Updates Leewards |
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| Last edited:05/09/08 |
Click to post your own updates I have posted most of the previous comments below my updates. MY UPDATES to the 2008-2009 edition
UPDATES TO THE GUIDE
Antigua Island Motors in St. John’s and the Yamaha dealer in Jolly Harbor no longer do any Yamaha business as listed in your guide. The new Yamaha dealer
is: If you’re in St. John’s a bus can take you to automotive Art for $2.50 EC Thanks to: Jimmy Peters, S/V Bluewater Cat Barbuda Bob
and Margo Lopenske S/V
Ivory Star
St. Maarten Compass just got a letter they passed on to me from Gerrit N. Hemken saying that the fees in Simpson Bay Lagoon had gone up. Everyone pays to go through the bridge now: $ 10 under 12mtrs, $30 under 15 mtrs,$60 under 18 mtrs, $120 under 22 mtrs on upwards. Fees for being in the lagoon have also gone up: $20 up to13 mtrs,$40 up to18mtrs,$60 up to 23 mtrs on up. Dominica Sea Cat in Roseau, tells me he no longer has any connection with his former helper Roots. Concact Sea Cat Directly: 245 0507. Dominica security in Portsmouth has been excellent since the local group PAYS started nightly patrols. This will finish at the end of May. However, the culprits from the violent robbery at the beginning of the season are in jail for three years, so this does not mean because security patrols end the situation will be bad. In Roseau there have been no incidents so far this season. (April 2007). Dominica Marine Center and Anchorage Hotel now both have fuel and water docks for yachts. Moorings are now available for rent in Portsmouth. You may still anchor if you prefer - anchor a little to the south of the mooring field. Charges are $10US night $50US a week, $170US a month. Moorings are now available at Al Dive about half a mile south of Anchorage Hotel. The offer: "Besides the moorings being secure, 24 hour monitoring will be placed on every vessel using the system. A dinghy dock is accessable for coming ashore to use the shower, washroom facilities and or meals at the restaurant. Wireless Internet is available. We offer private diving services." NEWS FROM ALDIVE - THEIR MOORINGS (OUTSIDE ALDIVE) WILL BE FREE FOR THE FIRST YEAR. Nevis 30 moorings have now been put down between the Four Seasons Charelstown by the port authority. These will be available for rent. I do not at this moment know the price or whether anchoring will still be allowed. I will post any information I get. HERE IS AN UPDATE ON THESE MOORINGS WITH CHARGES. They do no seem unreasonable to me, I particularly like that he had geared them so that people will be willing to stay for longish periods. Hello,
Chris. Guadeloupe The people on Alumine alerted me to a a great coastal walkway that goes both south and north from Port Louis in Gadeloupe. The southern one includes fascinating mangrove pathways on wooden planks. You can see some photos here.
Chris,
We thought everyone would want to know that
the dinghy dock that was in Deshaies in February was gone in April 2008.
Unfortunately our French isn't good enough to find out why they took it
out, but it is now a lot more challenging to get ashore there.
Morgan and Wilbur Chapman
s/v On the Wings of the Wind
Yes, I have no idea about this, except maybe someone decided it got too old and needed rebuilding. Let us hope they do another. If not we are stuck with getting ashore on the beach or somewhere inside the fishing port, Chris
Corrections to the old guide
ST. BARTS The fuel dock in St Barts (St. Barth Marine) is closed and has been for some time.
THE SAINTES At the beginning of June, The ferry Lindy sank on her mooring, northnorthwest of the ferry dock, right in the middle of the bay (approximately: 15° 52.2N 61° 35.13W). Two yellow buoys clearly mark the wreck, which should be removed in the next few months. In the meantime watch out! MARIE GALANTE Moorings were put in here for the end of a transatlantic race. If any are free I imagine you can use them. I have no idea if anyone ins charging for them.
