We're excited to spend some time with Keith, Kathy, and Pete on board "One Life" and get some sailing in around a few of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean. Mark will cram as much sailing in as he can in a week then fly back (someone had to watch the kids!). I'll be staying on another couple of weeks just for fun...lucky me!
Sint Maarten/St. Martin is an island home to two distinct countries, it's part french and part dutch. A popular story circulates that the island's border dispute was settled by having a frenchmen and a dutchmen walk around the island from a certain starting point on the coast. One went north the other went south, and the very spot where they met back up is where the other border now lies. The Dutch, after ending up with the smaller half, claim that their man was not only short-legged but also a little tipsy on the walk around and therefore they were at a disadvantage! The two sides are distinctly different, france has better roads, french speakers, and it's fair share of nude beaches (which aren't what they're all cracked up to be!).
We've been here a few days already and after spending most of it on the Dutch side. We prepared to take off for what we thought would be a quick sail to St. Barths, a neighboring french island. After a valiant effort fighting a head wind all the way one of the engines quit so we're now back anchored in St. Martin again (this time on the french side so it's spelled differently)! Once we get the engine problems solved (cross your fingers) we're hoping for better weather that should come in the next few days and we'll try again, hopefully with calmer seas! The 6-ft waves were fun only for the first hour or two!
On St. Maarten-found the church!
Checking out the infamous Prop-Wash at Simpson Bay Airport
Simpson Bay Airport lived up to its youtube legend! (look up "St. Maarten Airport" on youtube and watch a few take-offs and landings then you'll know why Keith's new camera has sand issues.)
Internet is sketchy out here so we'll post when we can!
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