10 days sail trip with Norwegians.
The famous Norwegian sailor Stig Hatlo had booked my boat for two weeks, from April 10th.
He comes over 3-4 times a year and bring some friends with him.
Stig was part of the first Norwegian boat, Berge Viking to compete in the
Whitbread around the world race in 1981-82.
His been coming to the Caribbean since 1980, so he knows all the islands, and are friends of many people living on the islands.
It's been very much fun to be with him on our 10 days sail tour.
This time he brought two friends from Larvik Norway,
Ole Martin and Olav.
From left, Ole Martin, Stig and Olav.
I meet Stig first time here in Marigot Bay in December last year.
When he called me just after new year and asked if he could rent my boat for two weeks,
I sad yes, but I am coming with you. Zephyr is my home, so the boat is not going any were
without me on board. Also i new it would be a fun trip with him and his friends.
And it has been a great time with lot's of fun and interesting stories and jokes.
Stigs brother, Anders Hatlo, is a famous Norwegian Actor, and
Stig himself has the same skills for sure.
We started from Marigot Bay Wednesday afternoon April 11th.
First stop was by the Piton mountains, were we tied up to a mooring and took the dingy
into a resort called 'The Hummingbird' were we had a wonderful dinner and a few
cocktails. Next morning we sailed out at 07.30, heading for Bequia.
We had a great crossing of 10 hours, and made it in time for the Thursday
steel pan concert at Frange Pani.
Next day we were invited for dinner to a Norwegian with name Peter Røran.
Peter is famous for all the Norwegian sailors that come to Bequia.
He has been living there for 27 years after his wooden Colin Archer 49 feet
boat crashed in a reef outside Union island one night 27 years ago.
The name of the boat is Fredag ( Friday) and was rescued and sold
to another Norwegian from Haugesund Norway, were the boat is today.
I have just started reading his book called.
'The death of the cockroaches'
He moved to Bequia were him and his wife Mariann settled and made a living.
He later built his house by himself, wich should be hurricane proof.
Peters house at Bequia.
Inside construction.
His deeping pool looking out towards Mystique island.
From left, Peter, Stig, me and Ole Martin.
Next day we started before noon, heading for Salt Whistle Bay
at the island Mayreau. I had never stoped there before, just past by.
But I will stop again next time I am in the area.
Beautiful white sand beach and a few bars and restaurants.
The beach at Salt Whistle Bay.
One of the bars were we had lobster is called:
'The last bar before the jungle'
It might not have any stars at the Michelin guide,
but they made excellent BBQ lobster.
And big once.
This was for lunch after one night by anchor.
The day before we went on the beach on the east side, and had a swim.
The Arnold Swartznegger position.
Well, well......
At night we went for dinner on the other side of the island,
at Dennis hide away bar and restaurant.
Fantastic evening.
After the lobster lunch we went to the east reef, called
Tobago Cays.
Here is my favorite vendor. Mr. Walter.
He delivers bread and Ice in the morning, and have a large
collection of T-shirts.
He has also invested in golden teeth's
Walter is always helpfull. This time my dingy was gone 4 am.
He cold his and my friend Carlos, which took his boat and looked
alonge the north beach of Union and cold his friend Sam at Mayreua.
Sam had found it in the rocks at the east beach. Everything was
stil working and the two sets of fins and snorkeling masks was in the dingy.
I paid Sam 700 EC dollar,(250 USD) and everybody was happy again.
Without a dingy, you are very helpless in the Caribbean.
Stig enjoying the suroundings at the Cays.
Next stop was the smalest island I have been to here.
But it has a name, and a parasol. We anchored outside, and took the dingy to the beach.
Mopion island.
Picture taken from the end of the island, so that's the size of it.
Next nabour island is Petit Martinique were we went for lunch.
Petit Martinique.
It has nothing to do with Martinique island. And it belongs
to Grenada terretory.
The island in the back ground is Petit St. Vincent.
For the night we went to Clifton Union island.
And of course we went to Happy island and visited Janti.
This is always a success.
Happy island.
Happy at Happy island, with a rum punch.
We had a great time there. It's some fantastic work Janti has done, building
up the whole island using thousens of conch shells, and put them on a sand bank
inside the reef around the harbour.'
The tiki bar.
This was the most south point on our sail tour, so we headed north next morning.
Mystique was the next goal, but we dicided to make a night stop over at Canouan island.
We had a great dinner ( and coctails) at a 5 star resort.
The restaurant on the beach.
Watching the sunset with a sunset drink.
Mystique is a private island, but a part of St. Vincent and the Grenedines.
Mr. Colin Tennant bought the island in 1958, to make it a place for
super stars to hide in peace away from puplic and papparazzias.
You can see and learn more about it by google it.
I was there first time around 1984, when I had hired a sailboat for two weeks.
Famous people like Mick Jagger, Rachel Welch, Tommy Hilfinger, Brian Adams etc.
have houses there. I saw Mick Jagger that time, and was invited to Tommy Hilfinger's home.
I had never heard about him at that time, but found his name all over the world later.
We got a taxi to take us around the island, and to Macaroni beach, which supose to
be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Macaroni beach.
Fighting the waves.
The island is very well organized. Clean everywere,
and no ugle telphone pols with hundres of wires, like all the other islands have.
Here everything is in the ground.
Mystique also have a little airport and Mystique airways.
The super stars flyes in from Barbados, St. Lucia or Grenada, which can take the big airplanes.
The fucking turtles, which was given by some of the rich.
We went for a couple drinks to Fire Fly, which is an fancy bar and
resturant. It also have a few rooms.
All the famouse residents come here once in while,
and so did we. Stig had been there many times before, so
a bartender, Patrick, which has been there in 17 years, said
`'HI STIG' when we entered.
Enjoying a Martini to Norwegian price.
Nice dressed up server.
For dinner we went down the hill to Basils bar.
This bar i world famous, and I was there 28 years ago.
Basils bar on the beach.
We left next morning, and had a great sail tour over to Bequia,
just to have lunch at Jake's bar and see Peter again.
After lunch we continued to St. Vincent a Walillabou bay.
This is were the 3 first movies of 'Pitates of Caribbean' was filmed.
Walillabou bay.
The trip from St. Vincent to St. Lucia next morning was
with no wind. We had to motor all the way, and the water was
un normally flat, and it rained all the way.
We had been luck with the weather all the days, until the last,
so we couldn't complain.
Well back at Chateau Mygo, Marigot Bay Friday the 19th. at 3.45 pm
we all agreed that we had have an fantastic tour.
Olav and Ole Martin had never been sailing here before, so they
were very happy about the 10 days at sea.
Saturday we were invited to Doreen' new house up on the top of the hill,
for BBQ and a swim.
BBQ Dorado fish and white wine.
Overlooking Marigot Bay way down there.
Stig
One of the biggest private pools on the island.
Sunday we went on a taxi tour to Sufriere, and later
up to LaDera hotel and resturant.
Always very succsess full if you havn't been there before.
One of the rooms. They all have there own pool,
and no wall facing west towards the Piton's
You can check out http://www.ladera.com/
Monday we took the boat up north to Rodney bay for a swim and lunch.
One of the vendors selling fruit.
This guy had been doing this there for 27 years.
Notic the Norwegian flag.
A private house in the marina.
The last day we were invited to Beverly's house
in Marigot bay. Bev is one of Doreens sisters.
She made a fantastic breakfast, and at 1pm the guys
had to head for the airport.
Beverly has a beautiful home.
Really hope to see them all again.
I might visit them in Norway this summer.
Hope you enjoyed the tour.
