It took us 3 tacks to reach St Barts, so not too bad. Would have been far worse trying to get to St Kitts. However, we arrived just as the final race for the St Barts sailing week was finishing. The excitement on the radio was about the new Gunboat foiling catamaran prototype which had fallen over and was being righted. We don't even have daggerboards - I can't imagine foils on a cruising cat!

St Barts has an interesting history, worth looking up. Suffice it so say it is now crammed with expensive shops. Very expensive shops. We found a spot in the anchorage between a couple of superyachts and anchored. €23/night for the privilege of anchoring a quarter of a mile out of the harbour!

We had a lazy first day, just enjoying the sights and scenery (and the fireworks the night of our arrival). Then on our way back in the dinghy, who should cross our bow but Doppelbock - one of our CCR rally friends. Freddie was onboard with a couple of friends. We met up the next day over drinks to discuss plans. Seems we may both be in the Caribbean next season! We recapped where the other rally boats were. A few we have lost contact with (Raven, Penn-er-Kerreg), some seem to be headed back over the Atlantic (Bianca Rosa, Escape and Patchouly). French Kiss is in St Marteen we think and Doppelbock is doing Antigua Sailing week before heading to the US. We are heading south.

Freddie left to head to the north of St Barts for a calmer anchorage. We stayed put and left the next morning for a long sail South. 160nm from St Barts to Dominica, which Freddie had really recommended. The wind was due to go E, so possibly a good sail on one tack.

Things started out well, sailing nicely. The wind edged ESE occasionally, but we were able to recover the lost ground when it went back E. It was definitely windier than forecast - we were doubled reeled overnight and still doing 7.5knots. We passed Sea Bear, a 29' boat we'd seen in Antigua just south of Montserrat. They were doing 2 knots and we were doing 8!

Around the back of Guadeloupe, the wind started the fun and games. Dying off to nothing, or sudden shifts to the SSW all added to the fun. By sunrise we were ghosting down the southern tip of Guadeloupe, doing 1 or 2 knots in not much breeze. Made preparing breakfast easy :). As we crossed from Iles des Saintes, the wind filled in and we barrelled along towards Portsmouth, arriving just after 11am. We were met by Monty from Cobra Tours who guided us to spot to anchor then took me over to customs to clear in, which was simple. The boat guys are pretty good here and we've found that Cobra will taxi you around for very little if you book a reasonable tour with them (which are well worth doing - more next post).