Echo: Day 8 & 9 – Île Fourchue & St Barts
Day 8:
Written by Taylor Vick
This morning we woke up at 6:45 in Marigot bay, Saint Martin! After a quick breakfast and pre-departure checks we were on our way to Ile Fourchue. Today was our first challenge day meaning we were in total control of the boat and everything we needed to do today. We had a few issues when raising our sails but after a few minutes we were able to figure it out and start our 4 hour sail. During the sail we entertained ourselves by playing a water hydration game to Thunderstruck by AC/DC which had us all dying of laughter. As we saw Ile Fourchue grow on the horizon our anticipation grew for getting to go ashore and discover a new island.
Once we lowered the sails it was onto our most challenging task of the day: mooring. It was our first time mooring ourselves so needless to say it was an interesting and stressful 10 minutes and after approaching for the second time we were able to successfully moor with the help of a few tips from our mates. After, we immediately jumped in the crystal clear water to go for a snorkel where several of us swam with a turtle. Around 4:30 we headed to shore where we hiked up to the top of Ile Fourchue and enjoyed the breathtaking views of the ocean and surrounding islands. We hung out at the top for a bit, took some pics, stepped on some cacti and then headed back down to the boat. We all showered and some of us sent backflips off the boat after being taught by our captain. We ended the night off with chopped cheese (basically a sloppy joe minus the tomato base) and guac for dinner and a quick boat meeting going over the details for the next few days ahead!
Day 9:
Written by Molly
Today we woke up earlier than usual at Ile Fourchue to prepare for a departure to St Barts. We motored over for approximately an hour with the jib, and as we approached the channel we prepared to dock, right in front of shops at Gustave. We did a deep clean and organized the boat after lots of sailing and traveling the past few days.
After finishing cleaning, we got ready for an exciting day at St. Barts. We cruised the hills of St Barts and explored the other side of the island at Eden Rock. We enjoyed delicious lunches, shopping on the streets, swimming in the clear, salty ocean water, and watching planes take off from the airport. After our fun afternoon, we rode around the island some more and took some epic pictures of astonishing views. In the evening, we were finally able to take showers on land and spend time with another as we watched the sun set during dinner. It was a great day on one of the most beautiful islands we’ve sailed to this trip, and we are all looking forward to our next adventure to Saba tomorrow.
