April 15

After breakfast, we set off for the offshore island of Petit Navis to go snorkeling and search for whale bones. The island was once home to Bequia's former whaling station. Today only ruins remain, yet the local whalers are still permitted to catch two whales a year to make a living. Meanwhile, they also try to earn their bread through a whaling museum and whale-watching tours. One can only hope that observing these animals brings in more money than killing them. As a whaler told us, the whale bones can be found in the waters between Bequia and Petit Navis, and he suggested we visit the museum in the south of Bequia if we wanted to see whale bones.

On the way back to the harbor, we sailed past the extraordinary settlement of Moonhole in the southwest of Bequia, built by Americans. The buildings have neither windows nor doors and are largely constructed into the rock. Visits are possible by prior arrangement at the tourist office.

Tony Gibbons Beach was renamed Princess Margaret Beach after Princess Margaret took a swim here during her honeymoon. Equally beautiful is the adjoining beach — Lower Bay Beach is excellent for swimming.

Sadly, our sailing cruise aboard the Serenity comes to an end at noon today, and we are dropped off on Bequia. We had sailed roughly 80 nautical miles. We check into our guesthouse Kingsville at Lower Bay and enjoy the sunset at a nearby bar.