Morning Coffee
I tried the local Martinique specialty coffee this morning, and my first cup was a disappointment – it was quite bitter. I’ll have to adjust the grinder to find the right setting. I’m off to St. Pierre today, after finishing my stint in the office.
The second cup was somewhat better, but I’m still far away from making an enjoyable cup from these beans. In my breaks from work, I unpacked the laundry from yesterday evening and sorted out the torn t-shirts and pillowcases. These will go into my bag of rags.
Lunch
I got the boat ready for departure and managed to cast off with a little help. The wind pushed me into the big metal customs boat, but the fenders and tires prevented any damage. The wind was right behind me for the first 15 miles, and the going under sail was slow.
My British ensign, also known as the duster, is a disgrace, and I’ve got a new one on order. Alec is hand-delivering it from the U.K. next week.
Sailing north
The trip had its ups and downs. At times, the winds were howling, and I made good speed; at other times, I slowed down to 3 knots and debated turning on the engine. Upon arrival in St. Pierre at 17:30, I anchored and immediately debated continuing north overnight.
There’s a strange swell from the south, and despite very light wind, the boat is rolling heavily. I’m tired and choose to stay and suffer overnight. If it does get worse, then I’ll weigh anchor and head to Dominica.