Merry Christmas and a very Happy 2025.
As you can see, we’re back on Passages, ready for
another sailing season.
We are anchored in Marigot Bay, St Martin, on the
French side of the island. The last time we were here, June/July 2014, we
sailed from the BVI’s to Philipsburg and Simpson Bay on the Dutch side of the
island.
We decided to come to the French side, as it is far easier to check into St Martin, than on the Dutch side,
plus we wanted to go somewhere different. One can move freely between the two countries. In fact, yesterday 30 December, we went to Carrefour on the Dutch side to do some shopping for fresh vegetables.
How did we get Passages to St Martin/ Maarten?
Well, let’s go back a bit.
Our last blog entry was in June 2024, when we
left Passages in the boat yard in Brunswick, Georgia, U.S.A. At the end of
October, Mel flew back to Passages, via Cape Town where he spent time with is
brothers.
Mel was determined to take the fastest and
quickest route back down to the Caribbean – that is heading due east from the
States into the north Atlantic. When you reach 65 degrees west longitude, turn
right/south and eventually, you would reach the top part of the Leeward islands
– St Martin.
The alternative way is along what is often referred
to as the ‘Thorny Path’ which we did in 2014, and it took us approximately 4
months.
I did NOT want to do the fast route as I knew I
would not be able to cope if the seas become rough. To be totally honest, the
last two years (2023 & 2024) have put a damper in my enthusiasm to sail as
we have had just awful conditions, and I feel as if I have regressed in my confidence.
I also felt that despite my commitment to Mel and his sailing dream, I could
NOT put myself into this situation. It would also be unfair to Mel, who would
need to focus on the boat and not on his wife and her needs.
Mel had mixed feelings, of excitement and of
course, apprehension about the challenge ahead of him, to sail solo on such a
trip which many sailors dread doing to get to the Caribbean. The trip could
take between 10 to 17 days, weather dependent.
Firstly, there were a few things that needed to
be done on Passages before Mel could embark on his journey. As usual, things
don’t always go according to one’s own time frame, so Mel was delayed by 2 to 3
weeks. He also was waiting for a reasonable weather window.
Mel eventually left Brunswick Marina on Wednesday
4 December 2024, arriving in Marigot Bay, St Martin on Tuesday morning, 17
December 2024, almost two weeks later.
Technology can be so useful and amazing. Mel had
a Garmin Inreach which updated his position every 10 minutes, so I could track
exactly where he was. I had to keep an eye on Mel and his mistress, Passages.
We could send sms messages to each other as well, which was handy, and it kept
my anxiety and worrying in check. Twice a day, 8.00 am/pm Perth time, we would
chat to each other on WhatsApp, thanks to Starlink.
Mel had a few incidences as is to be expected on
such a journey and being out at sea, which is totally unforgiving. For a couple of days he was surfing down 3.5
metre swells with winds gusting up to 36 knots, the inverter packed in at the
start of the journey so he couldn’t use the microwave to heat up the ready/quick
meals he had purchased, and he ran out of wind near Anegada only bobbing along
at 1.5 knots. Mel tried using a different method for connecting the genoa
sheets/lines to the genoa that failed, but as always, Mel took everything in
his stride.
To add to all the excitement, Mel developed an awful abscess on his right leg. He thinks it was a spider bite as he found a spider where he had been sitting while on his journey.
I eventually left Perth on Saturday 21 December,
arriving in St Martin on Monday 23 December via Miami. Mel was at the airport
to meet me and from there, we went to the hospital, as the doctor wanted a
surgeon to assess Mel’s abscess. We were at the hospital for 6 hours waiting
for Mel to be seen to, with me being forced to wait outside under a shelter
with my luggage and no water (in a jetlagged state). A surgeon eventually
attended to Mel and we motored to Passages in the dark. What a welcome to this
year’s sailing season! Since arriving on Passages, our focus has been to sort
out Mel’s leg. He has made several trips back and forth to the hospital. The
abscess was huge and has made a nasty hole in his leg. Thankfully, we have
medical insurance. Unfortunately, he has not been able to swim in the lovely
waters we find ourselves anchored in. All in good time.
In the meantime, I have been busy updating our
grocery and the boat’s inventory. Mel did a HUGE grocery shop before leaving
the States. We will NOT starve – that is for sure.
For Christmas, we went for lunch to a lovely French restaurant and for New Years we believe there will be many firework displays on the French side in Marigot Bay, so we will just be staying on the boat and enjoying the sights and sounds from Passages.
So, until next time – here is wishing you and
your loved ones a happy, healthy and successful 2025. Whatever you do may it
give you complete joy and fulfilment.
Take care, keep well and stay safe.
Best wishes, always
Mel and Caryn
