Getting ready to sail

Serenity of Swanwick
Phil and Sarah Tadd
Sat 15 Oct 2016 21:10

We came back to Antigua on Tuesday.  The flight was very good, and we got through customs with only a very small amount of duty paid on all the parts we bought back for the boat, and after a half hour taxi ride we were back in sunny English Harbour.

 

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All was well with ‘Serenity’, but the Pizzeria we had been relying on to eat at on Tuesday night was closed for refurbishment, so we had bread and marmite for supper as well as breakfast.

 

On Wednesday we got the dinghy out to find out what was open across the water in English and Falmouth Harbours.  We had Roti for lunch at ‘Grace Before Meals’ (one of the few cafes that are open) and managed to buy some supplies in local stores, but many places were closed with signs of refurbishment work going on everywhere: this part of Antigua is based around the sailing season, which doesn’t start for another month or so yet.  Phil is planning on fixing the new condenser and compressor to the fridge soon, so we are managing with what provisions we can buy locally.

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Since then we have got into a routine of working, with frequent breaks to cool down, and a swim in the sea at the end of the day.  We are slowly acclimatising to the heat , and getting back into the Caribbean swing again.  The boatyard Manager took our gas canisters away to get them filled on Thursday, saying they would be back later that day or on Friday.  This morning (Saturday) he said they wouldn’t be back until Monday now, and when Phil asked if the Chandlery shop was open today he said ‘No, welcome to the Caribbean’!  Our remaining gas canister is almost empty, so it could be bread and marmite again before the end of the weekend.