Christmas greetings from Antigua

Oriole
Sun 25 Dec 2005 22:52
The final leg of the trip up from Trinidad was another fast and furious sail
with regualar rain and wind squalls bearing down on us from the east in
typcal winter trade wind weather.  Andrew appeared on the dock in English
Harbour when John went ashore to clear Customs and we backed into a slot in
Nelson's Dockyard for the Christmas week. 
   
          
 
                    Oriole in Nelson's Dockyard for Christmas
 
We are surrounded by yachts doing
the round the world Blue Water Rally, who seem to think the world revolves
around them rather than the other way around, but they will be off on the
next leg of their Cook's Tour very soon.  With the aid of some spare parts
from the UK by courtesy of Peter Price the outboard now runs perfectly and
long may it do so.  It is very difficult to get specialised spare parts here
and it is not surprising as the yacht agents charge about £50 to clear a
small parcel through Customs, so there is little incentive to keep things on
the shelf!  But we are not complaining the sun is shining and the
temperature outside is 27 degrees C and rising rapidly as the sun comes up.
Andrew is busy networking among the vast and beautifully groomed superyachts
which are here in large numbers.  They get bigger and better every year and
are a great spectacle.  The Dockyard Party starts soon which is a charity
event with vast quantities of champagne flowing (well it LOOKS like
champagne). 
 
   
 
                                          Not quite sober.
 
After that we are joining some friend for Christmas Lunch.  If
we are still sufficiently sober we will add some photographs before we send
this off.  A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS.