Who Needs to Sleep? (1994)

Itinerary Saturday: Marigot Bay to Rodney Bay, St. Lucia Sunday: Rodney Bay to St. Anne, Martinique Monday: St. Anne to Anse Mitan Tuesday: Lay Day Anse Mitan (to Fort de France) Wednesday: Anse Mitan to Marigot Bay, St. Lucia Thursday: Marigot Bay to Anse Chastanet to The Pitons Friday: Lay Day, the Pitons Saturday: The Pitons to Marigot Bay

St Lucia and Martinique

On St. Barts Sailing’s first visit to St. Lucia we surprised the staff at the charter base staff when we announced our plan to sail north to Martinique, not south to the Grenadines. We had several reasons for this plan: we’d been to the Grenadines two years before; we couldn’t see how to sail there and back with enough time for snorkeling, not to mention sleeping; we wanted to visit Martinique.

With regard to sleep, we might just as well have sailed south–in almost every anchorage we rocked and rolled all night. Midway through the week, having been to Martinique and back, we found ourselves near the charter base in Marigot Bay. Much as we hated returning to base mid-trip, two of our three boats elected to take slips for the night just to be assured of a good sleep.

Writing postcards home from the most comfortable spot in the hotel

Recharged, we went to the anchorage between the Pitons for our last two sleepless nights. Here the rolling was enhanced by the big metal mooring balls striking the hull. Nothing we did would stop it. If we let out more line, the boat drifted on top of the ball anyway. If we pulled it as tight as we could, nearly suspending the heavy ball off our bows, the banging subsided but didn’t stop.

Between the Pitons, a deep, sheltered anchorage and an exclusive resort

Boat boys sold some of our group on the idea of hiking the Gros Piton. They set out early with sandwiches and water. The ascent took about four hours and was mostly up muddy climbing trails. Another group signed on for a tour of the local waterfall and sulpher springs, returning with muddy, smelly bathing suits.

Somehow everyone mustered the energy for a last night blow out toga party, complete with pitcher after pitcher of rum punch, boom-dancing, and skinny dipping. Ahhh the wondrous effects of sleep deprivation!

Fred takes command for the last sail of the trip.

Lewis and Gay visit the Fort de France library

Proud hikers after conquering the Gros Piton’s muddy slopes