17.1N 61.46W
Around the world with the Aqualunies
Jonathan & Gabrielle Lyne
Tue 12 Feb 2019 14:08
ANTIGUA 27th January - 12th February, 2019 We have just spent the last two weeks in Antigua waiting for a new battery that fits into the compartment under the floor from the UK. The old one was flat after three years use. We were plugged into the marina electrics but J didn’t get anybody to start the engine once a week. Its not a bad place to be stuck as we used a different battery to start the engine and generator and anchored off Pigeon Beach so I was able to swim and paddle board and still a short dingy ride into the village. We met up with old Antiguan friends and had our first two nights here in Antigua staying with some, Zoe Carlton and Richard Fear, at a house they were looking after. This enabled us to set the yacht back up without having to be on board at the same time. Last weekend was fun starting with my Birthday on the Friday and lunch at Catherine’s Cafe on the beach and a party in the evening to welcome the Antiguan Ladies Rowing team after they had crossed the Atlantic. The weekend during the day we watched the all important Rugby matches and on Sunday had old friends down from Jolly Harbour to watch it with us at ‘Cloggie’s’ then lunch again with them, Budgie and Barbara who have a place in Jolly Harbour, and RCC members Chris and Katie Russel, at Catherines Cafe. A very long and liquid lunch. The paddle boarding after was not so good……. We also bumped into Julia Cornish on the dingy pontoon, she is a member of the Exe Sailing Club and her son Ben is joining Ben Ainslie’s team for the America’s Cup. She spent a lazy afternoon with us on the yacht chilling and swimming before she joined The Admiral Nelson as 2nd mate, a classic sail training ship for the disabled, this time they had many from the Help the Heroes on board. The batteries arrived yesterday from the UK and Jonathan fitted them last night. We are now ready after sad ‘goodbyes’ for another year at the TOT club at the Sailing Academy. Antigua is one of the most welcoming islands in the Caribbean and compared to many of the islands the crime rate is low. The TOT is a Royal Navel Club where the tradition of a tot of rum is taken each evening at 6 pm and a piece of history is read from the Navy History Book. They also do a huge amount for charity here, they have just bought a sailing dingy for the disabled and on Sunday mornings early they have PT which means wearing hardy shoes and gardening gloves and going up to clear the undergrowth around the walks and old forts on the island. Its also a great way to meet people and have fun. I don’t belong as I can’t take Rum but Jonathan does. To join you have to be able to drink a tot of rum every night for 7 nights out of 14 then you are tested on the history of Lord `Nelson. This morning we set sail for Jolly Harbour to go to the good supermarket there and have dinner with Budgie and Barbara. |