St Lucia and Barbados, by 1st mate Eric Henry

After a fast crossing of 16 days we hove too and waited off the island of St Lucia in squalls with the yacht Fidel nearby, so as not to arrive at the anchorage in the dark. At 4am we braced the yards, bore off and piled on sail, passing between the islands of St Lucia and Martinique and wearing ship to head for the anchorage at Rodney Bay. Mortzs friend came out to collect his tow from us. I went across with Clemens to transfer the tow lines on the Fidel before we tacked the ship up to anchor alongside the polish brig 'Fredrick Chopan'. Next day just as we were loading the boat with shore goers the anchor began to drag towards a pointy rock called 'Barrel o beef'. With haste we toiled at the anchor windlass to haul in the 2 shackles before the anchor got into deep water, whilst others unfurled and set sails. Into the bay we sailed for a pleasant morning cruise tacking back up to the anchorage. We dropped starboard anchor, paid out lots of chain and for added security lashed port anchor to the starboard chain to keep it on the seabed. Everyone had a chance to have an explore around Rodney bay and other parts of the island Some of the crew also had a chance to sail on a Volvo ocean racing yacht. Fidel got lifted out of the water and is currently getting a new rudder made! On morning of the 10th we hauled up the anchors and set all sail for Barbados taking a few long tacks over to Martinique. At the speed we were making hard on the wind, the ocean racing yacht had a job over hauling us! The ship smashed along taking a lot of water over the decks and those of us covered in anchoring dirt got a good pressure wash from leaning over the capping rail forward! I really felt the violent pitching motion as I better furled the royal raffee. Tres Hombres raced along through the night. We sighted the lights of Barbados at 4am and hove too under shortened canvas outside Bridgetown cruise ship terminal to flake out the anchor chain and prepare the boat. Anchoring beside the sailing ship 'Pelican of London' in Carlisle bay after a very fast 20 hour run upwind from St Lucia. Now we wait for a tow into Bridgetown, a bit of a crew change but meantime some swimming and shore runs to the beach!