Saturday 27th March (Lini’s Journal)
Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Mon 29 Mar 2010 17:27
insomniac was up early and had been watching the marvellous pelicans
for some time. We are anchored right by their favourite feeding ground
and they circle continuously overhead, diving from great heights for
their snacks: Great entertainment! Straight after breakfast we went
ashore to check in at the most picturesque of customs and immigration
offices. These are housed in Nelson’s Dockyard where the man himself
was stationed in 1784. The building was completed about forty years
before though and restored later to the thriving dockyard it is today.
The harbour is very well protected from ocean swell and hurricanes and
the buildings are a delight for the eyes in grey stone with blue/grey
wooden shutters and off white paintwork. Remains of the three foot
diameter stone pillars that supported the sail loft provide a fabulous
backdrop for plants and trees and lovely stone walls encircle the
site. The camera worked overtime yet again. We stopped for coffee in
the shade of one building and chatted to one harbour live-aboard about
the horrendous water shortage the island is experiencing at present.
Apparently they have had very little rain now for six months. All
checked in we walked round English Harbour then Falmouth Harbour which
practically meets at one point. It was only on our return that we
spotted the watermaker service centre upstairs in a tiny painted
wooden building overlooking the water. The door was locked but we took
the phone number hopeful that someone may be about next week and be
able to pinpoint the problems on Brindabella. Massive superyachts were
moored one after the other in Falmouth Harbour and it probably wasn’t
the wisest place to pick up food. I doubt anyone there cared what they
paid for provisions. Back on Brindabella we had an afternoon onboard.
All around the dinghy dock sit several ocean going row boats but I
had no idea that a transatlantic race is in progress as I write. A
crowd had gathered on the shore and from the entrance to the harbour
came distant shouting and foghorns; another boat had just finished.
Team Brindabella assembled on deck with cameras, throats cleared and
finger ready on the foghorn to greet and congratulate the double
hander that slowly passed us: What an amazing achievement and our
transatlantic crossing suddenly seemed not quite such a big deal. A
red flare and three cheers from the shore accompanied wobbly legs as
they took their first steps in three months. Another father and son
crew arrived later in the afternoon creating the same goosepimply,
emotional response in me as the last. How ever must they feel after
such an event?
We had invited Phillip and Lynda for dinner and I had a lovely time
pottering in the galley this afternoon preparing treats. I cut lumps
of brie to nibble on celery; marinated chicken in coconut, lime and
ginger; made lime, ginger and toasted coconut rice and skewered
vegetables on sticks. I made meringue for pavlova in the microwave and
made extra ice for rum punch. Our friends arrived in time for
sundowners and over supper the highlights of the last few weeks were
shared. There is obviously lots for us to see around Antigua.