We forgot to salute when passing Diamond Rock!

We were out at sea by 6am so that we could have a gentle motor down to Le Marin, we were heading straight into the wind. Just as well as the sea was pretty bouncy even at that time. The highlight of the trip down was passing Diamond Rock this incredible small island with sheer sides that has a lot of history. The island gets its name from the reflections that its sides cast at certain hours of the day, which supposedly evoke images of a precious stone. We certainly didn’t see any sign of a the glistening gem.

Passing Anse d’Arlet

Sunrise over Diamond Rock

Looking back at it

Martinique was under French rule in 1803 and St.Lucia under British rule. Diamond Rock occupied a strategic position at the north end of the St Lucia Straits. Possession of the rock allowed control of boats heading south. In 1803 the British Admiralty announced the commissioning of the rock as a sloop-of-war. They hoisted two cannons to the summit of the rock and built fortifications. They supplied the position with food and water for a garrison of over 120 men, with a hospital in one of the caves, and a pulley system to get provisions to the top of the rock. They controlled the passage for 18 months before the French, at Napoleon’s insistence, finally managed to defeat the Brits on the Rock. Rowan assures me he has read that they achieved this by leaving a couple of barrels of rum on the island and when all the British sailors were inebriated the French overwhelmed them! I have to say wikipedia does not have that juicy titbit! The British Royal Navy still regards “HMSDiamond Rock” as being in commission (as a ‘Stone Frigate’). Therefore, Royal Navy ships are still required, when passing the island, to show due respect, personnel on the upper deck stand at attention and face the rock whilst the bridge salutes. So quaint!!

We finally arrived into the biggest marina in the Caribbean and were absolutely gobsmacked by the amount of boats. I have never seen so many, it must also be one of the busiest yacht charters of the Caribbean. Always rather nerve wracking getting into a busy spot especially with the wind blowing. We finally anchored in a good spot after a few attempts and landed not far from Greg and Jan who had invited us for dinner. We went into town to go to the chandlery to get our long list of goodies. We went from place to place to finally find most of what we needed, which was pretty hard work in the midday heat. Also managed to do a bit of provisioning shopping but the supermarkets are nowhere as good as we had in Turks & Caicos. Of course being French there is no fresh milk, only UHT which doesn’t make nearly as good a cup of tea!

We went to Greg and Jan’s and had a delicious supper. She is writing a Cruiser’s Cookery book. I must say she made delicious mushroom/truffle vol-au-vents, with store cupboard vol-au-vents cases. Followed by a delicious beef curry with bananas and a granadilla filled fruit salad. A real treat for us with plenty of good wine too. We were rather tired from our early start so very happy to get to bed. There is a saying about sailor’s midnight being 9pm, and I’m beginning to understand it.