10 000 miles, as the sun sets on another year!

1.1.2011

Somewhere, between Antigua and St Barts, while the moon was hiding from the sun, Sheer Tenacity passed the 10 000nm mark since we sailed out of Hout Bay! To celebrate this milestone, as well as Christmas and New Year in St Maarten, we flew the 16 courtesy flags of the countries visited during this trip from our topping lift!

Keen observers might also notice the “at anchor” ball on display at the bow, in deference to the number of USA boats around! Legally of course, a 40 foot yacht, with sails packed away in a bright red stackpack, and secured to the seabed by 40mts chain, connected to a well set anchor, with a loop of chain hanging over the bow roller , and attached to the boat by a chain hook on a nylon snubbing line , in a designated and chart marked anchorage, with a tender hanging off the stern, cannot be assumed to be at anchor!!! Americans lawyers, in particular, need to see your black ball before they can be expected to know this!
Anchored here in Simpson lagoon, we are definitely one of the smallest yachts. Each day, the road bridge over the channel between the open sea and the lagoon, opens six times to allow incoming or outgoing boats. We had arrived in Simpson Bay at about noon, so we had to wait until the next Inward bound opening, which was at 17.30hrs. The St Maarten Yacht Club pub and deck area overlook the bridge , and channel, and the crowd gather on most nights to watch the procession. Our entrance was no exception, and we were one of about 12 to 15 boats entering the lagoon. This is accompanied by flashing cameras, vocal encouragement, and bellowed instructions from the Bridge Operator to …”Move along… little Sheer Tenacity, we haven’t got all day! “
We were sandwiched between a 170ft power cruiser, and a 70ft classic yacht, which was followed by a 140ft Peroni Navi schooner . Its enough to give a man a complex!
Tom & Johness took us on a drive around the lagoon, by road one evening. We stopped for a sundowner at the legendary “Sunset Beach” restaurant/pub, which overlooks the beach, and the end of the Airport runway. There is a nonstop stream of jets, from Jumbos to sleek private Lears, landing and taking off. The beach is only separated from the runway by the narrow access road, and a wire fence. It is quite something to see all these airliners coming in so low over the beach, and touching down just beyond the fence. Tourists line up on the beach, filming these planes as they approach, and skim just over their heads. Nuts! But not quite as nuts as the guys who stand on the beach behind the Boeings, as they build up their revs to maximum thrust for take off! The sandstorm blizzard, screaming jet engines and yelling from sandblasted bodies creates a most unusual form of entertainment! The only escape is to run/ get blown into the sea!
Being a duty free Island has led to St Maarten becoming a very busy and successful boating service, refit, and supply area within the Caribbean. Everybody with expensive boat work to be done, or equipment to buy, comes to St Maarten. The Marina’s all cater for the crewed Superyachts, and the salaried crews in turn spend their dollars in the local pubs and restaurants. The end result is a young, buzzy crowd, of relatively cash rich, skilled, and generally well behaved folk , living life like one big party!