17:00.81N 61:46.48W Deshaies (Guadeloupe) to Falmouth Habour (Antigua)
Gaudeo
John and Prue Quayle / John Quayle
Wed 13 Feb 2008 23:46
We had expected easy sailing in the Caribbean but the inter island passages - a total 350 miles since Grenada - have not been for the faint hearted as we have already intimated. The wind has always been strong, rarely less than 25 knots, usually from the unfavourable North East and accompanied by rain squalls. In spite of this the island visits have been very pleasant and showers only irritating at night requiring frequent closing and opening of hatches.
Today, our final leg to Falmouth Harbour in Antigua 42 miles from the pretty anchorage of Deshaies at the NW end of Gaudeloupe was the worst yet. We had visited the magnificent botanical gardens at Deshaies and enjoyed a meal ashore but were keen to press on as a strong east wind funnelling down the valley made the anchorage rather unpleasant and the weather was forecast to deteriorate over the next few days. Moreover, we had to arrange haul out, scrub, antifouling etc for Gaudeo in Falmouth Harbour before our homeward flight on Tuesday. We left soon after dawn in a stiff Easterly breeze with our, by now, usual 2 reefs in the mainsail. After 2 hours we were down to 3 reefs and staysail only, as the wind backed to the NE - Antigua is due North of Guadeloupe- and increased to a steady gale force of 34 - 38 knots with frequent blustery rain squalls of 40-46 knots - washing machine treatment. So much for the Ugrib forecast of 24 knots!
After several resuscitating cups of tea, hot on board shower and change into dry clothes we decided to stay out on one of John Bentley`s strong moorings drying the contents of our forecabin - all our bedding is drenched - and have put off the visit to customs and immigration until the morning.
Prue`s diary: ".......We speculated en route whether God was seeking revenge for our general good fortune and complacency..........frequent torrential rain and liquid mountains varying in colour from grey, blue, and black - a horrible day, certainly the windiest ever sail for me..........Rather like childbirth, now that we are safely on a mooring, I`m having trouble recalling the awfulness........."