Simpson Bay Bridge SNAFU

You may remember from our last visit to Sint Maarten that there is a lift bridge that we have to go through in order to get into the lagoon. Friends of ours had told us that the schedule for the bridge now was opening only at 6AM and 6PM instead of three times a day because they were doing bridge maintenance. We arrived in Simpson Bay midday Sunday so we knew we wouldn't be able to go in until 6PM and we weren't to keen on anchoring after dark so resigned ourselves to staying in the bay overnight and going through the bridge the next morning. However, when we went to Customs and Immigration the lady at the Port Authority said the bridge was back to regular operating hours - 930AM, 1130AM and 530PM. We decided to still remain overnight in the bay and go through the bridge at 0930 the next morning, which was a Monday. At 530PM that evening we watched other boats go in and because it was already getting dark were glad that we had decided on the morning entrance.

Next morning while listening to the Cruisers' Net at 0730, mention was made that the bridge was not back on regular hours. Griff hopped in the dinghy and headed over to the Port Authority where he was assured the bridge was back on regular hours. That was about 0800. By 0830 we were getting ready to lift anchor in preparation for the opening at 0930. At 0855 Griff heard someone in the lagoon calling the Bridge Operator to see if the bridge would be up for him to leave the lagoon at 0900. Boats in the lagoon go out through the bridge before boats can come in. He was informed that the bridge was not on normal operating hours, but would be open again at 6PM that night. Once again we had to change our plans because of external circumstances beyond our control.

We went by dinghy into the lagoon and organized the repairs we would be needing. Since the bay was very rolly and we had spent a poor night we decided to go through the bridge at 6PM even though it meant anchoring in the dark.

530PM arrived and we started raising the anchor. Sometimes when we raise the anchor the chain gets caught and Griff needs to use a large screwdriver to release it. Today was one of those times. To top it off he dropped the screwdriver into the bay. Anyway he got the anchor up and we got into position to enter the lagoon. Everything was going well until the boat in front of us was just entering the bridge opening. The Bridge Operator announced that incoming boats were to stop. The light had turned red and we realized that there were blue flashing lights and sirens at the bridge. We were still moving forward at about 4.5 kts so Griff put the boat in reverse which stopped forward movement, but when in reverse our prop walk turns the stern of the boat to port especially when the rpm's are high like they were then because we were trying to stop quickly. We ended up cross ways in the channel. Remember this is after 6PM and dark. There are lights from land, but they don't really light up the channel that well. Griff deftly turned Mystic Journey and again we were facing the bridge. We watched as the bridge came down, an ambulance headed across and the bridge went up again. We were given the green light and proceeded into the lagoon.

This picture shows the open bridge from the lagoon side. (It's actually from when we left the lagoon last time. That's Mystic Journey's side deck in the foreground.) The position of the red boat is approximately where we were when we were turned sideways in the channel.

By now it was quite dark, no moon and very little light from shore. Fortunately one of the sailboats that went through the bridge before us still had their navigation lights on and we were able to use those as a guide for where we could drop anchor. We did this and managed to get it to grab the first time. We set the anchor alarm, had supper, watched our usual evening DVD's and went to bed hoping the alarm would not go off. We were able to sleep until 6AM when the alarm went off. Fortunately it was because we had swung around on the anchor and not because our anchor was dragging. Our position in relation to the other boats was unchanged.

A new day arrived and we could now concentrate on getting the boat repaired.