Simpson Bay Lagoon in St. Martin is the only place in the Caribbean that we have to enter via a draw bridge. Three times a day, all traffic on the road is stopped and the bright blue bridge swings up and in go the yachts. And because the lagoon is one of the most protected anchorages in the area, it’s a popular place – especially for the mega yachts. Row after row of them line the marinas. The other day I counted over 50 of them! This makes going through the bridge exciting for everyone. On the day we went through, we arrived outside the bridge from St. Kitts and anchored in the bay. There were already four mega yachts, three large sailboats, and a few smaller boats like us all wanting to enter the lagoon. Fifteen minutes before the scheduled opening of the bridge, people begin to pull up their anchors. Now you have at least ten boats anywhere from 35 feet to 200 feet long, milling around – jockeying for position in the line-up for the bridge. Oh, yeah, did I mention that most of these boats don’t really respond that well under motor at such slow speeds. Also, there is really no such thing as stopping on a boat. You can drift to a stop, but precision driving in close quarters raises heart rates for all crews. Somehow it all seems to work out. We went through the bridge and into the lagoon just as the sun was setting.
Sailors are always curious about other people’s boats especially if the other boat is the same brand or type as their own. Bonanza is an Island Packet yacht, so naturally we always notice other IP yachts. It’s like being in a kind of a club, so when you spot another IP boat, you usually go over and meet the other members. Soon, you pretty much know which IP boats are in the area and if you don’t know them, someone you know, knows them and has told you about them, so you feel like you know them too. You know?
We had a whole flotilla of IP’s anchored in the lagoon. Voyageur C had arrived at the same time as we did. Joule had come from the Virgin Islands earlier in the month. Daniell Story, who we last saw in Antigua was already there along with Ancient Path, who we saw leaving Jolly Harbour, but had yet to meet. Of course we have friends on other types of boats too. Dream Maker and Wanderlust where also anchored in the lagoon. It’s fun knowing so many people in a place where you usually wouldn’t know anyone.
Sundays is the big day out by the airport at Maho Bay. The people like to gather on the skinny strip of beach at the end of the runway to get up close and personal with all types of commercial aircraft. With no security area to deal with, the planes land practically on top of the small tiki bar that is set up just off the main road. The real fun for some is to stand directly in line of the jet exhaust as the planes wind up for take off! As the pressure peaks, sand, grit, hats, towels,
cocktails and people are blown back – sometimes right onto the beach and into the sea. Really. The crew of Wanderlust all got a quick and dirty dermabrasion treatment behind the afternoon American Airlines flight to Miami. I stuck to my shady spot under the Heineken umbrella at the bar where the view of the planes and the crazy sand blasted people was perfect.
Sailors are always curious about other people’s boats especially if the other boat is the same brand or type as their own. Bonanza is an Island Packet yacht, so naturally we always notice other IP yachts. It’s like being in a kind of a club, so when you spot another IP boat, you usually go over and meet the other members. Soon, you pretty much know which IP boats are in the area and if you don’t know them, someone you know, knows them and has told you about them, so you feel like you know them too. You know?
We had a whole flotilla of IP’s anchored in the lagoon. Voyageur C had arrived at the same time as we did. Joule had come from the Virgin Islands earlier in the month. Daniell Story, who we last saw in Antigua was already there along with Ancient Path, who we saw leaving Jolly Harbour, but had yet to meet. Of course we have friends on other types of boats too. Dream Maker and Wanderlust where also anchored in the lagoon. It’s fun knowing so many people in a place where you usually wouldn’t know anyone.
Sundays is the big day out by the airport at Maho Bay. The people like to gather on the skinny strip of beach at the end of the runway to get up close and personal with all types of commercial aircraft. With no security area to deal with, the planes land practically on top of the small tiki bar that is set up just off the main road. The real fun for some is to stand directly in line of the jet exhaust as the planes wind up for take off! As the pressure peaks, sand, grit, hats, towels,
cocktails and people are blown back – sometimes right onto the beach and into the sea. Really. The crew of Wanderlust all got a quick and dirty dermabrasion treatment behind the afternoon American Airlines flight to Miami. I stuck to my shady spot under the Heineken umbrella at the bar where the view of the planes and the crazy sand blasted people was perfect.
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