Messages  sent in 2000 :

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Martinique-14 jan 2000
Dear all,

First we like to wish you a beautiful year 2000, with plenty of good time.After a good celebration in the harbour of Le Marin (south of Martinique),with many sailors/friends, we concentrated on the repair of the engine.Not easy: nobody available. I had to do it myself.We received the injection pumpon the monday 3rd January, and on the 6th , the engine was working again. As Laure was with us, we wanted her to see as many places as possible. We left for St Lucia with a good trade wind to Rodney Bay.In the evening we went to Gros Ilet, a little towm on the bay which is renokwn for the friday evening life...we were not disappointed -Another planet !!Music, food, drinks. All in the street!Very poor surroundings, but a real ambiance.The next stop was the impressive Pitons bay in the south. Impressive pics more than 750m high, straight from the sea 2 km from each other.The next day we all climbed the Piton in the North, under rain squalls using trees, ropes,hands and feet to reach the summit after 2 and half hours of effort.The view from the top was a reward.The descent was even more difficult...The return to Martinique was hard on the wind with 30/35 knots of wind. After 6 busy weeks , Laure left us and took a plane to Paris. She visited several islands in Cabo Verde, crossed the Atlantic, visited Martinique,and St Lucia (incl Piton Climb)and followed a diving course . Not bad!!We are now getting ready for Sebastien who arrives next sunday. We hope to go to the Grenadines.
All the best et a Bientot,Anton and Michou                                      Return to the top page

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Groyabada , March 22nd-Sailing to St Barthelemy.

Dear all,
One month has passed since our last report. We were in Marie Galante. From there we went to Pointe A Pitre again to get our new Cockpit cover to improve protection against sun AND rain showers...
We stayed there a week a sailed down to "Les Saintes. A very pretty micro archipelago
of 7 islands, with two of them inhabited. We stayed 6 days at anchor in Terre de Bas, a peaceful island that has managed to stay out of tourist crowds. We were about to pass Guadeloupe on the East side, when the sad news of the death of my brother 's wife changed our plans. We went to Pointe a Pitre and I could catch a flight to Paris to support him and his daughters.
On my way back, we left after good provisioning (as the next islands are known to be
very expensive) to Antigua's English Harbour. This is a very good and nice shelter that
Nelson had made famous. Many old buildings were rebuilt, making it a very beautiful
place to visit and to stay on anchor.

From there we sailed up to Barbuda, an Island part of Antigua State. Very low, beautiful
beach and green water.
I am now writing this text while we are sailing to St. Barthelemy where we should arrive
before dusk.

All the best
A bientot
Anton and Michou                                                                          Return to the top page

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St. Barthelemy,Gustavia, april 4th
Dear all,
The last weeks, we have been sailing between St Martin (F and NL), Anguilla and St Barthelemy. Dry islands and many boats around here. We got the visit for one week of our good old friend Jean Pierre from Chicago.We could find nice anchorages around here also. Here we met Gonzague and Muriel o/b"Ophelie V" and expect to see Jean Pierre and Josette o/b "Gib Tonic".We have decided finaly not to go to British Virgin Island with them.
From here, we will go south again via SABA, St Eustatius, St Kitts, Nevis, Guadeloupe to be in Martinique by end of april. In may to mid-june, we are in Europe visiting Sebastien, Laure, friends and family. Please address E-mails to Ajongejans@compuserve.com during this period. After June 8th our e-mail address will be again f5ya@sju.win-net.org
All the best,
Anton and Michou                                                                          Return to the top page

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Martinique-30 th of May 2000
Dear all,
On May 4 th, we have left "Groyabada " in the south of Martinique to fly to Paris where we stayed a week. We then went to Holland for another week. On the 18 th we flew to Toulouse. After a medical check up we are now in Espezel in the Pyrenees where the parents of Michou are living. During those 3 weeks, we enjoyed the children, family and friends. We have put on weight!! Unfortunately we could not see everybody. This will be for our next visit in 6 months. We are flying back to Martinique on June 7th.We will take Groyabada out of the water for a cleaning and antifouling exercise. The intention is to stay on the East Coast of Martinique until end of June. After that, we will sail southward towards the Grenadines where we expect to stay until end of August. From there, Tobago, Trinidad and the Islands of Venezuela.
Anton and Michou                                                                          Return to the top page

