Fai Tira Blog
16.00 Local 1600 Friday 18th December
Fai Tira back in Antigua . 17:00.52N 61:45.90W
We are now in
Nelsons Dockyard back on Antigua. The yard was originally called
"His Majesty's Antigua Naval Yard", it only became known as Nelson's
Dockyard after a major restoration project which began in 1951 and is still
ongoing today (a previous restoration attempt in 1932 was abandoned).
Entrance to Engish Harbour
At Anchore in Freemans Bay
Let’s stay for Christmas
Brief
history: Construction of the naval yard at Nelson's Dockyard began in
1725. The dockyard in English Harbour was the headquarters of the British
Leeward islands fleet during the late eighteenth and early and mid nineteenth
centuries.
Admiral Horatio Nelson served as a young Captain in the Caribbean Leeward Islands
fleet for three years from 1784 until 1787 and during Nelson's period in
Antigua the naval yard was greatly expanded. Nelson was the 26 year old Captain
of HMS Boreas, based at the yard. The facility was closed down and abandoned by
the British Navy in 1889.
http://www.paradise-islands.org/antigua-nelsons-dockyard.htm
Dee
is arriving today and they will staying in one of the two hotels here.
Judy and my father arrive on Wednesday next week and will staying in the other
hotel here at Nelsons Dockyard.
The
last three days have been very interesting and I hope to convey this via
photographs we have taken over this period.
First
was the trip to Barbuda. We transited between the islands in the company
of Bionic. The sail was a great beam reach in winds of 15 to 20 knots,
Fai Tira was in her element achieving speeds of 7 to 8 knots.
Fai
Tira in full flight.
Bionic in overtaking mode.
We
anchored up on the East coast of Barbuda and meet up with Natibou and Bionic
and had a lovely meal in lovely company.
The three BWR
boats at Barbuda.
The
next day I swam ashore and wandered the desolate beach and lagoon.
Desolate Island
We
then up anchored and headed for Barbuda Harbour. This is where we hit the
bottom during a squall in the middle of the night.
We hit the reef here.
The
next day saw us visiting the Frigate bird breeding colony.
Frigate Birds in mating mode
We
then headed off into the Barbuda outback and had to turn back due to the heat and
lack of roads.
Bike
Riding in Barbuda
We
returned to the boat and headed South to a more suitable anchorage and meet up
with Bill and Sue on Camomile. We had them over for drinks and nibbles
and then hit the sack.
Camomile with Bill and Sue
Wednesday
saw us heading back to Antigua and Green Island where I went diving and we
stayed for the night before heading to English Harbour and Nelsons dockyard.
Diving
pictures.
Regards
Pete and John.
