It’s now a week since we arrived here in Martinique. The solitude of the ocean passage seems like a distant memory. Irish John returned home to his farm near Cork only a couple of days after we arrived, and since then we have moved from the quiet anchorage into the busy marina to make the post-crossing repairs and re-provisioning easier.
In the evenings, we have been looking back at the photos of our trip and reminiscing. Soon I will leave the boat too. Gill and John will head south to find a safe haven from hurricanes and viruses, and I will head north, beginning a long journey back to the UK. More on that to come, but for now, some snapshots of life aboard the good ship Mehalah.
SAILING
Leaving La Palma marina behindLetting out a reef at the end of a dawn watchAnd putting one in as the sun sets again (a few days later, a couple of hundred miles further south and a good 10 degrees warmer)Deciding where and when to gybe
WASHING
Takes up a surprising about of time, in both planning, preparation and execution…
The first wash – note the calm sea behind. Little did I know it would be many days before I could repeat.And these were the seas that felt ‘calm’ enough to wash in, after the 3 metre waves that had come beforeDoing laundry on the side deckAnd drying behind the helm
SLEEPING
Sleep – to be grabbed at any opportunity and in any place
A quick nap before the next watch The brace against the mast positionThe knee-under-side-cushion wedge
BOAT MAINTENANCE
Sails to check, rigging to test, rattles to quieten, lee cloths to mend, Paul to oil…
Giving Paul his twice-weekly oil…… Required some interesting positions Filling water bottles – at least a two person jobGill going beyond the call of duty to repair my torn lee cloth in particularly strong seas. That early in the passage and with such swell, spending much time upright and below deck was enough to make me feel queasy, so I would never have managed sewing whilst holding up a mattress with my head without a bucket nearby…
FISHING
Daily highlights – selecting a lure, deciding whether to keep it close to the boat or further away, watching the line, and finally… a fish! And a fishy supper to follow.
Will today be the day..?Landing our first catch – mahi mahiFish’n’chips, Mehalah styleOur second catch – a much bigger mahi mahi which fed us for four meals. Thank you fish. And of course the flying fish that flapped aboard during the night and were discovered on deck in the morning.
SWIMMING
One of my highlights – jumping into the ocean, 2 miles deep and 800 miles from the nearest land.
HOORAY!! Swimming at a leisurely pace to keep up with the boat being carried in the 1 knot of current. Hoping for no sharks…
WILDLIFE
Talking of sharks… we also saw a breaching and blowing whale (alas, no photos), many pods of dolphins and plenty of birds, including a lost pigeon and a hitchhiking noddy.
Watching dolphins at the bowLeaping through the waves
BRACING
Using every limb
The classic cockpit positionTwo limb at a time yoga – the only time it was calm enoughThe bunk-to-table brace – often adopted between preparing each ingredient for a meal to fend off queasiness
WEATHER
It’s not always blue skies and blue seas…
Sometimes, breakfast in the tropics looks like this (just after John commented that it was particularly peaceful, prompting a squall with gusts of 35 knots)…And enough rain to make the sea splash back up into the sky and the two become one. An early warning sign – squall rainbows
PARTIES
Any excuse – entering the tropics, changing timezone, passing halfway
Entering the tropics in our finest tropical gear Party music for the tropical partyRum and fresh fruit punch for breakfast (!) to toast passing halfwayWith most of the rum generously offered to NeptuneAnd of course the arrival party – we made it!
ARRIVING
Such anticipation, excitement and relief (and exhaustion)
Dawn view of Martinique – land ahoy!After dropping anchor in Sainte AnneTime to call home after jumping overboard First steps on land… will I have lost my land legs?!And finally – why I love France and Martinique – pain au chocolat, croissants, baguettes and fresh orange juice delivered by dinghy to our boat the following morning
Great photos Mariel. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Hope your trip onwards and home isn’t unduy inconvenienced by travel restrictions! Where are you heading for first?
Haha, thanks Steve! I’ve taken up gardening to keep myself out of trouble – you’ll have to come and inspect my work when you can. I’m just a bit further into Dorset than you 🙂
Mariel’s Travels 
It all looks fabulous!
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Love seeing your photos! It looks incredible. I’m glad your made it across safe and sound. Xxx
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Great photos Mariel. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Hope your trip onwards and home isn’t unduy inconvenienced by travel restrictions! Where are you heading for first?
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Good morning Mariel.Hope you’re keeping your head down in these crazy times. Told you it would all go to shit when you went away ! (Nice Maui Maui) Xx
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Haha, thanks Steve! I’ve taken up gardening to keep myself out of trouble – you’ll have to come and inspect my work when you can. I’m just a bit further into Dorset than you 🙂
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