Piss on Admiral Rodney
Thursday 25th - Friday 26th April 2024
Please pardon the French. Americans and, I suspect, few Europeans are aware that a huge Naval battle was fought between French and English naval forces near here in the late 1800’s.
This battle was off the coast of some islands that are part of Guadeloupe, called Les Isles de Saintes, hence the name of the battle.
Its not clear to me, an American, who won the battle but suffice it to say that the English, under Lord Admiral Rodney think that they won it, thus leaving Admiral Rodney a really big deal in English eyes. That explains why the bay we currently occupy is called Rodney Bay.
We left Martinique waters yesterday and covered the 28 miles or so from there to Rodney Bay in a rollicking beam reach in 12-16 kts of true wind. Our average speed was about 7 knots, not bad considering that we flew a reefed mainsail due to the seam in the sail that opened up earlier.
Captain Mike had earlier contacted the Rodney Bay Marina and arranged to rent a slip for a few days. There’s a sail maker there and he had agreed to look at the mainsail and repair it for us by Monday.
After an uneventful docking maneuver, we removed the mainsail and took it over to the sail loft where the proprietor said he would complete repairs by the next day; good news as I would be able to help bend the mainsail back on.
Now, you are probably wondering about the odd title to this blog and I’ll get to that presently.
Having a free (ish) day on Friday; we decided to go on one of Mike’s “hikes” to visit Fort Rodney, a national park.
If you know Mike, there is only one direction to his “hikes” and that is up! Fort Rodney and its associated lookout point is part of this park. We all made it up to Fort Rodney, but naturally, we had to get to the top of the higher lookout point as well. Despite a steady breeze from the west, it was very hot on the climb up to the lookout point, I never knew that dirt and rocks could radiate so much heat.
When Mike and I arrived atop this peak (Gloria wisely sat this one out) the views toward Martinique to the north were incredible. But, it was hot and little breeze seemed to reach the summit. I pity the poor sailors who had to man these parapets.
After catching my breath, I decided I should mark my victory of summiting (hence the title of this blog) but I was too dehydrated to accomplish my goal! Admiral Rodney can claim another victory!
Returning to Rodney Bay Marina we got the sail back from the sailmaker, who had inspected it and found it to be in good shape and surprised that the seam had opened up at all. This was a relief to me as I had recommended the sailmaker who originally built the sail.
Beers later (too late to christen Lord Rodney) and showers, followed by an excellent last dinner at a local restaurant, brings my portion of this blog to a conclusion. I fly home tomorrow morning, where I plan to NOT climb any hills, at least for a while!
Mike and Gloria have been most excellent hosts for the past two weeks and I am sure they will be happy for a break from a guest aboard. It has been a wicked excellent break from New England weather and I have added to my life list of birds with their assistance. Mike has been taking photos of the birds we’ve seen and I hope he will attach some of them to this blog entry.
I’m sorry to leave Cotinga and her owners but I need to return home and take up some of my duties there.
I leave you with a bit of advice from a sailor I met years ago on Tortola: “Always pee when you don’t have to pump”! Figure that one out, you non sailors.
Rod
14 04.508 N, 60 56.952 W
Gloria climbing the final staircase to the fort
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