Sailing from Martinique to Dominica

Approaching Dominica from the south, the island becomes visible below a sky heavy with clouds, even before we leave the shores of Martinique. First, underneath the dark blue of our Gennaker and later, as the wind strengthens, with a jib we sail across the strait at a steady speed of 8/9 sometimes 10 knots.

Lots of dark grey showers go down to our left but we manage to avoid them as they unload themselves over the sea or the northern part of Martinique’s highest volcano “La Montagne Pelé”. Midway through the passage we encounter our first flying fish. Unlike the ones we know from the Mediterranean there are not fish that jump out of the water but little flying object with tiny colibri-like wings that flutter a good 30-50 meters above the waves before diving back into the grey sea. Laura rightly says they look like the Golden Snitch from Harry Potter.

Approaching Dominica from the South

Throughout the entire day we don’t see a single boat except for one small fisherman’s. It’s almost as if we had already reached the end of the world. More likely it’s due to it being Saturday, the day most boat rentals are moored in big marinas as they change hands.

The closer we get the darker Dominica is set against a slither of light blue sky with a thick layer of grey clouds hoovering above its impressive mountain range. There are five peaks in the background and another four, slightly lower, in the foreground.

You expect there to be many hidden valleys and waterfalls and at least some of us are eager to climb those mountains and explore the thick jungle cover that we are starting to make out on the slopes.

Two miles of the southern tip two large, winged birds with surprisingly slender bodies accompany us as for half an hour as they dive for fish.

As we are sheltered from the cool wind by the island, the moist smell of vegetation and herbs suddenly fills the warm air. The clouds, still heavy over Martinique behind us give way - in a perfectly straight line - to the light blue sky of the Caribbean.

Dominica - view of Soufriere village

Welcome to Dominica!

A few weeks later we are back to discover the interior of Dominica during a 4-night stay in the beautiful Jungle Bay Resort perched just above Soufriere, a small village on the south-western tip. A fantastic experience which warrants a separate Blog, which you can read here very soon.