Delta 1 2015 – Day 13

written by Program Director, Jen Borderud

Tintamarre to Gustavia, St. Barth’s

This morning was an early one for the Delta crew. Everyone got up with the sun, dropped the ball at Tintamarre, and set off for St. Barth’s at 6 a.m. Conditions were ideal. The wind and swells were consistent and manageable, but certainly abundant enough to make things interesting. With 3 reefs in our mainsail and only about half of our jib, Grand Plaisance III reached over 7 knots in the 8—12 ft swells. Sam and Cassidy took turns at the helm, learning how to anticipate the way the swell pushes the keel and pulls up the bow. The 15 nautical mile passage took just over 2 hours as we cruised by the dramatic island scenerey of Ile Fourche, Table Rock, Les Baleines, and Pan du Sucre. Emily took the helm as we navigated the anchorage by Fort Oscar and found a perfect spot to get on anchor for a couple hours while we cleared customs and got assigned a spot on the docks at Gustavia.

Cassidy led the crew in docking the boat just after lunch. Though the winds picked up, Cassidy and her crew masterfully maneuvered GP3 into her dock slip. Although Gustavia is a bit sleepy on Sunday afternoons, it was still nice to walk around the quaint side streets and check out the many shops, restaurants, and cafes that line the waterfront. It was also a good opportunity to check out the different options available for dinner. Everyone voted and decided on a little al fresco French restaurant that looked out over the harbor. Some enjoyed pasta or cheeseburgers while others enjoyed carpaccio but just about saved room for crème brulee or chocolate cake. By the time dinner was over, the crew was ready to get some sleep and looking forward to exploring the rest of Gustavia and St. Bart’s.

Look forward to photos from Delta’s adventures down island in the upcoming days, as spotty Internet prevents speedy transmission.