Last changed: May 09, 2008Clearing into Antigua now requires each arriving person to sign a form. It is the same form required of arriving airline passengers. This means that you must either take your crew and guests with you to immigration, or pick up the forms, return to the boat, then go back to customs. I do not know if this is only in effect during the World Cricket Cup. UNFORTUNATELY IT IS NOT JUST FOR WORLD CUP -
Another stupid and time consuming procedure has been added. If you don't
have too many crew, take them with you - if you do be prepared to run back
to you boat with the forms (chris) I think that you can get port authority clearance on weekends in English Harbour. I would imagine not in other ports (chris)
From: Karl Darwin,S/V Bewdy ll Remote User: indexcomments8/9/05 - Your guide was also very helpful here too. A few observations to help others A) Grand Case 1) Your quote " The anchorage is generally good for overnighting though occasionally rolly" seemed very understated with the wind howling off the twin peaks & thru the salt pond slot while the waves bounced thru all night then add in the rain showers off/on ....it felt like being in a comm'l washing machine on the heavy duty cycle........the next evening was spent in a hotel to regain our equilibrium. 2) L'Alabama - great food, service & atmosphere......best meal on the trip. 3) Bakery next to Du Soleil was very good & cheaper than L'Ille Flottate but no omelettes...both worth trying. 4) US$ vs Euro - Variable exchange many places one for one B) Marigot 1)Marina Fort St. Louis - wonderful as we used the bay anchorage/guest card arrangement...it gives you "access" but you do have to pay for the showers & other services. secure dinghy dock & guard was worth it.......docks are set up for Superyachts so if you are taking on water or diesel or side tie.....fenders should be VERY high ....also note, they do not have gasoline (seemed strange) but it's close by under 1st bridge (sandy ground) see pg 107 2)Post Office - "Post" ...make sure you choose the line to the left (or ask right away)if you are only going for stamps......they do lots of other transactions there = long line. 3) Bakery - Across the street from the outdoor market stalls specifically the permanent bldgs (fish) there's a bakery with outdoor tables behind palm/coconut trees...can smell early in the am from the anchorage. 4) Beach Access - with a good Dinghy you can access beaches/snorkling, Simpson Bay, etc from Marigot which was a very good anchorage 5) Music Noise - there are a couple of restaurants/bars along the waterfront that play loud music but it did not seem to last that long. 6) Market - Weds is not as good as Sat.....vendors seem to "hard" sell and variety was limited....did buy a good Snapper for the grill. C) General - 1)Bottled Water - at Grand Marche the only Gal jugs avail were Zephyrhills which has a strange after taste unless really cold or mixed with limes or lemonade mix...kinda like boat water 2) Crime - heard reports on the local radio station of incidents in Simpson Bay area....noticed secrity guards in Maho & Cupecoy before we left the island but felt safe throughout the trip. 29/8/05 Marie Galante Dear Chris: Hope all is well with you. We just returned from 10 days sailing around Guadeloupe waters - Deshaies, Les Saintes, Pointe a Pitre, Marie Gallante. A really nice 10 days sail except for Marie Gallante. We do not wish to ever return to Marie Gallante. While an interesting island by sea and land, at Saint Louis we were threatened by the teenage rascals jumping playfully from the pier - at our expense. Splashing us as we got into the dinghy. They were young rouges who showed no consideration and or respect. Later that day our dinghy painter was slashed giving us a clear message, "get out now and never return". Perhaps you could pass this along to the Marie Gallante Tourist Office. Regretfully, we will advise our friends to stay well clear of Marie Gallante. Good sailing. Geoffrey. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29/8/05 Hi Geoffrey, I am astonished to hear this. I go every time I update, and have never had anything but friendliness. I think it must have been an aberration, maybe coinciding with summer school holidays. If any other users experience anything like this please let me know. Also if other visitors ever do have any problems in St. Louis talk to the tourist office on the left side as you come off the dock. Keep in mind you can also anchor or tie up in the main town Grand Bourg. Chris I got a similar email from someone about St. Anne - it seems that during school holidays kids can be pestiferous. In the coming edition of the guide for Marie Galante I advise people that if they think kids are a problem on the floating dock they can easily walk the dinghy further down the dock where it will be out of their way.
