Rainy Sint Maarten
Rainy Sint Maarten
Picture of Arnd

Arnd

2023-04-06 Frontal Passage

Night
Anchorage in the rain after the weather front has passed
Anchorage in the rain

The front remained about 100KM to the ENE of St. Martin during the night. Normally the Tradewinds would have pushed it right across the island, but very strong high-level winds from the west kept the weather away. During the course of the evening the weather front has passed to the south of the island, sparing us some inclement weather. 

Morning
Excellence in the channel
Excellence in the channel

We had some rain and a bit of remote thunder at about 6AM but the clouds cleared up soon after the rain passed. Then the clouds and rain came back and have decided to hang around for a while.

Frying bread for breakfast after the weather front has passed
Frying bread for breakfast

In between showers I had the hatches open for some fresh air, and found a break in the rain when I could fry some bread and eggs for breakfast.  I’ve gotten local eggs and they are surprisingly tasty – probably because they are so fresh.

Noon and afternoon
Simpson Bay drawbridge raised
Simpson Bay drawbridge raised

It is now 15:00 and I’m calling it quits for the day. Not just for today, but tomorrow is Easter in Germany and Monday is also a national holiday. This is going to be a nice long weekend. Although there’s still some stratus clouds, the weather front has passed by the island and is now bothering the BVI. It is still raining a bit outside and the hatches are closed, and the fans are on.

Comfortably Numb yacht
Comfortably Numb yacht

Before landing at the SMYC dinghy dock, I filled up my 2 diesel canisters at Island Waterworld. I’m slowly getting my main tank filled, at present I’m just over half full.

Atomic Yacht photo-op
Atomic Yacht photo-op

I watched some boats enter at the 4PM outbound and was still there for the 5PM inbound bridge. It was a relatively busy afternoon, as tomorrow is also a holiday here in Sint Maarten.

Soggy Dollar Bar
Soggy Dollar Bar

After socializing for a while, and getting my land-legs back, I wandered to the Soggy Dollar. That establishment was in full swing as well but I managed to extricate myself without imbibing too much.