Antigua Classics Regatta etc
Oriole
Sat 23 Apr 2016 16:32
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Falmouth Harbour,
Antigua. Saturday 23rd
April
2016
17:01.05N 61:46.34W
As the Classics Regatta approached, Falmouth
Harbour filled with cruising yachts eager to see the fun and participate in the
parties and attempt to get a ride on one of the classic yachts. Our
normally quiet corner of the harbour filled (some new arrivals very much too
close to Oriole for our comfort) and the VHF was occupied with never
ending stentorian and high pitched voices discussing their domestic affairs and
widely promulgating their water aerobics sessions every morning with bring your
own noodles, not to mention the pot lucks, dominoes,
sundowners, BBQs and all manner of daily togetherness.
 Calm seas and a light breeze for one
of the starts.
Meanwhile the weather forecast has been for very
little wind which is not what some of these enormous yachts require. In
the event the first day gave light but idyllic conditions and we watched from a
high vantage point giving us a good view of the course. Sadly our attempts
to get a ride did not bear fruit, but the wind on subsequent days did not
produce very exciting sailing. Every night of the week-long regatta there
is a party ashore with free or cheap drinks and food and a
band.
 Rebecca 42 meters built
Pendennis Falmouth UK 1999 takes right of way ahead of Adix ex Jessica
65 meters built Palma 1984
An audience of at least 500 people gathered for a
showing of the wonderful film Vanishing Sail made by Alexis Andrews about the
building of traditional local sailing boats on the small island of Carriacou in
the Grenadines featuring mainly the building of Exodus, the launching of which
we witnessed on Easter Sunday 2013.
We are still awaiting a date for the shipping of
Oriole to Southampton, but we are expecting to hear in the next few
days.
 Columbia 43 meters, a replica
of a Gloucester MA fishing schooner built 2014
Our frustration has been somewhat exacerbated by
the close proximity of Andrew in his new role of skipper of 44 meter SY
Artemis. He took over in St Martin and sailed his owner to St Kitts, a
mere 60 miles away from us in Antigua. As the new boy he did not feel it
sensible to suggest they called in to Antigua to see his Mummy and Daddy on the
way back to St Barts, Anguilla and St Martin. We have not seen him for
nearly 18 months but we could see Artemis in St Christophe Harbour on St Kitts
on the AIS and we communicated by Skype.
A most unusual weather pattern then
developed with virtualy no wind except in squalls and there has been an enormous
amount of rain, for several days and only in the Guadeloupe to Antigua
area. The decks have been well washed with fresh water. Our errant
watermaker is back in service again so generous showers are now the norm again
which are needed in the now pretty hot weather.
Antigua Sailing Week has now started and with it
has appeared a band of Plymouth bretheren (small b) who have chartered a
race boat for the event. Two anaesthetists, one plastic surgeon, two
GPs, a vet and various non medical supporting cast. We had dinner with
them last night and caught up with all the home gossip and NHS
politics!
 The Plymouth bretheren and us..
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