Shore Leave - Jamestown (Part I)

15.9268° S, 5.7171° W

After we cleared customs and immigration, Wes went off to make arrangements for refueling, and the crew headed into Jamestown.

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One of the first things we observed was that the trees along the waterfront were full of the white birds we had first seen flying over the water as we set the anchor. We later learned that the locals called them Fairy Terns or ‘Seabirds’ (but are technically really White Terns). They fly in tight pairs over the water and perform acrobatic maneuvers in unison (they move so fast that it is difficult to photograph or video them in flight). They seem to nest in the trees of Jamestown as well as in the cliffs and steep rocks above the wharf.

'Seabird' hovering; photo courtesy of https://sainthelenaisland.info

Another bird we saw flying over the waterfront was what the locals call a Trophy Bird (but is in actuality a Red-billed Tropic Bird). It has a strikingly long, slender tail feather:

We entered the town through The Archway (#10 on the map) and strolled up Main Street, our heads on swivels in typical tourist fashion. I found the Post Office and had my first opportunity to spend the British Pounds that Wes and I had converted while waiting in the Newark airport (technically only 15 days before, but it feels like a year since then). I bought postcard stamps.

Dan and Auden went into Solomon’s “DIY” (a.k.a. hardware) store to check out fishing equipment. Brianna stopped into shops with souvenir trinkets in hopes of finding a patch of the St. Helena flag to add to her collection, but was sadly unsuccessful. We collectively noticed that many of the shops had items in their display windows that were the only inventory they had in stock.

We made it as far as Abiwan’s Sail Repair (#41) on Market Street before turning back down the hill in search of a little something to eat. We opted for the Consulate Hotel (#31), as it seemed to be popular. We ordered coffee and pastries and sat in a lovely atrium that looked like something out of a Hemingway novel. It had a very cozy bar in the back that we sadly never had a chance to return to.

Auden with a fish he caught while we waited to go ashore

Wes in a "Steve Zissou" cap knitted by Dan during the passage from Cape Town

Brianna cheerfully tidying up the boat

Dan contemplating his next knitting project. The tanker "Spring Snow" lies at anchor in the background

Jamestown from the foredeck of Coda anchored in James Bay

Old buildings on Munden's Point overlooking James Bay. The cliffs were covered in cyclone fencing to prevent rocks from tumbling down onto the buildings and people below

The front of the Consulate Hotel

A letterbox in the atrium of the Consulate Hotel

St. James Church -- the oldest Anglican church in the Southern Hemisphere -- with a sweet little MG hatchback parked outside. (I gotta have one!) Note the old cannon used as a bollard

The community swimming pool with Jacob's Ladder (and its 699 steps) in the background

The St. Helena Yacht Club built into the rock cliff along the wharf, complete with wood pallet patio furniture. Photo courtesy of Brianna