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No sleep at all last night! Instead, nasty swell rolling in from West with the increasing tide combined with my mooring too close to the shore. On top of that, a drifting catamaran (my neighbours) with a broken mooring line in the late afternoon hours. Root cause remains unclear. The team around hero Volker got it back under control. Amazing. My head is spinning. All not fun and too much to phrase down! Can you trust these moorings? I remain sceptical but no real option.
I have now changed to a mooring buoy slightly further out to get away from the close shoreline. There is thermic wind from West coming later this week als0 creating more unpleasant swell from West. Not sure we can stay here at all. SY Hexe has left today, moving North. I might follow earlier than planned caused by an unusual trade wind spread.
The picture above taken this morning is misleading. The swell ceased from 4:18am onwards, after the tide reached its peak. It might come back, most likely.
We have to monitor and decide but for now I am tired and will catch up on some sleep. Sailor’s destiny. At least immigration this morning went smooth and I am legally allowed to stay on in Dominica. Good night for now.
Fair winds…
Volker invited me for a snorkelling trip to Champagne Reef, a place, which has been praised by other sailors before as well. It is just off Scotts Head and part of a huge National Park. Special are the hot bubbles coming out of the ground ascending to the surface. The planet is boiling here. Fair winds…
A pleasant sail took us to Roseau, the capital of Dominica. After some zig-zack course around Sargassum carpets, I got a playful welcome from a dolphin group just before passing Scotts Head, the southern tip of the island. Hard to catch on the camera this cheerful gift of the ocean.
I had booked a mooring with SeaCat and it all worked out as expected. Upon arrival, I got escorted to the reserved mooring followed by their help to fix the line to the buoy. They offer all kinds of service, which will help me to enjoy “The Nature Island” as that’s what Dominica is called.
My sailing friends from SY Hexe, Cornelia and Volker, have already enjoyed some spectacular activities on the island the last couple of days. After Volker also assisted during our mooring process, the bar for the arrival beer and sundowner became common sense. We took a quick dinghy ride into town to the “Hi Rise Beach Bar”!
I am planning to stay two weeks in Dominica.
Fair winds…
In solo sailor days, there are not only Champagne Fridays, there are also Lemon Fridays. Today is one of the latter Fridays.
It is 8:30pm local time and I have just returned back on board while AF895 is taking off from Fort-de-France (FDF) to Paris (CDG).
I am getting some pasta dish done between these lines. The portlight over the pantry oven is open. We have 29℃ in the boat. No wind. Calm see. No swell. Spot lighting from all directions, the land, the sea, the anchorage, the sky. The moon has joined, four more days to another full moon.
Eighty two days ago, Susan arrived on São Vicente/Cabo Verde. She is now on the plane AF895 back to Europe, which makes it a Lemon Friday for me. Yes, everyone was aware of the rules. I remain deeply grateful for the time and adventures we shared together besides being very impressed by the iron discipline Susan puts into the job.
I have now granted myself a subscription for an indefinite retreat to overcome this Lemon Friday soonest. It shall be governed by a benevolently Lady, pleasant weather and some great upcoming nature adventures on Dominica.
I have checked out from Martinique and the Lady is ready to explore new shores, where different rules will apply.
Fair winds…
I was hunting for this photo since arrival in Saint-Pierre and finally got the moment showing Mount Pelėe without any clouds.
The devastating eruption in 1902 is considered as the most deadliest outbreak of a volcano globally during the 20th century, killing approximately 30’000 people and leaving 18 merchant ships as wrecks in the bay!
Looks peaceful but officialy is still considered active.
Fair winds…
I was strolling around in Saint-Pierre town this morning and ended up walking along the beach. The moderate trade winds are still providing very pleasant anchorage without swell. Cornelia and Volker did set sail this morning heading north. We will follow them later the week.😀
Over a coffee I witnessed another fishing technic applied by the local fishermen. Good catch!
Fair winds…
