2024-06-02 Martinique

Sunday we had intermittent rain, we just had a lazy day of just hanging on the boat, doing laundry, baking some breakfast bars, and putting the bath ceiling back in.  Monday we got ready to hoist anchor.  Just about when we started to hoist, we saw a couple in a dinghy struggling to start their outboard motor, and then giving up and starting to row.  Winds were against them at 15 knots, with some stronger gusts. We dropped what we were doing and launched the dink to go help.   

We gave them a tow back to their boat and they were very appreciative, but they had limited English, and we had no German - so we ended up with a bottle of fine French wine because they would not take no for an answer, and we could not explain that we don't drink.   Oh Well, we will find someone to pass it on to - perhaps someone will do us  favor and we can re-gift it then.  

Our gift for helping

We sailed down to the south end of the island of Dominica to Roseau - the largest town and capital of the island.  Wanted to be further south for the next part of our trip.  We wanted to anchor, but the depths were mostly 70' and when the depths got less than that, we were too close to shore to be comfortable.  We ended up taking a mooring.  In many of the Caribbean islands, there are moorings, in various states of repair, but usually a person in a small wooden boat with a large engine will zoom out to convince you use their moorings and they will help you hook up to them as you need to be at water level to grab the rope you hook up to.  We would prefer to not have help, but this option doesn't exist once the "boat boys" arrive on scene.  This particular gentleman named Roots "assisting" us got quite angry with Dean because he was not handling the lines on the bow the way Roots thought it should be.  He yelled at me on the helm telling me what to do but I was ignoring him waiting on Dean to signal me.   After we got hooked up, Roots then came alongside and asked for the mooring fee - plus his "assistance fee", and then also said - "and a cold beer would be great if you have one".  Told him we did not drink, did not pay him the full "assistance" fee either.  He then asked us if we were heading north, and could he join us on the boat for the trip.  Quite the character.

Next morning we left early for a brisk sail down to Martinique.  

Coast of Dominica, small towns nestled in the low spots between the hills.

Coast of Dominica

We dropped the hook in Anse Mitan (Middle Cove) near Pointe du Bout.  Small little touristy town ashore, but a convenient place to check into the country.   Anse Mitan is a small cove, in the much larger bay of Fort de France.  Fort de-France is the largest city on Martinique, and we could see planes landing daily, lots of ferry traffic, and lots of lights from the city at night.    

We checked in, and had a nice walk through town, and some of the best soft serve ice cream we have had in a long time.  Unfortunately, we did not take many photos at all.

Lots of little tourist shops in the shopping area

Waterfront by Marina

We spent a couple of days in Anse Mitan, then left early Friday (5 a.m.) for a motor trip to Le Marin, as the winds were shifting, and it would be the last chance for about a week to head south.

We tried to anchor in the large bay of Le Marin, but could not find a suitable spot, even though we did drop the hook three times, but just were not comfortable.   Le Marin is know as a boating center, with lots of chandleries and services for yachts.   There are lots of mooring balls, several marinas, a large haul out yard, and other services.  It also is a very protected bay, so lots of full time boats.   

Google maps view of anchorage.

After spending two hours looking for a suitable spot, we gave up, and went and anchored off of St. Anne, which means we would have a 2.5 mile dingy ride into the main town - but at least we have plenty of room and good holding.   

We were short on fruits and veggies, so on Saturday morning we headed into town.  We also wanted to find some 19mm hose to replace our aging raw water intake hoses.  The first stop at a chandlery has an interesting approach.  You head down a mangrove lined canal, to an unusual dinghy dock.

To get to the dinghy dock, you have to meander down a mangrove lined canal

Dinghy dock and shops at the end of the canal.   Quite the climb out of the dinghy on slippery stainless ladders

No luck with the hose, so back in the dink and almost a mile trip to fuel dock to get dinghy gas, and then next chandlery.   We got lucky, and found our hose and at a great price.

Then back to the dingy for a little more than 1/2 a mile trip to the next dinghy dock for the grocery stores and a treat of lunch out.  You will never guess where we had lunch.

Its not called a quarter pounder in countries that use the Metric system, see Pulp Fiction for more info.

After lunch we hit the grocery stores.

Looks almost American except for the signage.

Lots of little shops

After groceries it was time for the long dink ride back to the boat.

Le Marin moorage and anchorage area - very full

Unfortunately, a lot of boats in the anchorage look like this one.  Obviously a permanent home.   This one is seriously overloaded.

We like where we are anchored off of St. Anne.  

Cloudy day at our nice and spacious anchorage, a little more waves and swell, but nothing bad.

Will most likely be here a couple of weeks - weather dependent.  Rain for next couple of days.