Most everyone was up very early, or it seemed that way. I heard noises during the night, but was really awake for sure just after 5AM. My hatch was closed and I heard the anchor being brought up, and lots of footsteps. So, while my preference would’ve been to sleep a bit longer I recognized that wasn’t in the cards and got up and got dressed and headed topside. Where several guests and all the crew were raising some sails. Apparently the current had been dragging us, despite being anchored several hundred meters from where we had begun the night. And the noise of that dragging along the bottom, and the concern that we could get caught up on something is what determined that we needed to get moving soonest.
The sea was the roughest it’s been; rolling at least to 30 degrees on each side. I had felt the increase in the roll while still in bed but hadn’t realized what that roll meant to all attempts to walk anywhere around the ship. For the first time two people developed real sea sickness, including my friend Elke. I felt fine, so just learned to live with the movement.
It was the “ship shape” day, meaning that floors got swept and mopped and trash emptied and most significantly the decks were swabbed. By hand on knees with brushes. With most of the guests at work, the morning went quickly and we were rewarded at the end with pina coladas.
We were heading to Les Saintes, a collection of 5 small islands off the southern coast of Guadeloupe, and officially part of that island. Only two are inhabited, and we steered towards Terre Haute. The Baie de Bourg, which is the primary bay near the capital of the little island, is a UNESCO heritage site, based on it’s beauty. And it is that. Right after lunch the islands came into view and it was time to bring the sails down and put up the shade covers. It’s great that there are so many guests (17) to help with the up and down and stowing of the sails, but it is still time consuming and hard work!
After a quick swim, we readied ourselves for a trip to the island, and we were pleasantly surprised by the little town at the main harbor. Unlike the little town on Marie Galant, this one had quite a bit going on. Shops were open, as were bars and restaurants. And most fun of all was the parade of musicians and dancers in bright and extravagant costumes, singing and playing in the main square. We later learned that it marks the start of Carnival, and that we were seeing rehearsals.
We strolled and found a colorful and cute cafe for a pre-dinner very tropical drink, and then found a restaurant that had been recommended in the guide book for a seaside dinner. Then an 8:30 dinghy back to the ship. And some time to write and reflect on another beautiful, if challenging, day at sea.
