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Transcription: [00:04:20]
{SPEAKER name="Lisa Chickering"}
One of the most picturesque spots here is Little Bay, where our hotel was. It has a beautiful beach, and in this day and age it's nice to have a whole one to yourself.
[00:04:29]
But on closer inspection you might find you don't. We planned the schooner, the Blue Peter, to the island of Saba, sailing the next morning at dawn. And early dawn found us in a small boat, heading out for what was to prove an adventuresome journey.
[00:04:48]
Saba can be reached by sea, with this schooner making the 29-mile trip once or twice a week. Hearty seamen had warned us of the pitch and roll of the schooner on this trip, and as we pulled alongside, the captain looked down at us, probably wondering just what kind of sailors we'd be.
[00:05:06]
I couldn't help but wonder myself. Once on board, the crew hoisted the sails as the sun appeared just above the horizon. The trip takes some 5 to 10 hours, depending on the wind.
[00:05:21]
And once the sun was completely up, we set full sail for Saba. We left the last corner of St. Maarten behind and headed straight out to sea.
[00:05:33]
Captain Crane [[phonetic]], whose home, incidentally is the island of Bonnaire, was at the wheel during the entire voyage, while his busy crew worked very hard at their own self-appointed chore of fishing. I couldn't help but wonder, though, what would happen if he caught a realllly big one. [[audience laughs]]
[00:05:56]
As for the passengers, they spend most of the time never budging from the little camp chairs along the deck. There really isn't any place to go on board, but I decided to try my sea legs anyway.
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And I soon found that I didn't have any. And I must admit that I wasn't too displeased to see that Jeanne's attempt really wasn't too much better.
[00:06:21]
It was nearly noon as we approached the little volcanic island of Saba, jutting abruptly out of the sea. Saba's the Caribbean's most unusual island, consisting of only 5 square miles --- mostly vertical miles. As the sails were lowered, we prepared ourselves for a most unusual landing, where there is no pier or dock.
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Sturdy islanders row their boats out to get the passengers, who must then step at just the precise moment from the schooner down into the rowboat --- or into the sea!
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High waves and wind can make this very difficult. In fact, sometimes quite dangerous. When a wave comes, putting both boats on the same level, that's the time to go.
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Jeanne was first off, was told to be especially careful not to catch her foot between the boats, which I thought was good advice. I cautiously followed and was relieved to get safely in the rowboat, too.
[00:07:21]
Saba as yet is not a tourist spot. In fact, if you're looking for a place to really get away from it all, this is it. The next thing is to be able to get ON the island. And this is done by jumping just so from the rocking rowboat onto wet, slippery steps.
[[end of segment]]