Sailing on Fortitude (July 18-23)

Industrial coast of St. Vincent (Jul 18, 2004, 10:33am) We left Petit Byahaut around 10am and sailed south for Bequia. While we were sailing past the coast of St. Vincent, I took this picture. This is Camden Park Bay, the industrial heartland of St. Vincent.

Local fisherman on northwest point of Bequia (Jul 18, 2004, 12:10pm) We were heading for Admiralty Bay, on the west side of Bequia, sailing from the north. This picture shows the shore of Rocky Bay, a small bay on the outside point of land that makes up the northernmost part of Admiralty Bay. The picture shows what looks like local fisherman in a small encampment on the shore of Bequia.

Sailboat and houses in Port Elizabeth (Jul 18, 2004, 12:12pm) We sail into Admiralty Bay. As we pass by, I took this picture of houses on the north sore of the bay. The sailboat in the foreground looks like it has seen better days.

The ferries are all docked on Sunday (Jul 18, 2004, 12:13pm) It was Sunday and none of the ferries were running. Instead, the ferries that move people and cars between the islands of the Grenadines, are all shown here, docked in Port Elizabeth.

Morningstar in Admiralty Bay (Jul 18, 2004, 12:15pm) There were a number of photogenic sail and power boats moored in Admiralty Bay while were there. This is the Morningstar, as you can see by looking closely at the side of its bow.

Sailboat in Admiralty Bay (Jul 18, 2004, 12:17pm)

Looking towards downtown Port Elizabeth (Jul 18, 2004, 12:19pm) This is a picture from the deck of the Fortitude, looking towards downtown Port Elizabeth, Bequia. You can see the ferries moored on the left side of the picture. Most of the downtown shops are very close to the water and can not been seen in this picture.

Octopus pulled from a glass jar from under boat (Jul 18, 2004, 12:36pm) Soon after we moored in Admiralty Bay, Jeremy (Fortitude's captain) went for a swim. When ha came back out of the water, we was carrying a small glass jar that an octopus had turned into its home. Jeremy dumped the octopus on the deck for us to gawk at. In this picture, you can get a feel for the size of the octopus, next to a writs watch and a small knife.

Octopus poses for the camera (Jul 18, 2004, 12:37pm) Another picture of the octopus that was found in a glass jar under the boat. After we finished taking pictures, the octopus was returned to the ocean.

The shore of Bequia's Lower Bay (Jul 18, 2004, 01:06pm) In a fit of naming frenzy, a couple of the sections of Admiralty Bay in Bequia are given their own name. The northwest part of Admiralty Bay is called Point Bay, and the southwest part of Admiralty Bay is also known as Lower Bay. There are a couple of hotels and guest houses along the eastern shore of Admiralty Bay, south of Port Elizabeth. This is one of the hotels (I do not know its name).

Daphne's Boutique in Port Elizabeth (Jul 18, 2004, 02:28pm) In the sailor's guidebook that was onboard the Fortitude, I noticed that there was a store called Daphne's Boutique in Bequia. That peaked my interest, and went we went ashore, I kept an eye out for the store. Here is a picture of Daphne's Boutique (actually its just a picture of the sign). We did not bother going into the boutique since it was Sunday, and everything was closed.

Admiralty Bay in Bequia (Jul 18, 2004, 02:48pm) We did take one short hike while we were in Bequia. Daphne and I walked from Port Elizabeth, along the north shore of Admiralty Bay, to the old fort on the point. When we got to the fort (which was more of a gazebo with canons), I took this picture, looking back on Admiralty Bay. You can see the ferries docked at Port Elizabeth in the center of the picture. The road we walked from Port Elizabeth to the fort is on the left hand side of the picture. I think that Fortitude is in the picture somewhere to the far right, but I am hard pressed to pick it out from the large number of sailboats moored in the bay.

Port Elizabeth in Bequia (Jul 18, 2004, 02:50pm) Another shot of Port Elizabeth and Admiralty Bay taken from the old fort on the point.

Sailboats in outer Admiralty Bay (Jul 18, 2004, 02:55pm) This is another shot from the old fort at the entrance to Admiralty Bay. Here you can see the beach in Lower Bay, and some sailboats heading into or out of Admiralty Bay.

