Saturday, March 05, 2011
Blog from Maire Phillips
Hi Sailing Logic! I have been sitting on my lounger in Little Bay gazing at the start of St Maarten Regatta. Picture the scene. The water has the most amazing shades of turquoise. The sky is the the most glorious blue with puffs of cloud. The sun has got its hat on and it is roasting hot. There has been a steady progression of yachts appearing from behind the headland. They sail half way across my bay towards two big cruise liners anchored out there. Then around the marker and turn back, spinnakers up speed along to disappear again into the horizon on their way to race round the island. The bay is very sheltered on the beach but there is obviously useful amounts of wind out there. The sea is quite different and so much calmer than the Atlantic Rollers in Antigua.
The crew have been training really purposefully all day Tuesday and Wednesday. Yesterday was the Gill Commodores Cup. They certainly raced hard in three races. They were exhausted by the end but it will hopefully prove a good basis for the next three days of the Regatta. It has been a case of up with the lark, on with the sunscreen, sailing shirts on and off on Hydrocarbon. Brian is loving it and that is high praise from him as he has been a confirmed off shore racer. Never so enthusiastic about the inshore world. But out here things can take on a whole new perspective!
There is a party tonight in Great Bay which is the next bay to here where the race finishes in Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St Maarten. It does seem such a strange relic of European.colonial history that the island is 37 sq miles and half Dutch and half French. They have different languages, currency and to make a phone call from one side to the other is an international call. Everyone speaks English thankfully as it was ours for a bit. The Spanish held it for a long period too. I read that the French side beach dress code is 'clothes optional in the French style' I love that phrase. Things more buttoned up here on the Dutch side. Food better over the border too I hear.
I was in Philipsburg yesterday. It was awash with American tourists from the two massive cruise ships moored there. It is the only totally duty free Island in the Caribbean apparently. Lots of high end shops and jewellery - emeralds and diamonds - seemed very popular. I was there for a much more mundane reason unfortunately. I needed to go to the bank. It was great to walk up and down The Boardwalk and watch the whole cruiser in town scene. Hopefully a good pay day for the locals. Particularly good strolling to the music of steel drum bands. I love that sound. I can imagine the party tonight there will be a lot of fun.
I am straining my eyes into the horizon but I see no yachts. The fleet is out there battling with the elements.............
It is a hard life being a Hydrocarbon groupie but someone has to do it!
Hope all well with you
Best wishes
Maire x
