West coast Basse Terre - Guadeloupe - Sailing Greatcircle (ep.158)

After a week on a mooring in Les Saintes with violent gusts and plenty of showers we take the first chance to cross towards Basse Terre along the west coast of Guadeloupe. Idéfix and Mareas have survived it a day before so we should be OK. Where the forecast mentions gusts up to 25 knots we have constant winds between 27 and 30 knots, as we reach the corner of the mainland it even increases twice up to 40 knots. Good idea of the captain to go out with 2 reefs and a reefed jib. The wind is from the beam, so Greatcircle isn't bothered to much with the wind nor the waves. Well behind the islands we get similar conditions compared to what we had before on the leeside of the islands we have already passed. Changing winds in force and direction, until it's totally gone and/or right on the nose. First stop is at Jacques Cousteau's Pigeon Island, a natural reserve with a good anchorage just next to it. After that we make a second stop at Deshaies, very protected but even here the larger swell from the NW finds a way to bend around the corner. We visit the botanical garden, just a mile outside the village. The last day we finalize the interior photo's as Michiel from Wehmeijer Yacht Brokers is preparing the listing for the current Greatcircle, Now that Outremer has announced the new model 55 on Boot we're preparing to sell the L52S this year on our way to Boston. 2021 is going the be all about the new boat.