Arrive St Maarten – Monday 28th April

So far a don’t think much of St Maarten, not that we have been anywhere apart from the chandlery and a very small supermarket. We are stuck here until the work on the boat is complete. We arrived in the dark even after our 2am start; the winds got lighter as the trip went on and we were reluctant to use the motors until necessary. We sailed right into the anchorage and anchored just off the channel which leads onto Simpson Lagoon (the windlass is now working). The next morning we passed though the swing bridge and anchored as soon as possible in the Lagoon. We then went off in the rib to find a marina and make arrangements to get some work done. We have picked the wrong week, carnival is on today and tomorrow and St Maarten is closed until next week, not a good start. We end up mooring in Simpson Bay Marina. We spend a few days clearing out lockers and putting away all the kids clutter ready for the crossing. Octopus has her first good hose down for a long time and looks nice and shiny for it.

The Onan generator man came to mend the generator and finds the sender unit needs replacing; that should be an end to our problems. The jib has gone to the sail maker for repairs and the Lagoon dealer has now been in contact to do the warranty work. We will have to move to the French side of the island to get the work done and I am looking forward to leaving this place. The only plus side I can find is the Bar/internet café has a very small swimming pool that the children want to spend all their time in. Still no crew, I will look locally today, although I think James, Susie, Lizzie and Katie are more than capable to crew Octopus during the day, leaving Chris and I to do the night watches between us.