Sadly no more wind appeared on Friday 9th and we continued to burble on, motor sailing as best as we could. We try to keep the revs as low as possible, but yet another reserve fuel jerry can bites the dust by midday, and there’s only the small emergency can left now. By mid afternoon we sight a sail ahead. It’s the big italian ketch ‘Futura’ bravely ghosting along under a big spinnaker. Embarrased, we put our spinnaker up, knock off the donk, and try to keep her company. A less than walking speed slow motion duel in the wrong direction goes on all afternoon, but she steadily draws ahead. Having already blotted our copy book by motoring for well over a day, we decide to back off and get under way again, in the right direction.
As a tea-time treast we decide to put the clocks back, for the last time, to -4. No sooner had we done this than Nature came and put on a special little finale show for us. In quick succession:
1. A short visit by choreographed dolphins
2. A huge full moon rising in the East directly behind us, at the same time as:
3. A glorious sunset lighting up the sky dead in front of us
4. 2 big bright planets also in line overhead
5. Land appearing out of the sunset, port and starboard, ahead of us.
6. A megga bite on the fishing line, bringing us a dorado as big as a hog alongside.
The moon hangs in a clear blue sky over a great silver-blue reflection in our wake. Ahead the horizon is a million colours. The giant dorado thingy fights with zeal and our efforts with the gaff are puny. With one bound he is free, taking our best lure and trace, although he is likely to need some serious dental work for some years to come.
We steadily plod on over a glassy sea with the distant glow of Martinique visible on the horizon.
By midnight, there is a very slight wind so we have main and genoa drawing but with the donk still assisting. By 0200, there is a strongish current in the channel between Martinique and St Lucia so we need to crab and tack our way upwind across to Rodney Bay. As navigation lights are pretty rare around here, we have a little difficulty in the darkness identifying the various headlands and hills before we can make out Pigeon Island and the entrance to Rodney Bay. Eventually we make out the commitee boat and the finish line, so we knock off the engine and do our best to tack our way across it.
Lots of hooters and cheers and we are across. Photo Rib boat alongside for happy snaps by moon light.
Sat 10th Dec 03h47m41s is our finish time, just over 19.5 days elapsed. 2921 miles at an average of about 6.25kts since Las Palmas, and 4968 miles from Raparee’s home berth.
After a warm rum punch welcome alongside we commandeer the rest of the rum bottle for medicinal purposes and finally get to bed after cock-crowing time.
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