While Sascha returned our rental vehicle in the morning I cleaned up a bit in the cockpit using the time-honored method of flushing with salt water via a bucket. The winds were gusty in Grand Case, but the weather report promised a swell of just over a meter with 15 knots of wind. Once my friends came aboard we got underway very quickly (practice makes perfect) and set three reefs in both mainsail and genoa to ensure that we could travel in comfort, if not with any real speed. The first upwind stretch to Tintamarre was done motor sailing, but after that we shut down the diesel and proceeded to sail around St. Martin / Sint Maarten. The combination of ploughing through the swell on the first leg and the choppy slight rolling on the windward side had some of the crew sleeping or feeling queasy, but once we turned the point at Philipsburg the seas settled and the sail was a lot smoother.
We got to witness a go-around of Air France, see a big cruise ship up close and gawk at Phaedo 3 zipping by us in excess of the 30 knots while we were plodding along at a more sedate and comfortable pace. We took a short break in Simpson Bay to eat a late lunch of baguettes and cheese before continuing on past the airport and around the headland into the rougher waters between St. Martin and Anguilla. After beating upwind for a bit I turned on the engine again so that we could get a better angle to the wind and not have to tack too often; also the sunset was approaching and I wanted to be at anchor in Grand Case in time to watch the sunset with a glass of sparkling wine in hand. We just barely made in time and the sunset was hidden by clouds, but it remained a wonderful day at sea.
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