Contrast between social groups in the Grenadines (Jul 18, 2004, 03:05pm) I took this picture of some Bequian locals swimming in Admiralty Bay during our hike back from the old fort. I think the caption of the picture says it all.

Boats anchored in Admiralty Bay (Jul 18, 2004, 03:06pm)

Ferries docked in Port Elizabeth (Jul 18, 2004, 03:16pm) Here is another look at the ferries docked in Port Elizabeth, but from the side this time. I took this picture as we walked back from out hike to the old fort.

Most of the stores are closed on Sunday (Jul 18, 2004, 03:18pm) Towards the end of our short hike, Daphne realized that her sandals were chaffing her toe and needed to be replaced. The good news was that we were in Port Elizabeth, a tourist town with lots of stores. The bad news was that it was Sunday and every store was closed. Well, not every store. You can see open store in this picture, behind Daphne. But it didn't have any sandals that Daphne wanted. We actually got back from the hike a few minutes earlier than expected and had to wait for Jeremy to come pick us up in the dingy. With all the stores closed, all we could do was sit around and admire the scenery.

Using the barbeque on the sailboat (Jul 18, 2004, 06:15pm) Dinner that night was barbequed pork. Jeremy cooked the meat on this small barbeque grill attached to the side of the sailboat.

Sunset in Admiralty Bay (Jul 18, 2004, 06:36pm) This is the first in a series of sunset pictures. Every night on the sailboat, I took pictures of the setting sun. This picture (and the next) were sunset on our first night on Fortitude. Since we were on the leeward side of the island, the only thing between us and the horizon were other sailboats (and some annoying cloud banks).

Sunset in Admiralty Bay (Jul 18, 2004, 06:41pm)

Diesel, ice, water, laundry - room service (Jul 19, 2004, 07:51am) Morning after a night in Admiralty Bay. The boat in this picture goes around to all the moored sailboats providing various services to the boats. It clearly advertises its services on its sides. Although you I never got a good picture of the other side of this service boat, it advertised "laundry".

Daphne eats breakfast in Fortitude cockpit (Jul 19, 2004, 07:53am) Fortitude is not a very big boat. All four of us (Daphne, me, Jeremy, the captain and Vanessa, the mate) basically live in the small cockpit in the back of the boat. Here I am standing in the front of the boat, taking a picture of Daphne as she east breakfast in the cockpit.

Seagull dingy from the side (Jul 19, 2004, 10:02am) One of my favorite pictures, we passed this overturned dingy in Admiralty Bay on our way ashore to pick up some supplies. As you can see, this dingy proved to be a favorite resting spot for a bunch of the local seagulls. By the way, its not that there was a pretty female seagull off to the left attracting the gaze of all the males -- its just that seagulls always rest facing into the wind.

Seagull dingy in Admiralty Bay (Jul 19, 2004, 10:02am) Here is another angle on that seagull covered dingy in Admiralty Bay.

Dingies docked near the Bequia boardwalk (Jul 19, 2004, 10:03am) Since so many sailboats visit Bequia, in order to make it easy for the crew and passengers to visit town, there are a number of "dingy docks" along the shore line where dingies can be tied up. When Jeremy and I went to shore to pick up supplied, I took this picture of one of the dingy docks, showing a number of dingies tied up.

The Friendship Rose in Admiralty Bay (Jul 19, 2004, 10:16am) Another photogenic sailboat moored in Admiralty Bay. The Friendship Rose is actually available for charter.

Ship docked at Port Elizabeth (Jul 19, 2004, 10:18am)

Seagulls resting on the bow of a boat (Jul 19, 2004, 10:20am) On our way back to the Fortitude, from our supply run, the seagulls had left the upside down dingy. However, I did see a bunch of seagulls (the same ones?) perched on the bow of this boat.

Big Cay and West Cay of Bequia (Jul 19, 2004, 11:02am) When we left Admiralty Bay, we went along the southern shore of the bay. This is a picture from the Fortitude looking west. The two islands are Big Cay and West Cay (rightmost). The rest of the land is part of Bequia proper.