We finally have escaped from St Lucia the 30 miles or so to Martinique. We had a great crossing flying (?) along at 6.5 knots in the sinshine to arrive in this lovely bay. Since we were last here, the authorities have installed mooring buoys which are both secure and FOC. Good old French! The weather is glorious and the water so crystal clear it's almost too good to be true.
We had to pop around the coast to Anse Matin yesterday to clear in with customs and immigration. The system in all the French-owned islands is so simple - basically complete your details on specialised PCs, print out the form and get it stamped by the approved customs agent. No charge, no need for passports or other ID and you're in!
We've dined with friends off Bayzano the last two nights - a BBQ on their boat the first night and we cooked last night. Friendships are formed very quickly in the sailing community, maybe because the nature of the lifestyle is very transient but also because we all share a great love in common. Sadly Rhian and Rob are headng south from Martinique so we're unlikely to see them again this season but they plan to be sailing out here for several more years so we'll certainly keep in touch.
We plan on using the local bus service this afternoon to visit a couple of pretty villages south of here .... but it's a lazy morning in the sunshine before then. Snow, what snow?!!!