Well, like you already know I left Bequia a couple of months after that Monty passed away. I sailed to Martinique where I've been staying until end of December 2016. We've met Matthew the monster and had few little adventures and else.
December 2016, I felt the need to move from Martinique. Then on the 29 th I and Balrog flew to the freezing north of France (taking off Martinique 33 degrees Celsius landed Paris Minos 6)... I stayed there for 3 weeks, just enough to catch up with family and friends and leave Balrog at my mum place while I flew to Australia for 3 weeks also. Australia was very great, warmer than France for sure even though it was a bit chilly. No need to tell you how nice it was to see everyone, in France and Australia, after being alone on the boat from May to December 2016 but I just needed time...
Australia was a little step forward for me as I went there not only to see family but to finally give Monty his freedom on the Ocean as he wished to. I, Kirra and Alex sailed from Torquay Beach to southside beach/Bells beach on a hobie cat tiger from the Torquay sailing club. We opened a path of white roses to spread Monty's ashes to the ocean and closed the path the same way. Here a little video about it :
Time for me to fly back to France, pick up Balrog and jump in a plane toward Martinique where Sephina was waiting for us on the marina dock.
I had few things to fix up, change and repairs and after a couple of week we where back sailing again.
I sailed from Martinique to Antigua with a couple of friends of mine, Shirley and Valo who wanted to discover how life is on the sea, so we had few stops in Dominica and Guadeloupe. Antigua is one of our favorite island in the Caribbean especially Green island, non such bay as Monty love to kite surf over there! He also always wanted to do the Classics regatta but Unfortunately we always left before the start as our visa was running out after a few months stay...This year I decided to be there in time and participate to few races, so did I ! Thomas and Audrey generously accepted to take me as a crew on their Beautiful 1924 sailing vessel Samsara. Such a great experience!
After a week and a half of great time in Antigua, Falmouth and green Island, it was time to sail back down to Guadeloupe and say Bye bye to my friends.
I stayed anchored at Deshaies, north west coast of Guadeloupe, for around a month and then sailed down to Martinique again. I still thinking about where I will spend the Hurricane season this year...most likely Grenada, st Georges.
I moved from Sainte Anne Anchorage to Anse Mitan with a stop at Anse d'Arlet for a short change of scenery when the troubles started ....
On Friday night around midnight my water pump started to run making an unusual noise, then the bilge pump. I straight away jumped in the bilge to see what was going on. The water was coming from under the bed so 2 solutions , the water maker membranes (which I was sure and hopped it really wasn't) and the Hot water Tank. That's it! the Hot water Tank. I do remember it happened once so I turned off water pump and hot water service. Emptied the tank and filled it up again. Fixed. I guess as I left the hot water service on since but rarely use the hot water from it, it built pressure and boom!
On the Saturday morning going to the outside fridge, it wouldn't close or open... means it stayed quarter open for a little while I managed to fix it. Fixed!
Between my IPhone stopped working...
And then, pfffff, while babysitting a son's friends a sailing boat from the military school failed his tack and bumped into Sephina! For them it was an open day and the skipper was with 5 beginners on board. Could you believe that at the speed he arrived toward Sephina one of the crew girl try to stop the impact putting her legs forward, fell in the water (better than ending with an open broken leg uh?!) and the skipper jumped overboard, I dunno why but he did, leaving the beginners alone on board till he could jump on again...Weird!
Anyway there the damage :
Not finished yet...
As a storm was building up I sailed back to Sainte Anne. First big storm experience by myself, Freaky!
Here pics and video of Tropical storm Matthew Cat 2 when he passed over, we've been reaching 61.3 knots of wind. Matthew turned hurricane Cat 4 around two days after.
I am very saddened to tell you that My Sweet Love, my soul mate has left for another world. I will be missing Him a lot as many others will do too! He was and still is a beautiful man and a wonderful sailor.
The blog hasn't been updated for a while but I'll try to post on it as often as I can!
Thank you very much for following and helping me to keep sailing his dream.
Waiting for what's coming next, Here an Happy tribute I did for Him! Remember to keep smiling and ...enjoy the Ride!
After three amazing months spent at Antigua we sailed south toward Martinique for some supplies and to change the Jib Furler as it wasn't working properly anymore. After that done, we anchored in St Anne and Monty, some paperwork to do, took the plane toward Australia for 3 weeks. I stayed in St Anne with Balrog waiting for him to be back and by the way did another epidural injection as my back started to be sore again!
Three weeks has passed and my Love is Back, time to move to enjoy the Hurricane season in the Grenadines and Grenada! and keep going our adventure toward new destinations, ABC'S, Colombia, St Blas then Panama canal ready for the Pacific!
