After two days in hibernation and the hand looking better, I got the clear from Sylvia to go swimming.   So I packed my bag and went to the waterfall nearby.   Needless to say without fixing the GoPro.   The waterfall was a hot spring and I spent a couple of hours just soaking like it was my own personal hot tub as I had the place to myself – the perks of slow season I suppose!

To top off the good mood, after feeling sorry for myself for being injured and a little bit useless I got word that another ‘TRU’ boat (what those of us who get coached by Jamie and Behan call ourselves – Totem Raft Up – was on their way to the Pitons).    It was exactly what I needed a waterfall and a hug from some friendly faces.

Danny, Cindy and Steve arrived on SV Miles and we enjoyed a sunset rose at their floating bar (a boogie board with four plastic wine glasses; a sunset tradition that they regularly participate in).   I got the hugs I needed and we all ate dinner together.   I always try and bring something so I contributed my vegan chocolate pineapple cake and they made a beautiful pork tenderloin on the barbeque with mashed potatoes and gravy!

Cindy and I planned to hike Gros Piton – the easier of the two – the next day.   

However, we woke up to pouring rain (should have checked that) and decided to postpone.   It was a stay at home kind of day as the rain just would not let up.  

And it was that night that changed all of our plans. 

At 1:30am SV Miles was boarded by two men with knives.   The first man let himself in an open hatch and found himself face to face with Cindy who happened to be awake.   He tried to silence her by shoving a rag in her mouth and she fought back to alert the men.   Her husband Danny heard the commotion and thinking she had tripped came out to see if she was okay.   He was met in the near pitch black with this startling encounter and began to repeatedly punch the man who was on Cindy.   As he was doing this the other man with the knife came down the companionway and Danny had to defend himself.  He got the knife out of his hand and as they exchanged blows their friend and a co-owner of the boat, Steve, came out of his cabin.   Luckily because these guys were putting up a fight and not leaving.

Danny shouted at him to ‘get the gun’ despite them having no gun on board and this seemed to be what they needed.   The two man escaped into the cockpit and jumped overboard and swam back to shore.   Danny and Cindy both having cut lips, eyebrows and two black eyes each.  

They immediately tried to call me but of course my phone was on silent and then put their spotlight on Tala to ensure that I did not have any unwanted visitors.  I happened to wake up only a half hour later and saw Cindy’s messages and missed calls.  

I had all of my hatches and stairs closed after the worrying incident that turned out to be nothing in Martinique.   I kept them closed, if they wanted to take something outside they could have it but I did not want them inside the boat (especially after Cindy’s retelling of events).    We all stayed awake until daybreak where they went to town and completed their police reports and then both boats retreated back to the safety of Marigot, only ten miles to the north.   We opted to pay for mooring balls to feel extra safe.   I would be staying two nights before departing for Bequia and they would be following me as soon as they dropped Steve off at the airport shortly after.   

It was a lucky break.  Lucky that they had Steve on board, lucky that Cindy was awake and stuffed up their initial plan.  Lucky that they did not go for the solo sailor – I think I was only spared as I was in front of the restaurant which is a private beach and SV Miles was just closer and more accessible.   Plus it is a bigger boat so they probably assume they have better stuff on board!

The sail north was slow and easy but I was happy with that.   I spent most of the time wondering if when I heard the news at 3am, if I should have dropped my mooring lines then.   Perhaps it was silly to wait until morning.   But it worked out in the end as no one came to my boat and I guess I should just put it out of my mind. 

Maybe I should invest in some carpet tacks like the famous Joshua Slocum.  

A thought for another day!