St Martins and repairs!!

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St Martins

Sailing into Phillipsburg from ST Barts is a very easy approach, we were soon settled and anchored in the big wide bay. Ashore was a beach surrounded by bars, with loads of tables and chairs.

We had come to Phillipsburg to pick up our friends from Weymouth, who were on a cruise on the Oriana. During the night our boat rolled around in the southeasterly swell, most uncomfortable, it reminds me of being on the toning tables in the gym, sliding up a and down the bed!
In the morning I watched Oriana coming in, it seemed so huge in the bay. We picked up Chris and Hilary on the fuel jetty, it was good to see them. Well we did go out for a brief sail, but the wind was blowing about 30 knots and the rain started lashing down, we spent half the time they were there cowering down below! Not quite the Caribbean weather they could have been expecting….still we had a very good lunch.

The strangest thing was going ashore just after the cruise ship had left, within minutes every bar was closed, and the streets full of people going home, by 6.30 pm just a few bars were open and a couple of people ambling down the esplanade. It was like watching a film set when the filming stopped.


Next morning we came round to Simpson bay and went through the bridge to Simpson bay lagoon, where it is flat calm, hot and really good for working on the boat. Alan had a mammoth job to change the stern gland, in the water. It took him ages to drill out a part to fit. Grinding in the sink does not do much for the dusting. At last he was finished and only a little crisis with all hands on deck pumping. So far we have spent hours in Island Water world, where I must say they have been really helpful. Our batteries were not charging so they took them and gave them a deep charge to ‘wake them up’ and they do seem a lot better. We bought them in Grenada from IWW there, so they are only 3 years old.
Then we saw the solar panels….now Perthamina is going green, yes we have a great big panel at present propped up in the cockpit ready to be mounted at the stern of the boat, another job for Alan, think we might still be here in three months.

St Martins round the lagoon is a little like downtown Florida in a minature way. No pavements, loads of neon signs, tex mex etc, but once you get to realise where everything is, it is vey accessible by dinghy to almost everything. O ne end of thelagoon is on the French side, and the other Dutch. We are on the Dutch side, we had intended to go to Marigot on the French side, but had to visit the marine stores here. We had a very good meal in a restaurant called Saratoga, I had red snapper in a sauce with mashed potatoes underneath it. Alan had tenderloin pork, which he said was good. The cheapest wine on the list was 45 us dollars, we stuck to gin and tonic!! It always feels a bit undignified to arrive at the restaurant, climb out of the dinghy on your hands and knees waving a giant chain and padlock, with all the diners watching you!

Marigot bay


At last all the repairs were done, the stern gland mended, batteries had a deep cycle charging and seem to be fine. We have bought a great big solar panel, which is currently waiting to be fitted, The sun normally shines here so should be good.

Marigot was lovely, we really enjoyed the little French town on the side of st martins. We were anchored next to another hallberg rassy and when we came back from shopping and lunch, we saw that a boat identical to ours had anchored next to us, they were Italian, and had been keeping the boat in st martins, they came round for a drink, it was good to talk about the boats.

We had a lovely meal in a French restaurant, they produced a steak kebab for me about two foot long!! We enjoyed the rest of it the next day sailing to the Virgin Islands. The palm trees were rolling and swaying whilst we were eating, as a squall went by. The town was very French., and actually quite attractive. The anchorage was calm, and clean blue water.


My ear infection is much better after strong antibiotics etc from the doctor, he too was very helpful. Last night we went to a drink for cruisers and it was interesting to meet some other cruisers. Hopefully by the time you read this we should be on the way to the Virgin Islands.

Virgin Islands


We left at Marigot at about 4 am, it was so dark… could not even see the boats until we were up to them. It was pretty calm, no wind so just a rolly swell, we put up the pole at day break to pole out the genoa, and goosewinged the mainsail, it was a matter of motor sailing. And the dolphins!! We saw loads of pods of dolphins, they were so playful, beautiful small creatures. It was very hot sailing and we had the good steak salad on the way! Arrived here about 5pm and it is flat calm, this is a long inlet with resort hotels dotted around, all set up for boats and dinghies, they are mostly wooden buildings with big decks onto the water, which is so clear, last night it was all lit up and you could see the tarpon swimming round they are massive. Anyway we are glad to be here, recovered, clean flat anchorage. More later.
St Martins

Sailing into Phillipsburg from ST Barts is a very easy approach, we were soon settled and anchored in the big wide bay. Ashore was a beach surrounded by bars, with loads of tables and chairs.