So we left Martinique on May 5th stopped at Rodney Bay, St Lucia for the night and the next day sailed straight to Bequia. Monty did a video on the way, I posted it the way he did it...
We arrived at Bequia, port Elizabeth on the Friday 6th in the end of the afernnon.
The Sunday we went for a snorkel and invite some people for a sundown. Of course we spoke about sailing and our stories. Monty at once told them that living on the boat together for 5 years it is like living together for 15 years on land! Then smiling he looked at me and said " That means Jen we still have around 150 years to live together! " I was so pleased by that idea that I agree giving him my largest smile.
Later on when everyone went back home, we stayed up a little bit more and spoke about how lucky we were to found each other and that none of both will change a thing if we could start our life again from 0. Because everything we did since, bad or good, brought us to meet each other, brought us to be happy and deeply in love. Satisfied like that we will never change a thing!
It's strange how things we said doesn't have any sens anymore...
Around 4am Monty woke up with a chest pain and ask me for aspirin, the only thing I do not have on my first aid kit it's aspirin :(
Then he told me that he felt that same pain once while in Australia riding his bike few days before he flew back to Martinique.I still don't know why he didn't tell me it at this time... he probably didn't want me to worry about it.
8 am we took the dinghy to shore and visit the doctor in Bequia. A lot of people waiting so we finally seen him around noon. Told us that it was only heartburn prescribe some medicines but ask us to come in his office to have his heart checked. The cardiogram showed irregularity from 42 to 76 passing by 54 etc... but the doc kept saying that it was just heartburn and to come back on Wednesday if not feeling any better to do a blood check...
We went to the chemist to pick up the medicines but they didn't have it all so they asked us to come back around 6pm.
I realise now that Monty was very worry about what was happening, but once again didn't tell me. We we came back on Sephina have a light lunch and went for a nap as he asked me to have a rest with him. I fell asleep but I think he didn't. Later and to late, I've seen a lot of internet pages opened on his Ipad regarding Heartburn and heart diseases...
5.30pm we went back to the chemist, I wanted to go by myself but he didn't let me to. So we went together. On the way back I remember he stopped, looked at me and said " Jen , maybe I am dying and I don't know" I should have been taking what he said more seriously at this stage but I only told him " don't be silly! you are not dying! we still have plenty of things to do, plenty of time to love each other traveling and make baby...! " so he hugged and kissed me and we kept walking toward the dinghy and start our way back to Sephina. Almost half way there the nightmare began...
One thing I can tell you, if you pass by the Grenadines and feel sick, run to Grenada or Martinique Hospital!
They do have nothing in Bequia as well as they know nothing about medicine! We had to use the defibrillator our self...but to late, Monty passed away. Autopsy showed a Coronary Artery Disease.
I was devastated and I am still.
Mr Mills, from the funeral place is in fact, sorry but Mr Prick! I had to wait a month and a half for him to give me Monty Ashes can you believe that? Well I know that they don't cremate in Saint Vincent so they had to send him in Grenada then come back. That took a week. The other weeks it was only because the money transfer was block on Mr Prick Miami Bank Account and didn't want hear anything until he got it on his St Vincent bank account.... Such a professional guy so is the Doc!
Anyway I finally could breath better when Monty came back to me and then I sailed Sephina back to Martinique where I thought things will be easier for me.
I am now still there, waiting for paperwork to be done, probate things and new boat registration as as I am nor Australian resident nor citizen I can't keep my beautiful Australian flag ... Bummer!
Now My baby his gone and nothing can bring him back! He left in my arms doing what he loves most, living the biggest dream he had since kid, sailing the oceans! I have been alone on the boat with Balrog since and days are very long and meanless without him by our side...but we will keep strong, we'll keep going and doing my best to keep Sephina in good shape sailing oceans till the end of his dreams!
I want to thanks Family and friends from France and Australia for their words, love and support. A huge thanks to Gary, Monty's brother for taking care about everything from Aus, Thanks to Sv Merlin for their presence at this time, Sv Silence, Sv Lilli and Sv Gran Largo for their help and love.
I am Very sorry for My Lovely Monty, I am very sorry for myself, sorry not to have been able to do better to save his life, I am very sorry for his Dad, his brothers and his kids, I am very sorry for everyone who loves him, shared laughs, music and all the good things he enjoyed in his life!
As he said "Memories not forgotten, raise a glass for me..."
Thanks to Coil and Leelee for organizing all the events on his honor in Australia. there a tribute made by them at Torquay Beach paddle out:
Songs Gravity and Cold Water performed by Monty (L)
Here we go! I'll do a quick update on our previous adventures...