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Cher tous,
Nous avons laissé Groyabada dans le sud de la Martinique et pris l'avion pour Paris le 4 mai. Nous sommes restés une semaine á Paris , puis une semaine en Hollande. Ensuite Toulouse et Espezel dans les Pyrenées,oú vivent les parents de Michou. Durant ces trois courtes semaines nous avons passé du bon temps avec nos enfants, famille et amis au prix de quelques kilos supplémentaires.Malheureusement nous n'avons pas pu voir tout le monde. Partie remise à dans 6 mois. Nous retournons en Martinique le 7 juin. Ensuite nous allons caréner Groyabada qui en a grand besoin. Nous comptons retourner ensuite sur la cote est de la Martinique que nous n'avons pas encore eu le temps d'explorer en détails.Vers la fin juin, nous mettrons le cap sur les Grenadines ou nous resterons jusqu'a fin août. De là, nous comptons nous diriger vers les îles deTobago and Trinidad et ensuite vers les Iles du Vénézuela.
Bon vent et á bientot, 

Anton and Michou                                                                          Retour en haut de page

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Tobago Cays-July 18th 2000
Dear all,
It is a long time since we have given news. You will not believe us, but we are very busy!! Days are too short. We are presently in a beautiful and well-known spot called the Tobago Cays, close to Union Island. The water is crystal clear, light green. The anchorage includes 4 very small wooded islands, and looks open to sea, but is protected by a semi-circular reef where the sea breaks and leaves protected waters. All around, we snorkel to admire the site and its multicoloured fishe. Unfortunately there are many boats in the main anchorage. On the way down to here, we have stopped in St Lucia, in Bequia (nice and peaceful), Mustique, a private Island with beautiful houses, nicely spread over this well maintained Island belonging to well known and rich people.Somewhat artificial... We also stopped in Canouan, good anchorage but very poor and sleepy island, and Mayreau, very small and charming Island with 200 inhabitants, with a very nice bay were we stayed 4 nights (Salt Whistle Bay). From here we will sail to Carriacou and Grenada Islandl to collect our next visitor, Christine from Toulouse.
All the best from Anton and Michou                                                     Return to the top page

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Tobago Cays,ce 18 juillet 2000
Cher tous,
Le temps passe si vite, et je me rends compte qu'il y a bien longtemps que je ne vous ai pas tenu au courant de nos agissements. Les jours passent à toute allure. Nous sommes actuellement aux Tobago Cays, près de l'ile d'Union, au milieu des Grenadines. C'est un site très connu par la clarté de son eau couleur émeraude, et par ses récifs de coraux qui délimitent une zone d'ancrage, ouverte sur l'océan mais bien protégée de la mer. C'est aussi un lieu privilegié de plongée avec masque et tuba pour admirer les fonds de coraux et de sable blanc et les poissons multicolores. Malheureusement, il y a beaucoup de bateaux sur le site principal. Depuis notre départ de la Martinique, nous sommes passés à Ste Lucie, puis à l'ile de Bequia (jolie et tanquille), Moustique, ile privée avec des villas de gens riches et connus,le tout assez artificiel, Canouan pauvre et assoupie, Mayero, petite ile de 200 habitants, charmante avec un très joli mouillage où nous sommes restés 4 jours (Salt whistle bay) Après ce mouillage, nous quittons les Grenadines dépendant de St Vincent pour celles dépendant de Grenade., en commençant par l'ile de Carriacou puis Grenade ou nous embarquerons notre prochain visiteur, Christine de Toulouse.
Bon vent et à bientot,