Of turtles and brown boobies

[Now take that smirk off your faces lads!]

One night in the Gustavia anchorage was enough. Formalities completed, online business done and bread purchased, Follyfin headed 4nm NW from Gustavia to the small island, Île Fourchue. No living person inhabits this island and it's part of the Marine Park, consequently it's very peaceful. Ashore there is mainly dry scrub on volcanic rock.

Over 10 years ago, the island was denuded of vegetation by a herd of goats, now departed. The Turk’s Head cactus is gradually re-establishing itself but very little else.

Otherwise, only the occasional cries of brown boobies are heard. In case you are wondering, the name of these birds wonderful flying creatures derives from the Spanish ‘bobo’, or dunce, as at one time it was easy for hungry sailors to approach these birds and grab them for food.

Our early morning sortie on shore provided a good view back towards the main island of St. Barts. 

Although the anchorage was quite rolly due to the Atlantic swell working its way in, a few boats overnighted with us each night during the 4 days we were there.

Wonderful snorkelling around the edge of the bay. Skipper, Bosun and Engineer enjoyed catching up with various repair and maintenance jobs on board in this time, fuelled by a giant avocado. Ones this size are a common sight in the markets at this time of year

Moved across to anchor in the Anse de Colombier on the N coast of the main island. Here at last I managed to get a photo of a turtle - greenback I think. Turtles come to feed on the sea grass growing on the bottom of these two bays. We had seen many swimming around our boat over the previous few days but none close enough to photograph or at the right time when the camera was handy. Indeed I had swum with one or two of them, trying to entice them nearer to Follyfin.

This is the only decent photo I managed to get. Turtles come up for four of five quick gulps of air and then dive to the bottom, staying under water for 10 or more minutes.

A hike up the steep hill above the Colombier beach afforded great views over the bay where Follyfin was parked. No Turk’s Heads here, only organ pipe cactus.

A further slog uphill provided a wonderful view over towards the larger island of St Martin, with Île Fourchue in the foreground. And St Martin is where we will be bound tomorrow, on Thursday 9th February, preparing for our homecoming - a short break for us hard-working sailors.