No real hurry this morning but really no time for more snorkeling or exploring. We raise the main and motor out of the bay by 9 am.

It’s very calm with a slight following breeze almost all the way (key word almost). We’re motor sailing enjoying the views and definitely going to check out Cumberland Bay and many of the other little bays we see along the way that look more inviting than Chateaubelair.

But as we come around Layou and start to lose the protection of the big island the wind builds quickly from the south and so do the seas. Very quickly the wind goes from nothing to 20+ kts, gusting to 27+ and the sea swells heading into us are pretty big. We’re sailing and making good speed but it’s not very comfortable. We’re both thinking this would not be a good introduction for Liz, but the Windy app says tomorrow will be much calmer.

Jimmy Tango has promised us a mooring and with 2 nms to go we drop the sails and motor in, opting for comfort and control over wind power.

Jimmy’s man Sparrow is there waiting and he helps us onto a mooring which is a feat in itself in this high current, high wind channel. We’re glad to be secured and stable around noon. We’ll be turning and spinning here for the next 36 hours or so but at least it is not roly.

After settling in a bit we dinghy over to Blue Lagoon to go to the Customs office there. We need to add Liz to the boat manifest which is pretty straightforward and will pave the way for her to exit the country with us on the boat. Just another EC$35.

While I do that Christy walks around the complex a bit, it’s been 3 years since we’ve been here and I forgot what a sizeable operation it is. There are quite a few people going out on charter cats (mostly) as we think Friday is the big departure day. Christy says she saw our old Captain Greg getting a charter ready so she shows me. We sit on a couple of benches and watch to see if he is too busy to say hello. He’s pretty busy but on our way out we shout hello, wondering if he will remember us from 3 years and many charters ago. He is all smiles and comes running down for hugs and hellos and suddenly there is Laura too. She is helping provision but not going on this charter. Great to see them both but we don’t stay too long as we know he is busy and trying to get to Bequia tonight. Later we watch them depart at 4:30 pm which is a good barometer for us tomorrow. Inshala we want to get to Bequia tomorrow after Liz’s plane arrives, she clears into the country, Jimmy taxis her to us and we load up on the boat.

Next we dinghy over to Barefoot which is very quiet, I guess all the charters/courses boats are out. We both forgot to look around the bay for Willow Dew (not-so-affectionately nicknamed Willow Poo) so we don’t know if she still floats or not.

At Barefoot we go up to the office, and speak with Tessa who says she remembers us. I tell her about the situation – I wrote the ASA exams here 3 years ago but never received my certification. She says to email her my ASA member number on Monday as she suspects the exam results did not get aligned with it properly. As far as I know I don’t have an ASA number but this is a first step anyway.

We stop for a beverage in the lovely restaurant there where we had quite a few enjoyable afternoons and evenings 3 years ago. It’s a beautiful sunset and we watch Greg leave Blue Lagoon and head for Bequia. Perhaps we will see them in the Cays.

We were going to have dinner here but neither of us is hungry now so we elect to go back to the boat. We thought we would go ashore for dinner but we’re too lazy for that too so just stay on the boat all night. Mooring ball bangs against the boat a bit as the current and winds swirl around here.

I’m not a big fan of this mooring spot – we notice a few yachts anchored outside Barefoot and we resolve next time we do a pickup we’ll try to time if for a same day meet and we’ll anchor there. Maybe a little rolly there too but free, no crazy current and no bashing into a mooring ball. Just meet at Barefoot or Horizon in Blue Lagoon.

As usual I have trouble sleeping and get up a few times. The disco onshore goes until 4:30 am (!) but gets quieter after 3:30 am. Nice. Christy doesn’t hear a thing.