Monday, January 31, 2011

Martinique



Le Marin, Martinique, after a sail from Bequia past St Vincent and St Lucia. Local boats, les yoles rondes (pronounced similar to “yawl” in English.) had a regatta near the anchorage. These boats have no keel, and a crew of 10 or more men. Three of them use a steering oar about 15 feet long



The rest of the crew coordinate their moves using long wooden poles and remarkable balancing feats to keep the boat sailing through gusts, wind shifts and course changes.