SAINTE ANNE MARTINIQUE - CRUISING WITH KATHY BRANDEL & RALPH HENDRY

#catamaransailing #leopard48catamaran #sailing #sainteanne
IMPORTANT TRIBUTE: As most of you know, we regularly produce videos of our travels. This one happens to be about our time in Sainte Anne where we spent a signifiant amount of time with our dear friends Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry from SV Simplicity, the two sailors who were murdered on February 18, when their boat was boarded by three escaped criminals. We can't express our grief enough but wanted this to be a tribute to the wonderful people they were.
Sailing to Sainte Anne
After spending a week in all of the Martinique west coast Anses, we left Grand Anse early one morning to sail to Sainte Anne. It was unusually cloudy and rainy but sailing in it was better than sitting in the anchorage in the rain!
On our way to Sainte Anne, we had hoped to stop at Diamond Rock to snorkel, but due to the sea conditions, we made it a drive by. Diamond Rock is a 574 ft tall uninhabited island located south of "Grande Anse du Diamant”. At certain times of day, Diamond Rock reflects the sun so brilliantly it resembles a diamond sparkling.
After arriving in Sainte Anne, we anchored and set off exploring. Our first stop was Pirates Beach & Restaurant. Great food, a floating dinghy dock, water toys, and of course Pirate Lore. And we spied a Kontiki looking boat - everyone knows that story right?
A bit further down the beach was a park and a great place to go for a swing.
That night, we hung out with fellow cruisers, Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry. We met them last summer in Block Island NY, and loved hanging out with them. Even partied with some locals. That night, the view of the lighted bay was a sight.
Some rainy days kept us on the boat for a couple days. So, we filled the time with boat projects and I caught up on some work. After the storms, a boat anchored behind us hitched a ride with a tow boat. We notice they were anchored far out. Must have sailed in without engines.
We did manage to do a major stock up trip in the town of Genipa, a modern new mall with the largest Carrefour in Martinique! $1254 Euro! Yikes. Better last us a few months.
We did two fantastic hikes from Sainte Anne.
Pointe des Salines
The first was to Salines Beach - we did the shorter 7 mile round trip all day adventure, instead of the 13 mile loop. Fascinating plants, a beach stop every mile or so - some nude, great views, and a reward at the end you will need to watch the video to see. During the hike, we also saw a worship hut - small little devotional niches where you can offer a prayer. We saw these not just on the hike, but also in the town. www.alltrails.com/explore/tra...
The second was a hike with Kathy and Ralph to Savanes de Petrifications , one of the oldest parts of Martinique.
The area looks like the moon! Desert sands contrast with the rest of island. Multi colored rocks are strewn around. It is located on the site of a very old volcano of which the Morne des Pétrifications which rises to 119 meters is one of the remains. In front is the Table du Diable, a huge rock that has risen from the waves offshore. www.alltrails.com/explore/tra...
That same day, we toured the Trois Rivieres Rum Distillery. It was a historic tour of a non-operating site. It included a rum tasting and we could not resist a little purchase.
TIMELINE:
0:00 Introduction
0:10 Dedication to Kathy Brandel & Ralph Hendry
1:30 Sailing to Sainte Anne
3:20 Diamond Rock
3:23 Sainte Anne
3:47 Pirates Beach Restaurant
4:25 Local Beach Bar with Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry
5:17 Boat Life - Shopping-Laundry-Schools
7:00 Make your Bed!
7:54 Rainy Days
8:37 Boat Tow
9:45 Carrefour Genipa Modern Mall!
10:49 Hike 7 miles to De Salines Beach (and a nude beach!)
14:20 Hike Savanes de Petrification with Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry
15:57 Trois Rivieres Rum Distillery Tour with Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry
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Blue Dot Voyages is a Sailing Adventure Company. We recently packed up our belongings, sold our house and moved on to our Leopard48 Sailing Catamaran PILAR, where we are traveling the world. We offer travel advice as well as boat maintenance tips. We also offer charter sailing experience trips. Watch our videos and live vicariously through us!
Master Captain: Stephen Bell
First Officer: Dawn Bell

[@dianecampbell9803]

These 2 lived their lives to the hilt. God BLESS THEM

[@SailingPILAR]

Yes they did! We are sure glad we had some time with them!

[@JMBronkema]

Do not buy ice cream from those places. I can almost guarantee that it has melted and refrozen several times due to unstable electricity. May your friends rest in peace.

[@SailingPILAR]

Noted

[@dianecampbell9803]

Shame on the monsters

[@SailingPILAR]

Agreed. Senseless. They should have taken the boat and left Kathy and Ralph alone!