Antigua

Moonbeam
David and Lynn Wilkie
Mon 21 Feb 2011 01:43
 
 
17.00.264N    61.45.657W
 
Wednesday morning we left Deshaies at 06.00 and headed North hoping that the forecast Easterly winds would hold out long enough. As we headed North we stayed dry but astern the rain came in from the East and the wind backed North so despite beating to windward we could not quite lay our course.
We passed two large whales; one heading north, one south; both about the same length as Moonbeam and one was only about 20 metres away! (were we on a whaleway line?) Luckily the wind veered again and we sailed in the sunshine back on course. After having to alter course to avoid being run down by an 80' Oyster with nobody on watch we anchored in Freeman's Bay, English Harbour at 14.00 hrs; we had current against us the whole way and had logged 48 miles when the actual distance is only 42!
It was good to be back anchored here where we have previously been with "Amadea II" about 16 years ago. Nelson's Dockyard continues to delight and 'checking in' was much friendlier than in the past.
 
 
      
 
Approaching English Harbour                                                                    Shirley Heights from Moonbeam  www.shirleyheightslookout.com
 
       
 
Copper and Lumber Hotel    www.copperandlumberhotel.com                   Pillars of old sail loft at Admiral's Inn  www.admiralsantigua.com
 
 
      
 
     
 
The schooner 'Ellen' built in 2009!
 
            
 
"Leopard 3 "                                                                                           At anchor in English Harbour   overlooking Montserrat
 
The position we are anchored in allows us to watch all going on and the benefit of lovely sunsets to the west. The beach is a short swim away and in the evening we hear the steel band music coming from Shirley Heights on the hill above us. One day we had lunch with John and Chris from "Oriole" RCC who were heading back south.
As usual there were lots of interesting yachts everywhere and we walked to Falmouth Harbour where the big yachts are over shadowed by "Maltese Falcon"- which if anybody wants to charter her- costs over 300,000 euros per week!
Monday sees the start of the RORC Caribbean 600 race so there are plenty of hi-tec race boats preparing for the start.  www.caribbean600.rorc.org 
Friday evening we enjoyed a seafood BBQ ashore in the dockyard which was a lot of fun and a superb atmosphere.