I’ve only got 2 more days and nights in this rolly anchorage before I’ll look for a calmer location. The divers are coming on Friday to clean the prop and hull and I believe my fuel pump should have landed by that time. Those two items are keeping me here for the moment.
The night was calm but now that it is 08:00 in the morning the occasional rolls have set in again. I had checked for a good anchoring spot inside yesterday afternoon and the slots close to the Palapa marina where I know that there is sufficient depth are all currently taken.
09:00
I just got a heads-up weather report from Mark, with reference to BlitzOrtung.Org. We’ve got some inclement weather approaching St. Martin. There’s a lot of lightning and the front will, of course, be accompanied by gusty winds and heavy rainfall. I’m going to head outside in a little bit, after my conference call, and let out more chain and check the snubber for chafe. There’s a chance the weather might pass to the north. The current winds are NE so at the moment it looks like the front is bearing straight down on St. Martin.
I took a break from work and let out a bit more chain. The live weather map looks a bit better than an hour ago, so perhaps that wasn’t necessary. I’m glad I put out the chain, as a catamaran has just anchored directly behind me. Had I waited until now I would not have been able to extend my scope.
Noon
Several minutes ago I looked out the side and saw a dinghy coming by rather close. I returned to work and it took me a minute to realize that the dinghy was moving too slowly. Looking out again, I saw that there was nobody aboard. I jumped into mine and rescued the drifting dinghy. While towing it upwind to look for it’s home another dinghy came by and said that they knew the owners. We exchanged the tow and I’ve returned to Zanshin. Hopefully that’s put a token or two into my karma account.
The weather system is stalled offshore. Very strong high-level winds from the west are acting as a shield and keeping the storms from growing and coming close to St. Martin. It is fascinating to watch the live satellite feeds in time-lapse to see the cloud action.
Afternoon
I’m not sure if I want to go ashore quite yet. The inclement weather is still approaching and I don’t want to leave poor Zanshin alone should the weather deteriorate.
Just after 5PM I went ashore as I really needed to stretch my legs and walk about a bit. Conditions were looking better with little cloud cover. I did get hit with a gust of strong wind which whipped the water up but I could see that Zanshin had held at anchor. After saying “hello” to the usual suspects at the SMYC, I walked down the main street. My goal was The Huppel Pub, which was celebrating their grand (re)opening today. I didn’t make it that far and stopped at the Tap & Still for a dinner burger.