Pointe a Pitre
Wednesday 1st November
The first of November, all saints day, is a special day in both Guadeloupe and Martinique. The whole families are visiting the tombs of their loved ones. The supermarkets are fast selling out of candles, artificial flowers and other trinkets to pretty up the graves. Come the evening, families gather together in the cemeteries with food and drinks and spend some time with their dear departed. A real social gathering. I would have love to see it all but we have guests coming!
Last bit of shopping for the fresh stuff and a bit of washing to be done. We should be ready in time.
Frankie and Steve arrived this evening, we had a meal on board and got to know each other a bit. Steve was working with Ian at Sky and he has sailed a bit. Frankie is a novice so plenty to explain and take in. She is very enthusiastic about the whole thing so it should not be too hard.
Thursday 2nd November
We have an easy day today, only going to the Gosier island, a few miles away. The morning is spent with an extensive briefing, I am distracted by all the little boats getting ready for the regatta this morning…
Beautiful day and the sea and is kind and fairly flat. We could not have hoped for a better day for our first outing, We had such a good wind that we were debating whether we should not make the most of it and sail to Marie Galante, bypassing le Gosier. It mean a bit of a long day for a first go so we were sensible and turned around. Just in time to find ourselves in the middle of the regatta, still racing under spinnaker. Off course we had to cross their paths and we found ourselves right in the middle of the fleet. Bet they were cursing us as they came around fairly close. Took up back to our racing days. It was just brilliant.
Once out of harm way we found the Gosier deserted, hardly any boats at anchor. We went ashore and had a bit of a walk around. Superb views, very dramatic with the storm clouds gathering. The lighthouse was very picturesque too.