We spent the Hurricane season in grenada. Seen a lot of country sides and took the opportunity to fly back home for a short time. Then before going on the roll again, hauled Sephina Out and gave her a new Anti fouling job done in Grenada Marina where we've met with other Aussie Sailors Sv La Vagabonde!
Exploring Grenada with Sv La Vagabonde
We left Le Marin, Martinique on January first 2016 toward Antigua. We had nice days sailing with quick stops for the night in Roseau, Dominica - Dehaies, Guadeloupe and dropped the anchor at Freeman Bay, Antigua. There we've took a berth at the Marina as when in Grenada we serviced the engines and sail-drives but the guy did put the wrong oil! Once everything done we've set sail toward Green Island, so far our favorite spot in the Caribbean.
Yes! we spent 3 months there! Kite-surfing (Monty taught me how to even though I am not really up on the board yet!), partying on the beach with friends, snorkeling and celebrating our birthdays etc. Such a nice Time over there.
We as well set sail toward Barbuda, beautiful island north of Antigua. A bit tricky though to enter some bays as there's very shallow spots there.
Salt Whistle Bay, Mayreau SVG
Celebrating Love (L)
Exploring Barbuda
Monty Catching some wave in Chatam Bay, Union Island
After a short stay in Guadeloupe we headed South toward Martinique. We stopped at Dominica for a couple of nights. Here's a short video we made sailing along the way.
Part of the reason we decided to head South was because Jens back has been hurting a lot and the best place to get it checked is the French Islands. We had planned on getting an MRI at Guadeloupe but the 2 month waiting list means we will try get one in Martinique instead, along with some Doctors appointments. By far the highlight of returning to Guadeloupe was swimming with the dolphins in Deshais. We woke to hear Balrog squeaking excitedly and realised a pod of dolphins had come into the bay to chase fish and play. Minutes later we were swimming with them. It was really amazing to play with them up close and listen to them talking to each other in the water. squueeeek squuueeeaqqq eeeekkk trrrrrrrrrllrrr.
Jenijane made a nice video compilation of the swim.
After making the decision to head South again we headed for Guadeloupe, stopping briefly at Saba and Nevis along the way. Almost to Guadeloupe the wind veered to the SE, dead on the nose and picked up to 30kn. One option was to continue and arrive at midnight, or bear away and head back to Antigua again. We loved Antigua the first time around so that made the choice easy. A few hours later we were checking back into Jolly Harbour and headed North back to Nonsuch bay for another week or so relaxing and kitesurfing.
Another nice overnight downwind sail from St Maartin to the BVI’s. A little over 80M door to door. We left at sunset and arrived a bit before sunrise and wanted to slow down so we dropped the parasailor and drifted with the current as the sun rose before making our way along the Virgin Sound Channel before dropping the anchor off the small island of Eustatia. Richard Bransons Island ‘Necker’ is in sight and we manage to share his WiFi signal. A nice anchorage but still the trade winds are blowing through at 20K or so, so we up anchor and head into Gorda sound which is slightly better.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI’s) are a group of 10 or so larger islands, and a lot of smaller islands. All have good anchorages, some better than others.
Here’s our tracks around some of the Islands.
We really enjoyed the BVI’s and ended up staying 5 weeks there. Sailing between anchorages was easy and conditions always good. Sunny every day and warm water for snorkelling and diving. We did a few land trips, hired a scooter for a day to explore Virgin Gorda, Dived on the wreck of the Rhone with Stefan and Anne (friends we met during the Atlantic Odyssey) Snorkelled the Indians (a great rock formation with deep drop offs, clear water and lots of sealife), Spent a couple of days around the main town of Tortolla, picked up a buoy at Cooper island for a couple of nights and had some tasty meals at the restaurant there.
Our favourite anchorage was Little Harbour on Peter island. It was really the only one we found that was out of the consistent trade winds so swimming every day was great. We had a pet Barracuda living under Sephina named ‘Jack’
Little Harbour is the kind of place you can stay a week and just relax. Tortola is just a 45 minute sail away for supplies when you need to restock.
So while exploring the other places around the BVI’s we found ourselves continually returning to Little Harbour. We met some old friends there, made some new friends and had a great time in general.
To be honest, a large part of the reason for staying in the BVI’s for so long was because we had no idea where we would go to from there. We felt like we were at a crossroad with four or more choices and unsure which route to take.
Option A
Our original plan was to head to the Bahamas from the BVIs and make our way to the US mainland where we would haul out Sephina and do a US road trip for four or five months over hurricane season. The hurricane season runs between July and November and our insurance means if we want to be covered for damage from named storms (we do! ) we need to be out of the region which covers most of the Caribbean, from Grenada to Carolina. As we headed North we have noticed the weather and water being a bit cooler and looking at the Bahamas, the weather doesn’t warm up for another month, and then you need to leave before the stormy season (before June) and returning to the Caribbean next year is a bit of a mission as well. You need to leave the US mainland after hurricane season finishes (Nov) but before its getting too cold (Oct). Aside from that we would also need to apply for visas. All doable but we decided against the USA this year. We can do a road trip there anytime and now didn’t feel like the right time.
