Les Saintes, Guadeloupe, French West Indies

We have spent ten days in Les Saintes, a charming little archipelago south of Guadeloupe. It’s been a time to rest and relax, and work on the boat in anticipation of our next long leg, 1100 miles downwind to Panama. So in between hiking, eating croissants every morning, and supporting the local restaurants at night, we have overhauled the forecastle, added ratlines for coral reef navigation, defrosted the freezer, replaced the alternator belts, and picked away at what is always an endless list of projects. The scenery is exquisite, and the people friendly, so all has been well. But it is time to get going again.