A new year - 2010 - and back to St maarten

Christmas and New years is over, but winter isn't. Time to escape Canada again, and head back to the warmer climes of the Caribbean.
The excellent Westjet service whisks us through Toronto and into St Maarten, and in very little time we are back aboard "Manx Mist". Its less than a month since we left it on the dock. Everything is in good shape.

This will be the shortest sailing sequence that we've done, as we'll be headed back to Calgary, and then on to the Vancouver Olympics, in a couple of weeks.

Fortunately the weather is cooperating. We head out of the lagoon and anchor in the fresher waters outside, off Kim Sha beach. Next morning we're off to Anguilla. Road Bay is the main entry point for Anguilla. Its a lovely anchorage, usually well sheltered, although northerly swells can get in. It looks busy, with lots of local fishing boats and motor at anchor or on mooring balls - but its a big anchorage and theres plenty of space, and the holding is excellent. We just stay and hang-out for 4 days. Enjoy the beach. Take some dinghy trips along the coast.

Return to Simpson Bay to reprovision, and head off to circumnavigate St maarten.
First stop Phillipsburg - we're actually getting to enjoy the "big" town as a decent spot to overnight. It makes a change from the very relaxed and away-from-it feeling of Anguilla, and the beach is still good for walking and swimming.
 But its busy with those cruise ships in port.

We move on the next day, and around to Orient Bay, have lunch and a swim, and then move on again and around to Grand Case for market day. Always fun.
We decide to skip Marigot, and head on back to Simpson Bay.
Amongst the anchored boats we notice a few from Antigua, including Brian and Pippa on "Miramar". They are all over to race "Old Bob" in the St Maarten classic.
But thats it for Hil. Times up. Next day is the dinghy ride to the airport for her return flight to Canada.
Kerry has a few days left, so the next day its a short sail around to Phillipsburg to watch "Old Bob in action, and enjoy a few post race drinks.
Then back to simpson Bay, thru the bridge, into the lagoon, and back on the dock at Island Water World.
"Manx Mist" will have to wait there until March.
The Vancouver Olympics are imminent and theres a bobsledding daughter to watch.