Our anchorage is tucked away on the western side of the island. Years ago, the only way to get anything on the island was to pull a boat near the beach and carry the items onto the beach and then up the 800 steps shown in this picture. You can see the original customs house about half way up. Its hard to even comprehend the difficulty in building something such as a house when every little nail, shingle or piece of furniture has to be carried up 800 odd stairs.
Later, they built a small harbor but there was no road until later in the history of the island. Our taxi driver told us how his father used to carry 100 lb sacks of sugar on his head up 1000 vertical feet to the main village. Today, the road is still a scary thing to navigate.
1700 people live on Saba. Their economy is based on a medical school (seems like every Caribbean island has one), tourism and some arts and crafts. Here is a handcraft silk screen operation making fabric for shirts.
What impressed me about Saba was that it is beautiful, scrupulously clean and very European. It felt more like we were in Holland than the Caribbean. I’d like to go back for a few days some time to hike the mountains and get to know it a bit better.
Then, as in all, such voyages, it was time to go. We had a strong wind 15-25 knots blowing so we reefed her down and sailed on back to Sint Maarten. Along the way we had a bit of engine trouble and a lacerated finger as we tried to anchor in some rolling sea but got in okay and turned the boat in the next morning.
All in all , a fabulous voyage! Great islands and a great time with a good friend!
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