ANTIGUA TO BERMUDA
Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Sun 4 Jun 2017 19:50
Must start my blog again. This is our 4th day at sea. Our first two days were great with winds from the East blowing at about 15 knots. We trekked along doing about 8.5 to 9.5 knots and very comfortable. We sorted our watches starting at 10 p.m. through to 6 a.m. There are five of us on board, our nephew Mark Williams and friends Roger and Gill Henderson. Roger and Gill are sharing their watch. We are doing two hours on and 6 off so it is not too bad.
Before we set off Mark Plummer from the Discovery yard was on board sorting out our continuing wood rubbing problem and has certainly improved it, although it still does make a noise in rougher seas, he also changed some wood panels where we had some water ingress which stained the wood. He is one of the most efficient guys in the team, so ‘Can do’ get on with it and get it sorted, he won’t take second best it has to be perfect. A very pleasant chap to have on board as well. When we arrived on the yacht which was in Catamaran Marina in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua it was pristine it was kept so clean by Cheryl who works for Bailey’s Yard.
Whilst he was working on the yacht we rented a car and stocked up the fridge and freezer, I also made some dinners to put in the freezer in advance such as a chilli con-carne, green chicken curry, Spaghetti Bolognese. The Hendersons brought, from the UK, a very good chunk of lovely ham and some cheeses, Mark Williams brought a lovely big piece of Beef and a boned leg of lamb so along with everything else we are well sorted for food. Since being at sea we have caught a 'Little Tuna’ which we had as Sushi for lunch one day and a couple of Dorado. The later I just did on the griddle with a little olive oil and squeezed lemon on top served with new potatoes, green beans and Papaya salsa. Our first night at sea I made up some lamb kofta they were a disaster, the minced lamb we bought was far too fatty producing far too much lamb fat on the griddle and falling to pieces, they tasted good but it was more like a mixture of minced lamb with cous-cous, harrisa paste and vegetables. I have made them in the past very successfully but i am afraid I will not be buying minced lamb in Antigua again.
We are really looking forward to arriving in Bermuda tomorrow, checking into St. Georges to clear immigration and then going down to a mooring buoy we have booked just off Hamilton. Our main reason is to watch ‘The America;s Cup’ and hopefully watch BAR Landrover win. Although they are having a few problems staying up on their foils which slows them down. They are through to the semi finals, thank goodness, and hopefully will beat New Zealand today. Ben Williams, our daughter in law’s brother, is the physical trainer and safety officer for BAR landrover, so we have a vested interest in them winning as well. We have heard the atmosphere in Bermuda is electric and just so much fun with a festive feel. It is a beautiful place at the best of times and after having not been there for the last 9 years we are looking forward to visiting again.
Life on board as been good, we all get on well, lots of good banter and teasing. We have a third rod out which we took from Nyaminnyami. a 44’ Swan. We had the sad task of clearing out all personal goods from her before we left. Francis her owner and Jonathan’s brother in law, died last September. As we had Mark Williams out here Francis’s middle son it was deemed a good idea to go on board her and sort her out ready to sell. The fishing reels were ones that belonged to Jonathan’s Father and are in very good nick. Nyaminnyami is now on the market in Bailey’s Yard so if anybody is interested in buying this beautiful, classical Swan do get in touch.
Roger brought on board a hard drive with 90 films in it……. so last night as there was no wind and we were pottering along under motor we decided to have a film night. It really is the first time we have used our amazing 32” pop up television properly. Straight to bed for me afterwards as I was on the 2am - 4 am watch. Not much happened just one ship which passed well ahead of us.
We just need to whistle up some more wind, the sea is as calm as a mill pond.
The ‘children’ have just sent emails saying they are fine as another car has mowed down people on London Bridge. We don’t know any more details than that. The true Muslims should rise up against them and call a fatwa saying any terrorist is not Islamic and will not go to heaven. This, with some luck, will stop them to a certain extent. It is good to be away from all this for awhile.