We’re off early, by 9 am to cross Bequia Channel and sail to Chateaubelair on the northwest coast of SVG. We intend to sail close to the island after crossing the channel to (a) see the scenery and (b) find out if the winds are better close to shore.
A bit of marital bickering about sail setting on the crossing but we do OK.
Arrive in Chateaubelair around 2 pm where we are met by Kemroy’s relative Julian who helps us anchor. We won’t need a guide next time, we now know where to anchor in this bay. Of course we are accosted by a few vendors including Kemroy’s uncle, all are looking for handouts. Julian is supposed to take us to customs (he’s in a rowboat) but Kemroy is on Whatsapp with Christy and tells us to go there immediately, they are waiting, they saw us come in.
We drop the dinghy and motor in, accosted by the Juvenile Delinquents on the public pier who want money for helping you land and watching your dinghy. It’s extortion – pay us or we’ll rob you. Fine.
Customs and Immigration is in a run-down, almost abandoned-looking building just by the pier. They know Kemroy and things go pretty smoothly, we joke around a bit. We’re checking out of SVG, leaving on Tuesday (2 days from now) but that is an acceptable process.
Christy walks around a bit while I do C&I but it’s pretty hectic and not so pleasant in town. The Labour Party has come in on the ferry and is blasting the same disco at volume 11 while people drink and smoke.
We leave, back to the boat for a swim and clean up, only a couple more urchins to fend off, including Julian who brings me papaya which is supposed to be EC$10 – I don’t have change so he says he’ll return tomorrow with something else, fruit/lemons or something.
He doesn’t fill his end of the bargain.
Chateaubelair is quite beautiful from a scenery standpoint. I get the drone out to take some video of the impressive cliffs behind our anchorage and the bay itself. It starts to rain and gets very windy before I can fly it. Chateaubelair Island apparently has great snorkeling and diving and even the snorkeling right off the back of Milu is supposed to be very good.
We never go tho. It is late today and tomorrow’s weather turns out to be pretty dodgy by the time we return from our hike.