Monday February 10, 2014

Monday February 10

Showers, breakfast, and last minute supplies before our 9:30 Captains briefing in the Chart Room.  Instructor  Neil was waiting for us on our boat

.  

After a thural orientation of the boat and a course piloted at 206 degrees taking us from the entrance of the marina to Pelican Island we slipped the dock lines.  As we approached Pelican Island we did a starboard tack, a port tack and entered The Blight at Norman Island where we took a mooring for the night at 4:05. At this time most sailors start cocktail hour, not us, Neil rolled out some navigation charts and the lesson was on.

Instructor Neil Devine

Sunday February 09, 2014

Sunday February 09

12:00 came early as we checked out of Inn and hung around the marina all day awaiting 5pm to board our course yacht.  

We picked up a more few supplies at the dockside store and met Neil Devine, our instructor for the week, aboard 'Paw Paw Wight', A 46 foot sailing Catamaran.

The Classroom

4 ensuite births (with 2 additional ½ bunks), 5 heads, fridge, freezer, microwave, coffee maker, blender, toaster, tv, generator able to provide AC aside from shore power.

The Spare Room
(aka the root cellar)

The Aft Deck

The Galley

I could live on this without hesitation. 

Loaded up with provisions but not allowed to cook at the dock we went to the onsite Charlie's restaurant.  It was a bit pricy for the decor and food but it was a good meal.

Saturday February 08, 2014

Saturday February 08

Egg, Peanut Butter, & Jelly

Breakfast in Ginnys. I  had an Egg, Peanut Butter, and Jelly sandwich with cheese. When I saw it on the menu I could not resist.  It was a bit sweet and in contrast from some of the culinary experiences the past week in St Lucia. 

We board our Navigation Course boat tomorrow and although the course includes provisioning for the week we thought we should top up on a few supplies and to scout out supplies for the week after (February 19), when we board our chartered monohull boat with Mark and Marcy.

Armed with a few bags of select goods we utilized the fridges in our hotel rooms and went to visit Louis and Arthur, the bartender and server at marina side bar.  

Friday, February 07 2014

Friday, February 07, 2014

Vigie Airport

Ceilia was scheduled to pick us up at the 5:30AM and she did.

Vigie Airport is a smaller airport servicing island flights. 

LIAT AIR

Line up for Liat flights.  

We were in line for LI 310 to Beef Island, Tortola.

Departure: 7:45 with layovers in Antigua and St Maartin

Antigua

St Maartin

Tortola

The Mariners Marina

The Moorings
(Our charter company)

Thursday, February 06 2014

Thursday, February 06, 2014

Following breakfast we strolled around the downtown Castries.

The Coal Pot Restaurant

With a lunchon scheduled for 12:30 with the Margaret and Erica, we were off to the Coal Pot Restaurant located across from a small airport.  Again, the food, service, and atmosphere was top notch.

For our last evening in St Lucia we met Marie and Doretta at the Blue Olive for another superb dining experience.  

We made it an early night as there was still some repacking to do.

Wednesday, February 05 2014

Wednesday February 05

On schedule, Doretta was at the door at 9:05 AM to take us to a nearby condo for breakfast hosted by John and Valerie, 2 fellow expat Brits and friends of Doretta's

Following breakfast, Doretta had setup a lunchtime meeting in Rodney Bay with Michael, also an expat Brit and a colleague of Eric, who among other interests owns a local TV station and is a local philanthropist. Excellence, the Indian restaurant, actually had a 'Vegetarian' section on the menu. Presentation and taste live up to its name, excellent. Thanks Michael. 

View of Rodney Bay, its marina, the Landings,  and Pigeon Island

After a bit of a reprieve back at the condo we were off to a funeral reception in honour of John Bascom hosted by his Step-daughters Margaret and Erica. 

John was 96 at the time of his passing and was a distinquished retired banker and a good acquaintance of Eric's.  The reception was held at his house overlooking Rodney Bay.

Following dinner Eric and I met Marie for cocktails at the Landings before going to 

Cap Maison for dinner.  Incredible views, service, and dinner.

Tuesday, February 04 2014

St Lucia - February 04, 2014

TORONTO -> ST LUCIA

Tuesday February 04

After a 1 night stopover in Toronto, with opportunity to visit some past workmates at the Royal York Hotel and meeting up with Eric who had flown in from Seattle the day before, we boarded West-jet 2626 with our sailing gear, clothing, and a cello destined for the St Lucia School of Music. 

  

We stepped off the airplane into 28C, light winds and from what I am told, the norm.  Most days are expected to be the same. We cleared Immigration and Customs with cello in tack. Ceilia, our prearranged driver, soon arrived to pick us up. Arrangements had previously been arranged by Doretta, a colleague and good friend of Eric's, arranged for Ceilia to drop us off at the Windjammer Resort in time for a pre-dinner cocktail reception. Marie, the music teacher from the school and Doretta joined us for a beachside dinner as we were entertained by locals performing a high energy limbo floor show. Wow, they can go low!!

Sunset at the WindJammer Resort

With dinner complete we were taken to a nearby condo at Gate Park, 

our St Lucia home for 3 nights.