Well, we are still here in Martinique, splitting our time between the busy harbor of Le Marin and the more quiet nearby St Ann. Both have their charm but the water is clearer and the town much more charming in St Ann so here we are in St Ann again.
Le Marin, I am told, boasts the largest harbor and marina in the Windward Islands. I believe it. The harbor is a sea of masts with dockage for something like 1,000 boats (Med Moor) and 100 moorings. 
It’s been both sunny and rainy for the last week or so with a seemingly constant parade of showers every few hours interspersed by intense beating tropical sun. Rain or not, the sun outweighs the rain many times over. At night we are often awakened by a pounding rain that requires us to jump up and close the hatches.
Rain or shine, the silver lining is that each daytime shower is followed by a rainbow, or two. This one greeted us this morning shortly after sunrise.
Many cruisers love St Ann and it seems, hang out here for months at a time as evidenced by the algae growing on their anchor snubber lines, a sure sign that they haven’t moved for quite some time.
I have posted photos of some remarkable boats over the years so perhaps it’s time to post photos of some more humble ways to get around on the water.
How about this? Care to speculate on what this is all about? More to the point, which end is the bow? Try the “blunt” end to the left. See the pilot’s head sticking out of the top?
Laqua Scope? How about a “glass bottom boat”. Viewed from the bow?, you can sort of see the large glass portholes in the center hull. This contraption gave tours of the harbor, teeming with sea turtles, to all comers. It was out and about all day long ziging and zaging past dozens of snorkelers, including me. Want to go for a spin? Check out this on Trip Adviser.
If you followed my posts last winter you saw a photo of one of these “donut boats” from France. They come complete with a grill, outboard motor and umbrella. Admit it, you need one of these. Besides, they hold ten. Personally, I can’t imagine admitting to ten friends that I have one. I wonder where the 10 PFDs go.
This boat proves, once and for all, that anyone can start a business as long as they are creative about it. How about the appropriately named “pizza boat” a mobile pizza oven on a catamaran? Brenda’s wondering if it’s safe to move about with a huge 500 degree oven and loads of compressed flammable gas.
Of course, like many cruising grounds, it’s important to pick your time to cruise in the right season. It seems like just about every harbor has at lease one of these “parked” on the beach. In this case, it’s right up against someone’s home on. Nice view.
Of course, if you are in a big hurry to get there, the Prince de Cancale, is for you. There are ton of really racy looking cats and tris in French waters to choose from. She’s had a very active racing career most recently sporting the colors below. With all the sponsor graphics, I had a hard time figuring out what the name of the boat was. I guess she’s done well as she has a lot of sponsors. This link shows her in all her various colors over the years. She looks like a screamer with a very successful career since her launching in 2010. She’s currently on a mooring in Le Marin awaiting her next race.
Of course, to simply mess about in boats, or water, all you really need is your dad. 
Don’t want to risk your feet in the water? He can pull you along with your older sister pulling guard duty. 
One way or the other, there are a LOT of boats around these parts and as these photos show, they come in all sizes, colors and some aren’t even able to hold the water out.
OK, there you have it. A post of little importance. But hey, it’s about boats.
Oh yeah, one more thing. I have been having problems with my site, in particular, with the “new post alert” function. It’s being fixed, for a fee, or might be already, so if you had signed up to get alerts, do it again soon as the “tech” is going to delete you and the 8,000 phony “followers” that have signed up over the last few months so we can set things right.
If you are a “real” reader, I so hope that you will re-subscribe and continue along with me.
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