We had come to Phillipsburg to pick up our friends from Weymouth, who were on a cruise on the Oriana. During the night our boat rolled around in the southeasterly swell, most uncomfortable, it reminds me of being on the toning tables in the gym, sliding up a and down the bed!
In the morning I watched Oriana coming in, it seemed so huge in the bay. We picked up Chris and Hilary on the fuel jetty, it was good to see them. Well we did go out for a brief sail, but the wind was blowing about 30 knots and the rain started lashing down, we spent half the time they were there cowering down below! Not quite the Caribbean weather they could have been expecting….still we had a very good lunch.

The strangest thing was going ashore just after the cruise ship had left, within minutes every bar was closed, and the streets full of people going home, by 6.30 pm just a few bars were open and a couple of people ambling down the esplanade. It was like watching a film set when the filming stopped.


Next morning we came round to Simpson bay and went through the bridge to Simpson bay lagoon, where it is flat calm, hot and really good for working on the boat. Alan had a mammoth job to change the stern gland, in the water. It took him ages to drill out a part to fit. Grinding in the sink does not do much for the dusting. At last he was finished and only a little crisis with all hands on deck pumping. So far we have spent hours in Island Water world, where I must say they have been really helpful. Our batteries were not charging so they took them and gave them a deep charge to ‘wake them up’ and they do seem a lot better. We bought them in Grenada from IWW there, so they are only 3 years old.
Then we saw the solar panels….now Perthamina is going green, yes we have a great big panel at present propped up in the cockpit ready to be mounted at the stern of the boat, another job for Alan, think we might still be here in three months.

St Martins round the lagoon is a little like downtown Florida in a minature way. No pavements, loads of neon signs, tex mex etc, but once you get to realise where everything is, it is vey accessible by dinghy to almost everything. O ne end of thelagoon is on the French side, and the other Dutch. We are on the Dutch side, we had intended to go to Marigot on the French side, but had to visit the marine stores here. We had a very good meal in a restaurant called Saratoga, I had red snapper in a sauce with mashed potatoes underneath it. Alan had tenderloin pork, which he said was good. The cheapest wine on the list was 45 us dollars, we stuck to gin and tonic!! It always feels a bit undignified to arrive at the restaurant, climb out of the dinghy on your hands and knees waving a giant chain and padlock, with all the diners watching you!

Marigot bay


At last all the repairs were done, the stern gland mended, batteries had a deep cycle charging and seem to be fine. We have bought a great big solar panel, which is currently waiting to be fitted, The sun normally shines here so should be good.

Marigot was lovely, we really enjoyed the little French town on the side of st martins. We were anchored next to another hallberg rassy and when we came back from shopping and lunch, we saw that a boat identical to ours had anchored next to us, they were Italian, and had been keeping the boat in st martins, they came round for a drink, it was good to talk about the boats.

We had a lovely meal in a French restaurant, they produced a steak kebab for me about two foot long!! We enjoyed the rest of it the next day sailing to the Virgin Islands. The palm trees were rolling and swaying whilst we were eating, as a squall went by. The town was very French., and actually quite attractive. The anchorage was calm, and clean blue water.


My ear infection is much better after strong antibiotics etc from the doctor, he too was very helpful. Last night we went to a drink for cruisers and it was interesting to meet some other cruisers. Hopefully by the time you read this we should be on the way to the Virgin Islands.

Virgin Islands


We left at Marigot at about 4 am, it was so dark… could not even see the boats until we were up to them. It was pretty calm, no wind so just a rolly swell, we put up the pole at day break to pole out the genoa, and goosewinged the mainsail, it was a matter of motor sailing. And the dolphins!! We saw loads of pods of dolphins, they were so playful, beautiful small creatures. It was very hot sailing and we had the good steak salad on the way! Arrived here about 5pm and it is flat calm, this is a long inlet with resort hotels dotted around, all set up for boats and dinghies, they are mostly wooden buildings with big decks onto the water, which is so clear, last night it was all lit up and you could see the tarpon swimming round they are massive. Anyway we are glad to be here, recovered, clean flat anchorage. More later.

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