet 'a Grandmother' who says, "honey you better drink some water. you look like you are about to die." She befriends me and gets me some ice water, then lets me take photos from her 3rd floor balcony. It's the shot i have been searching for the last hour. 'Priceless.' (perhaps over-used, but appropriate in this instance) As i'm leaving i thank them all again, as now two grand kids, dad and an uncle are all out pointing and telling me history of the Island. Grandmother says, "of course we gave you water, for we never know when we might entertain and angel unawares." (i laughed and reassured her that she had wasted the water this time as i am no angel) I gave them one of my cards and asked them to email, so i hope to repay their kindness as SHE IS an angel...
I'm on my second cup of coffee and Angela is cooking bacon with delicious smells filling the salon below decks. (Craig will smell it and awaken soon) I have been assigned the duty of carving the fresh pineapple for breakfast. It's just work, work, work down here!
Hope the sunshine and showers are pleasant where you are.
From St. Lucia, happy holiday! xoxo Pirate Skip
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