Passage Marie Galante to Dominica ( 01.05.17-04.05.17)
We really enjoyed Marie Galante but it is now time to leave and head south, we are aiming to get to le Marin a few days before Lynn and Peter from Christine get there so we can catch up on their return from the UK before they disappear north. And they are bringing goodies from back home. Peter very kindly agreed to be our mule mainly for boat bits but also for sorely missed items like Scottish oatcakes amongst other things.
We get a break in the weather on the day we leave; the bank holiday weekend has been a total wash out. There has been so much rain, we are supposed to be in the dry season…. can’t imagine what the rainy season will be like.
So heading for Dominica, if we have enough wind we will go straight to Roseau but we have the option to stop in Portsmouth if it is getting too late. We got up early and had a nice sail for most of the day. Even crossing the channel was not so bad, the breeze up to 20 knots, no more than that. Mr X is a bit slow though, Ian suspects we have too much fauna and flora below the waterline. He has tried to keep it clean every time he goes for a swim but it has got out of hand. The instruments are also playing up; a loose connection will need to be soldered so we decide to overnight in Portsmouth. We hardly recognise the place, it is empty in comparison with a few weeks earlier. Looks beautiful, far more pleasant, we can anchor up nearer the shore with hardly anyone around us. We got there early afternoon, plenty time for a swim, sorting out the instruments and a quiet dinner on board. Alexis, the guide who took us along the Indian River recognises us and came to say hello, which I thought was nice.
Next morning is overcast but at least not raining. The passage to Roseau is even slower, we are in the lea of the land and the wind is really fickle, coming down the mountains, we can have up to 30 knots one minute down to 4 the next, loads of Genoa in, Genoa out today, ending up with quite a lot of slow motoring. Roseau anchorage is even more deserted than Portsmouth, there is only 4 other boats with us! What a difference. Beautiful sunset tonight, we even see the green flash which we hadn’t seen for a while.