Boxing Day Splashes to New Year Wishes – Sailing from Bequia to St. Lucia

From Boxing Day Splashes to New Year Wishes – Sailing from Bequia to St. Lucia

We were up with the sun on Boxing Day, leaving behind the dreamy Tobago Cays and setting a course for Bequia—a mere four-hour hop in sailing terms. But don’t let the short distance fool you; Bequia had a surprise oceanic fiesta in store.

Now, I’d love to tell you it was a glamorous pool party with cabanas and waiters in linen suits, but no. This was an ocean boat party, the kind only sailors know how to throw. The mastermind behind it all? Audrey—our ARC+ comrade and party whisperer. She’d strung pool noodles on a rope in a big floaty circle off the stern of their boat. Dinghies, kayaks, and inflatables bobbed in like a flotilla of fun-seekers, and before long we were floating, sipping, and laughing with ARC and ARC+ pals new and old.

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The next day we got a little taste of Bequia’s charm—lush landscapes, the kind of views that make you sigh involuntarily, and a floating bar that may or may not have encouraged us to sample a drink or two (or three?). With only a short time on the island, we made a vow to return. One foot in Bequia, the other already halfway to St. Lucia.

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Why the rush? Our lovely Michelle had a flight to catch before New Year’s Eve, so we raised anchor late on the 28th for an overnight sail.

When Sailing Becomes Snagging

Now, as sailors we play a little mental game called “what if.” What if the engine fails? What if we run aground? What if something weird and unidentifiable gets tangled in the rudder? Ah yes, the last one—check!

Just before midnight, Ian spotted something dangling behind the boat. It wasn’t festive tinsel—nope, we’d picked up a fishing net. Fortunately, the engine wasn’t running when it caught, which saved us from a bigger mess. Ian managed to wrestle off a good chunk, but in the pitch-black sea, the rest had to wait for daylight.

Meanwhile while we waited for sunrise, I sat on deck thinking about how I hadn’t seen dolphins since arriving in the Caribbean, the universe decided to surprise me. I heard a splash. Looked left. Saw a pot of something coming straight toward us… First I thought, “Oh tuna!”—as you do—but then: dolphins. A whole pod! Dancing and swirling around the boat. It was too dark for a photo, but not too dark to hear them chatting. Honestly, it was like being dropped into a BBC wildlife documentary. My first time hearing dolphins in the wild—absolute magic. I may or may not have cried. (I did.)

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By sunrise, Michelle was up and Ian was gearing up like a Bond villain. Armed with a snorkel, flashlight, knife, and lifeline (attached to me, his trusty sidekick), he dove in. Several heart-in-throat minutes later, mission accomplished! The net had only wrapped the rudder—not the bearings or the propeller. We were lucky. So lucky. Into a bag it went, destined for a bin and not another boat’s bad day.

Welcome to St. Lucia

By morning on the 29th, we were gliding into Soufrière Bay, St. Lucia—new country, new vibes. We checked in, grabbed a tour, and hiked a not-so-scary mountain with views that had our jaws on the floor (and thighs burning slightly). We even visited a waterfall, which turned out to be more of a “pay to pose” attraction, but hey, our guide was very keen on capturing the moment—shout-out to that man and his waterproof camera.

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After lunch and a scenic overload, it was back to the boat for a swim and phone calls to friends back home.

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Farewells and Fireworks

On the 30th, we made our way to Marigot Bay and splurged on a marina berth for the night. Why? Because it was time to say goodbye to Michelle. She’d been with us since October, crossed the Atlantic with us, and was officially part of the family. Waving her off was bittersweet—more sweet because we knew she’d made it home in time to see her loved ones.

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And then there were two.

On the 31st, we sailed to Rodney Bay, dropped the anchor, had a sneaky little nap (as is tradition), and met up with fellow ARC friends to ring in the New Year. Pre-dinner drinks on Moose (the boat, not the animal), then dinner ashore, and finally fireworks lighting up the Caribbean sky at midnight.

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2024, we are ready for you. Let the adventures continue.