Collecting Islands
Beoga's Madventure
Henry and Marina Lupton
Sun 20 Dec 2009 12:23
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Despite internet availability its been difficult to
connect at times. We continue to move north and it just keeps getting
better.
We left Guadaloupe yesterday morning having had
pain au chocolat and baguettes delivered to the boat at 7am by an enterprising
local with a rib. We continue to eat our way around the carribean and the only
exercise is moving from one side of the boat to the other.
We sailed past Monserrat yesterday. There is a 2
mile exclusion zone around the island over the past 10 years since the islands
volcano called Galways Sufriere erupted. The island is full of paddy names as it
was a refuge in cromwells time. Lots of lads with far darker complexion than
your usual Irish with names like Paddy Murphy. You cant see the top of the
volcano at the moment but apparently from the air is glows red. Still over
10,000 people living there.
A fast passage yesterday with a fresh beam reach on
nice flat water. This one was more like a clifden trip than an inis moir. We
measure everything in local trip terms.
Arrived in the sailing mecca yesterday
afternoon.
You hear so much about Antigua and English Harbour
and Falmouth Bay in the books and magazines that it was a must visit spot. Its
absolutely amazing! The harbour is invisible from the sea winds its way in tight
bends into the island. It is a popular hurricane shelter spot but even more
popular from now until may when all the super yachts arrive. We are taking turns
nudging Cormac along from one mega boat to another. There is a trail of drool
along the quayside here!!
We are anchored off and its is very busy in all the
bays, Im not sure how the place functions in April May when the regatta takes
place.
We ate in a fabulous restaurant last night. Chris
the owner took it over recently and only opened 3 weeks ago. Very chatty and
helpful english guy with paddy roots.
The whole inner harbour has been restored from its
old Nelson days and its stunning. We are staying at least 2 days and hope to
hire a car to tour the island and swim on the white sandy beaches that you see
in the brochures. Seems its cheaper than taxis and gives us
flexibility.
Starting to get munched upon by local flies. We'd
avoided this so far but i spose it was enevitable. I know ye are feeling sorry
for us.
Its hard to believe that is snowing back home.
The only indication of christmas here is the odd
decoration of little christmas tree on some boats and restaurants.
regards to all back home.
h
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