Wreck shifted in St Martin Lagoon

We were surprised to see that this wreck which used to be up against Explorer Island in Simpson Bay St Maarten / St Martin and then last year moved across the way when it dragged its mooring in Hurricane Omar, has shifted.

It used to be parallel to the shore but after the night that ex-Tropical Storm Ana passed through, its bow is now angled out away from the shoreline.

There was that workboat that worried us who was moving about and couldn't seem to settle anywhere. After shooing him away from us by turning on our deck lights he went over by the wreck but had moved again by morning. Did he tie up to the wreck and shifted it? The amount of wind was certainly not enough to do so.... I hope it won't go "walkies" in the next big blow we get.

This boat eventually tied up to the wreck's old mooring. They left last Sunday (hurray). Seemed like OK people but we worried about their holding. We noticed yesterday that the line on the bouy has been cut, so hopefully nobody will tie up to it again as it is probably unsafe.

We don't like things that go bump in the night :)

Simpson Bay St Maarten Bridge Closure June 2009

This information is from today's (18 May 2009) The Daily Herald (Sint Maarten newspaper)

SIMPSON BAY BRIDGE REPAIRS DUE FOR JUNE

SIMPSON BAY--The Simpson Bay bridge is due for repairs to be executed all through June, Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC) announced on Sunday. The various repairs will be carried out by Dutch specialised maintenance company Hofman Sliedrecht B.V.

Because of the repairs, the bridge will be closed for maritime traffic from Monday, June 1, to Sunday, June 14. Depending on the progress in the execution of the repair work during the first two weeks, the bridge will open only one day per week at 6:00am, permitting vessels to depart and enter the lagoon.

While repair work is being carried out underneath the bridge deck, the bridge will not open for vessels and no maritime traffic will be allowed to pass under the bridge deck. The passage will be blocked by a pontoon. All small/low maritime traffic will have to make use of the narrower passage under the bridge at the Coast Guard and police station side of the channel.

During the second half of the repair period from June 15 to June 30, road traffic intermittently will only be able to make use of one lane over the bridge. Signs and lights will indicate which lane is in use. Security officers will give directions during the daytime to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

During the road repair period, traffic will be interrupted for short intervals when necessary to install the scaffolding, to deliver material to the worksite or to position a bucket truck. This work will be done from 5:30am to 8:00am, when road traffic is lightest.

In the last week of repairs, Rijkswaterstaat (the Dutch authority for waterworks and bridges) inspectors will be present to inspect and make an assessment of the condition of the bridge structure. They will put their findings in a report to SLAC.

According to work schedule, the permanent repairs will be finalised by Sunday, June 30. After June 30, the bridge will open again during the regular opening hours.

SLAC will keep the maritime sector and the public informed about the bridge opening times on a weekly basis or as soon as there is any change in the schedule. All facility holders, docks, piers and marinas will receive information by fax or e-mail, or will be visited by SLAC employees.

SLAC advises the captains of all vessels to decide whether their vessels will stay in the lagoon or outside in Simpson Bay during the repairs when the bridge cannot open.

For further information one can call the SLAC Collection Office at the police station in Simpson Bay next to the bridge, tel. 545-3183 or the bridge operator on VHF Channel 12.

Last year's maintenance work was delayed by a few weeks from their planned closures, but you never know... they may be on time this go round. Best to be prepared.

St Maarten Ghost Town - Charter Yachts are Gone for Season

Yesterday when we went to in to check to see if they had any new DVDs for rent at Island Video, I didn't recognize Palapa Marina. Just didn't look right. There were only two sailboats! Later on, there was only one sailboat. (NOTE: The 4:30pm bridge just opened and two more boats left. The megayacht had to blow his horn which always freaks out Buffy & Willow... back to the story).



As you can see it was quite overcast and gray yesterday. Here's three megayachts at Isle de Sol. I don't remember how many were there today. None at Simpson Bay Yacht Club and a couple at PdP.



Plus, there was no dinghies at the Customs dock in front of the St. Maarten bridge (blue building, just repainted).



We hope to be out of here soon, too.

Photos by Paradise Connections ©2009 - Please do not use without permission.

Gunboat Catamarans in St Maarten just prior to Heineken Regatta 2009

There are a few Gunboat catamarans currently in St. Maarten and we expect to see a few more in the lead up to the Heineken Regatta, March 5-8, 2009.

Here's a bit from the local St. Maarten newspaper The Daily Herald, January 22, 2009:

SIMPSON BAY--Gunboats have returned to St. Maarten. This year the fleet is bigger and includes the newly launched 66 series. A new breed of racing cruiser catamaran, the Gunboat was designed to hold provisions for up to six months of cruising and still able to race with all carbon spars and Kevlar shrouds. The Gunboat, named for the fact they win or take the gun at so many finish lines, consists of composite construction of vacuumbagged, epoxy foam sandwich and Aramid Honeycomb Nomex with carbon fiber inner skins & Kevlar outer skins for impact resistance. The fast 48 foot version, capable of speeds in the mid 20’s, will be sailing the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta the first weekend of March. “Gunboat is excited to have one, and maybe two of our latest series, the Gunboat 66, at the regatta,” said Chandler Collins from Gunboat. “This new 66 embodies luxury, comfort, and SPEED! The 66 was launched this winter in Cape Town, and she has just completed her maiden voyage across the Atlantic to Saint Maarten.” Also expected to race Heineken, like last year, are Gunboat 48s and 62s.

We went and took a few photos of the Gunboat catamarans that are currently in Simpson Bay and in the Lagoon in St. Maarten: Looking for Elvis (Gunboat 62), Kanaloa (Gunboat 66), and Safari (Gunboat 62).


Looking For Elvis - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Looking For Elvis - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Kanaloa - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay Lagoon, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Safari - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)


Safari - Feb. 25, 2009 - Simpson Bay, SXM
(Photo by ParadiseConnections.com ©2009)

Safari is available for crewed yacht charters. Contact Paradise Connections for more info.

We looked at the entries listed on the Heineken web site and for the Catamaran Class it shows the Gunboats Cream, Safari, and Sugar Daddy. They only show a total of 175 entries but in a recent newspaper article they said that had 200-some, so their website probably hasn't been updated yet.

Today in Simpson Bay, St Maarten 2x3 masts

This morning we have two 3-masters in Simpson Bay, St. Maarten.



We expect the anchorage to be filling up soon with boats for the Heineken Regatta.

I'll have to remember to take the camera with us when we run some errands (must buy kitter litter!). We saw the Gunboat "Looking for Elvis" dinghy yesterday. Visitors to this blog seem to like photos of the Gunboats so we'll see what we can do.

More soon come, mon!