22/11/06 From David Carver: We recently discovered an uncharted hazard while snorkeling in the northwest corner of Majors Bay on the southern tip of St Kitts. The approximate location is 17-13.460 N nd 62-38.997 W. It is a concrete mass about 8' feet square and is about 4.5 to 5.5' below the surface in what is otherwise about 10-12 feet and a reasonable anchorage. I was wondering if your publication is a notification point for further forwarding and investigation of this type of thing. Dave Carver Frequent Carribean Cruiser I CHECKED THIS ONE OUT - IT IS A BIG OLD CONCRETE MOORING. THE SURROUNDING DEPTHS ARE SHALLOW THAN SUGGESTED (7-8 FEET) WATCH OUT!
number of visitors since 12/10/02
CommentsWe loved your cruising guides and find them quite accurate and helpful.
I offer a few comments for other cruisers. You may have covered some of
this in your new guide, but it hadn't hit the stores by the time we
departed on this cruise. General: 1. Please list in your guide in what
language the stations broadcast the weather. It didn't do me much good to
listen to a weather forecast in French when I don't speak it. Also, many
of the scheduled times in your guide are invalid. I found it convenient to
get the weather from the internet. 2. If you have a computer on board, it
is economical to have a USB flash drive to write and download your email
on it and carry the flash drive to the internet cafe. Every internet cafe
I visted accomodates USB flash drives. 3. I have learned to plan for half
again as much time as I think I'll need to visit places, and four times as
much money as I think I'll need. St Martin We anchored near Port Louis
Marina in the lee of the marina wall, and were quite comfortable. L'Ile
Marine, at the French bridge, is well stocked and were super in getting
anything we needed from Budget Marine. And they give a 10% cash discount.
Gas station next door does not sell diesel; just gas, ice, and water. Flea
Market is now on Sundays at 11 AM at Shrimpies, located in Lagoon on the
Dutch side just south of the airport runway extension. They also have free
beer and hot dogs at the flea market. La Creole, an inexpensive snack
bar/restaurant located on west side of inner harbor facing the cemetary,
offers free wireless internet to customers, even if you're just having
coffee. 0730 VHF cruiser net very helpful. St Barts Rich and famous is
right! Restaurants are expensive but good food and good service. The
public restrooms in the building just beside port office have several free
shower cabins. Water is ambient temperature only. Water is available on
the quay just outside the port office astern of the superyachts for 1 Euro
per 10 gallons, pay in the port office. Supermarket below Tom's Foods had
changed names but is still excellent. Service in port office was superior.
Open Your Heart restaurant offers free wireless internet to customers. It
is along the inner harbor, with a large purple electric palm tree out
front. St Kitts We were very dissatisfied with Basse Terre. I do not find
it cruiser-friendly. Anchorage near coast guard dock has many huge mooring
barrels, and we were the only boat. There were only three boats anchored
north of the marina. We arrived Friday 1630 and customs did not answer
VHF. Dinghied over -- closed. Dinghied over to marina (a long wet haul)
and they wanted $5 to tie up and walk to police station and back. There
are no public dinghy docks. I began to understand why there were only
three boats anchored. We left immediately and went on to Nevis, which was
much more accomodating. Nevis Charles Town was peaceful and pleasant.
Pinney Beach is worth a detour. If Customs is closed, go to the Police
station and they will contact Customs to come in and process you. Of
course, you DO have to pay the overtime fee. You have to go to the Police
Station anyway to have your passport stamped. We got a lecture (but no
fine) at the Police Station for not going there directly when we found
Customs closed upon our arrival on a Saturday afternoon, and waited until
Customs opened Monday to process. Guadeloupe Deshaies is delightful, but
note that almost everything closes from noon to 4PM, with the exception of
tourist gift shops and a few restaurants and bars. Restaurants don't open
for supper until at least 6PM. Calling a restaurant inexpensive depends on
your frame of reference. Basse-Terre/Marina Riviere de Sens anchorage. The
anchorage off the dive shop near the entrance to the marina is
unavailable. Someone (I suspect the dive shop) has put buoys at the
beginning of the shelf, and has heavy rope just under the surface linking
all the buoys -- just the thing to foul your prop. The only place to
anchor now is in the deep water off the shelf, or at the black sand beach
in 30 feet of water. And the quarry is back in operation.
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