New Years Eve at the Firefly Resturant.

Afternoon on Mustique, New Years Eve, we take a walk on a dirt path to the south end of the island. We pass several Italian catamarans rafted together stern to shore with a wild party going onboard. The entire south end of island was being set up and secured for a private invitation only New Years Eve party being given by Mick Jagger - Rolling Stone star live on Mustique. On the dinghy dock we meet a family from Holland that is sailing around the world. Walk ends with sundowners on Bella Donna overlooking the last sunset of 2006.

Morning on Mustique, we visit shops on shore and Basils for lunch. Basils is where the big New Years party that lasted until 6 AM was happening.

We arrive at Admarilty Bay, Bequia. Bella Donna is anchored on a cloudy day. We need to register with Saint Vincent immagration and customs, the building you see here located on the shoreline street Donna is standing on here. We will stay overnight and leave early tomorrow for Mustique.

Underway, the stars and stripes fly on the topping lift. Dani is taking a picture from the sun pad. Sharon is enjoying an afternoon cup of tea with our destination, the Pitons in the background. At the Pitons we anchor and stern to with a long line to a tree on shore. Just between Bella Donna and shore the local fishermen use a sane net to catch fish.

Bella is leaving Rodney Bay on its way South. Here Deborah going about making the deck tidy. We are towing the dinghy so the aft deck (dance floor) is clear. Dani and Jeffry catch some sun up on the flybridge sun pad while we are on our way. Later we all have lunch.

Bella Donna is docked in Rodney Harbor in Saint Lucia waiting for our arrival. The Rodney Harbor Marina is the finish for the ARC -this annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has now become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. The largest transocean sailing event in the world, every year the ARC brings together over 150 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 12 and 24 days. Here we see the view from Bella Donna through many of the sail boats that just crossed the Atlantic, a passage that we made last year via Cape Verdes in about 15 days with 2 late season hurricanes in the middle of the Atlantic. One of these hurricanes hit the Canary Islands a couple of days after we departed to make our way down the west coast of Africa. We are a little late for the end-of-rally parties; however, some boats are still comming in. Most of the bioat crews went home for Christmas and have not returned.