Unable to sleep I was up early and working on my laptop until Si woke up. He was not a well bunny this morning. A winch up the mast to finish padding the spreaders was probably the last thing he needed and job complete he went back to bed looking a rather yucky shade of grey/green. I sped off to the Hotel Catalina for lectures starting with ’Returning to Europe’ which was more alternatives for getting your boat home rather than sailing independently as we will. I’d hoped they would give us top tips on Caribbean islands not to be missed. There was a break before afternoon lectures which gave me time to try and book a table for dinner on Saturday the shoot over to El Corte Inglés to buy ribbon to replace my lost shoe strap.

   Back on Brindabella Si was looking slightly better but not well enough for lunch. The first lecture this afternoon was first aid with the very entertaining Ian Hardy who can been seen wandering around the pontoons in his green trousers and white pharmacist’s jacket giving advice to all. With more scary stories of could go wrong I wondered again why I am doing this. The next lecture however was ‘All about St.Lucia’ and I turned to Deb sitting next to me and said, “Ah, now I remember why we’re doing this. We just have to get across a bit of water first!”

   Si was well enough for an early dinner when I got back, at which point I decided to tease him no more about his costume for tonight. I have been winding him up since our departure and he was pretty certain he was going as a lady of some description with Wilma Flintstone top of the list of possibilities after seeing a few odds and ends from my materials. With hands over his eyes I pulled his long orange tunic with brown patches and long blue tie from my bag. With instructions to open his eyes and say ‘Yabba Dabba Doo’ he was probably very relieved. There was a very excited atmosphere along the pontoon with an array of costumes appearing from boats. A shorter and wider version of Wilmer spend some time backcombing and swirling her hair before having it sprayed orange on the pontoon. I just hoped none wafted onto the gelcoat.

   All ready we decided to stop en-route to the Solavento Centre at the Sailors Bar for a pre-party drink, but far from it being packed with TV characters soberly dressed customers stared as we walked past too embarrassed to stop. There were no other costumes in sight. With great relief entering the centre we saw Graham from Liberty dressed as C3PO in one of the bars. We joined the cast of Star Wars for drinks. Characters were now arriving in force with the ARC staff all as Smurfs. I didn’t even recognise Paul from ‘Blonde Moment’ at first with his five strong crew all as Miss Piggies in slinky glittery dresses, blonde wigs and snouts. The family prize went to our Belgium friends on ‘A Small Nest’ as the Incredibles with the Ghostbusters winning another prize. Joice had been very busy making Andy Pandy and Loopy Loo costumes for her and John and we spent some time talking to another Fred and Wilmer from Denmark. It was a great party with too much free sangria, good music and everyone in party mood.