A spectacular yacht blaze

Prolific Learning from Experience author Chris Mardon recalls a suspicious yacht fire in the Caribbean

- Chris Mardon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Mardon and his wife, Veronica, bought their first yacht, a Kelt 8.50, in 1989. Since then they have owned a Sadler 34 and now a Dufour 40 visiting most ports from La Rochelle to Kinsale and the Isles of Scilly to Cherbourg.

While enjoying a convivial night at Cattewater Cruising Club in Plymouth in October 1997, a friend approached my wife and I and asked if we’d be interested in chartering a yacht for a fortnight to sail down the Windward Islands in February.

After discussing a few details we jumped at his proposal. Why wouldn’t we? We were great pals with him and his wife and like us, they were experienced sailors. We never need much persuading to get away from British winters.

After an eight-hour flight from Heathrow to Antigua we caught an island-hopping flight to French Martinique and a taxi to Marina du Marin where Sunsail had their base. We settled into the charter yacht, a 40ft Beneteau, at about 2300.