After an unimpressive summer in the UK dealing with all the jobs that had piled up during our absence last winter it was back to Antigua for Ted to supervise taking Moorglade out of the shed and doing all the pre-launch tasks – antifouling, sorting the electrical problems,  finding all the bits and pieces that had been packed away, etc, etc. His first problem was on arrival at the airport where the pre-booked car was conspicuous by its absence. However this was resolved quickly enough to enable him to be able to present himself back at the Tot Club to start as he meant to go on – with plenty of rum! At least Moorglade had come to no harm, safely shut up in the shed, and it only took one day longer than planned to get her out onto the hard. The jobs were made harder by the frequent torrential rain and the need to drive to the other side of the island for any required chandlery, but after a week and a half and another replacement hire car (the second one gave up the ghost on a steep hill) the boat was back in the water and I had returned as well.

Wednesday 14^th saw us waiting anxiously for the hire car to be collected before we could leave. They finally arrived only 2 hours after the appointed time and soon after we were retracing our track along the North coast of Antigua. It only seemed like yesterday we had been sailing the other way, not 6 months previously, but the rain seemed to have stopped and there was bright sun and not a lot of wind. We headed for Jolly Harbour and the big supermarket for a thorough re-provisioning. We had Invited Joe Karpinski to join us for a meal the next day and he managed the bus journey over from Cobbs Cross in good order and before Ted had finished all the jobs that hadn’t quite got done earlier. But no matter as we had a pleasant lunch on board and then were able to catch up on all the news before heading out for a delicious evening meal. We had originally intended to head to Montserrat from Jolly Harbour but the forecast of quite a big sea, which would mean even worse conditions in the anchorage there made the decision to postpone Montserrat in favour of a very pleasant sail to English Harbour (and more rum drinking opportunities) an easy one, with the added bonus that Joe could hitch a ride back and save himself the return bus journey.

English Harbour has changed since we were last here, the approach and channel are now buoyed and the anchorage has become much more restricted, but we were able to find a spot in Freemans Bay and spend 2 pleasant days drinking rum, clearing paths, and doing boat jobs (Ted), and doing laundry, cooking and working (Kay). Tonight it was farewell to the Tot Club and tomorrow we are finally off to Montserrat at first light.

   End of last season - Moorglade being lifted out for the summer

   Sam's travelling power wash gets the bottom clean

 The big shed makes Moorglade look quite insignificant

 Moorglade's home for the summer

 Joe enjoying the sail home from Jolly Harbour

  Friadya night at The Copper and Lumber for the Tot Club

  Sunset over Montserrat