We went for a walk in the hills above Deshaies yesterday on one of the first days we've had in several where we did not get persistent rain showers. After our walk we stopped in at a local place for lunch (was terrible but that is another story) and then came back to the boat. Mid afternoon the wind started howling down out of the mountains and we were seeing gusts of over 35 kts. Boats were dragging anchor and several looked like they were having trouble retrieving the anchors once they drug. Perhaps 5 boats just abandoned the anchorage and moved South - probably to Pigeon Island.
While we were watching the action in the anchorage I let out more chain and we stripped our side curtains, tied down the solar panel, and got the dinghy up, strapped and cross tied. Then we saw a medium size dinghy on the way in with one person aboard headed right into the wind. In slow motion the bow of the dinghy lifted up and flipped completely over on the driver. Some people in a Belgium flagged boat went to the rescue and were able to get the wayward dinghy under tow after having it flip 3 more times. The driver of the swamped dinghy swam in closer to another boat who then deployed a lifesling and reeled him in.
The winds continued for more than 3 hours before abating some and then overnight the winds died completely! People are now moving around in the anchorage trying to get closer to shore or perhaps in shallower water just in case we have a repeat this afternoon.
Harold, the bread man, did not stop in the evening to take bread and pastry orders - glad he stayed put.
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