After breakfast we headed to the shore in JeldiJeldi, we wanted to have a walk around the island and also hoped to get signal at the top, to see if the USVI was going to grant us permission to enter. A baking hot climb up was rewarded with signal. Plenty to catch up on but sadly not the blog which requires my laptop and good signal to down load photos. We found a little path that took us most of the way around the island, avoiding standing on cacti and huge number of lizards. Obviously no predators. There were some amazing rock formations.
Back on the boat we deliberated our route. We have permission to go to the USVI now. We thought we would pop up to Sint Maarten which we can see from here (an island divided in two, half Dutch half French) but we botched filling the form and managed to ask for a transit entry of zero days! We had no response and with no signal, we decided to head straight to the USVI. It looks about 100 miles so going to take us more than a daylight day. Rowan decided we should sail down to the island Saba (also a Dutch island) and call the coast guard there for permission to overnight. So that is what we did.
It took us about 3 hours to get there with the Gennaker up and smooth sailing. We sailed round the island to get to the leeward side and the promised mooring balls in the guide book. We finally found them, not another boat in sight. We arrived with plenty of light to get on the mooring ball. It is an extraordinary island only 5 square miles with the top Peak (3084ft) in cloud most of the time. This keeps the top very green and lush. Below are tall colourful cliffs running straight up from the sea - no beaches here. There are only two villages, quaintly called The Bottom (even though it is high above the cliffs) and Windwardside! Until the 1940’s the only way to the villages was up 800 steps cut into the rock. Sadly we can’t go up as we don’t have permission to be here, we had hoped to have signal, but nothing. We tried the coast guard but got such a crackly response we gave up and decided to risk staying the night illegally. Rowan didn’t think the coast guard would be out on a Saturday night, not very reassuring for me.
Arriving at Saba
The top peak is normally in cloud, which is why it is so green.
Strange white rock
Steps to the old Custom house half way up. It used to be the only way up to the villages
Quite a spooky evening alone out here in this deep water. A few twinkling lights from houses high up. Early to bed for our 3am departure so that we can get to the USVI in daylight.
Hope all goes well and that you are in the VI.