Option B
Head to Panama and cross the Pacific this year with friends we have made along the way. This was a nice thought, but again we felt like we can do that at anytime and once we leave the Caribbean its virtually impossible to come back without continuing around the world first. Unsure if we were ready to leave and also undertake the 8000M passage from Panama to Australia this year, we decided on option C
Option C
Spend the hurricane season in Grenada or Martinique. If in Martinique Sephina would have to be hauled out to comply with our insurance. In Grenada was can change insurance from Pantaenius to Topsail and keep Sephina in the water. Either way we have decided to head back toward Martinique and make up the rest along the way. Jens back has been hurting her lately as well and a visit to the doctor here has confirmed she needs an MRI to investigate closer. Her health care on the French islands is a better option so another good reason to head South.
We will probably take the opportunity to fly home for a quick visit during the hurricane season as well as we are missing our family a lot.
We will also have time to make plans for next year, which will possibly be the ABCs in December, Columbia in January, San Blas in Feb and Panama in March to prepare for the Pacific, or possibly another year in the Caribbean and a sail to the USA as we had planned for this year.
We left Antigua at dusk and sailed overnight under parasailor and arrived early at St Barts after an easy 72M saili. A quick stop to check in, check out the town and we headed to Anse Columbier for a night. After a good rest we set sail for St Maartin, just 12M downwind. St Maartin has a dutch and French side. We stopped inside the Lagoon on the French side. Fun going in through the opening bridge which is wider than it looks as you enter, worrying about touching the sides. St Maartin is a popular anchorage, partly because the lagoon is totally protected, and partly because there are a ton of large supermarkets, chandlers, bars and restaurants. We planned to stock up and continue our sail West. The trade winds gave up for a day or two and we had wind from every direction. It was easy to get stuck in St Maartin, a lot of sailors and a lot of yachts are floating around the lagoon in various states of disrepair, of half sunk. We stayed a little longer than we wanted, waiting on weather, and were glad to leave after 2 weeks. A nice place to visit, but…
We did try make the most of our time, hired a jeep to take a look around the island, which was fun.
We also met quite a few cruisers and friends we have met along the way which almost made up for the amount of cleaning we would have to do later to Sephinas hull after a thick coating of slime and barnacles attached themselves.
We left Guadeloupe on Jan 23rd and sailed 40M North to Antigua. A good sail, arriving in English Harbour. A classic old natural harbour and an icon of sailing and the Caribbean. Lots of big classic yachts in the marina. We anchored out in the outer harbour and sorted out the formalities at customs. Check in isn’t as easy as the French islands but at least all the offices are in one building. Head to customs, paperwork, head to immigration, paperwork, head to vessel clearing, paperwork, call the vet, more paperwork and another $50. Next morning we wandered around looking to do some laundry and provisioning but there wasn't much going on. Laundry was too busy and they wanted $20 a load!, supermarket to limited and expensive. We were hungry and a bit annoyed that the only place we found for breakfast was expensive, but we ordered a $5 muffin, and $10 egg on toast and coffee and juice. It was pretty light on and we were eating and complaining to each other about what a rip off it was, until we paid the bill and realised the menu was in EC (Eastern Caribbean Dollars) which are about $2.65 USD…So it was actually pretty cheap! Pity we didn’t realise soon enough to enjoy the meal!
We weighed anchor around lunchtime to head North to Nonsuch Bay as it was recommended as a nice anchorage and good place to kite surf. Sailing East in the Caribbean guarantees headwinds and opposing currents but we had a nice sail up there and picked up a free mooring for the night. Next day we moved to a more protected mooring just off the beach at Green Island. Great place! We could have stayed longer but after a week we ran out of food for Balrog. After a few days of him eating our food we thought we better head off to reprovision, so we sailed to Jolly Harbour on the West coast. Nonsuch Bay was close to a perfect anchorage. Not much civilization around. A couple of resort restaurants a 10 minute dinghy ride away. Great kitesurfing spot. It would have been nice to stay longer but maybe we will return sometime..
Great food and surroundings at Nonsuch Bay resort, as well as Harmony Hall. Nice to treat ourselves to someone else's cooking occasionally, especially when the food is great !
Pretty close to Paradise!
Jolly Harbour was good for provisioning although a bit pricey, We took the local bus to the main town, St Johns and had a look around while we were there. Jen met some schoolgirls that looked like they should be in a girl band!
