What do we do?
Oriole
Sun 26 Jan 2014 22:43
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Falmouth Harbour,
Antigua. Sunday
26th Januaary
2014.
17:01.11N 61:46.26W
From Dominica we have had text book
tradewind sailing with 15 to 20 knots of wind on the beam with not such
enormous seas and Oriole has flown. We arrived here on
Wednesday.
At 0630 every morning, just as is is
getting light, John is roused from his nocturnal reveries and the day begins
with tea in bed for the mate and coffee for the skipper. By the time the
caffeine has taken effect it is time for the morning long range SSB radio net
for which he is normally net contoller. This is a long establish net for
mermbers of the Ocean Cruising Club and now includes the Royal Cruising Club and
Cruising Club of America. For up to half an hour members call in for a
chat and an exchange of information from as far north as the Bahamas (very occ
asionally) but regularly from the Virgin Islands and in the south as far as
Venezuela for those brave or foolish enough to risk going there. Over the
years the net has found lost members, helped those with problems or in
distress, (fortunately only moderate distress), informed on security issues, and
it has served as a forum to get members together who otherwise would not know
that they were in the same area. Sunday morning is rest day and everyone,
but particularly the net contoller, can have a lie in!
 "There must be someone wanting to talk
to me".
In Dominica we spent three days
meeting the speaker and caterer for a lunch and a four day yacht
meet or rally we are organising to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of
the Ocean Cruising Club in March. We re-visited the chosen venue in the newly
and beautifully restored 18th Century Fort Shirley overlooking Prince Rupert's
Bay.
While in Antigua there is always
something going on. Falmouth Harbour, where we are anchored, and English
Harbour which is ten minutes walk away are full of yachts from modest 30 footers
to 200 foot plus mega yachts and the bars and restaurants which service the
crews do a brisk trade in the season. Yesterday the new Watersports Centre
for youth sail training opened, next weekend is the Superyacht Cup which we will
report in due course and the with comings and goings of yachts and crews there
is always something of interest.
 All quiet and Sunday morning, everyone
sleeping it off!
 Even Nelson's Dockyard is
deserted..............
 ..............but it is really getting
smartened up.
Normally we have Andrew and more
recently Caroline to visit, but they are in the UK while Andrew does the course
and exams for his 3000 ton ticket. However we were able to meet up for
dinner with John's godson Peter who is here as the trouble shooter for a new
enormous superyacht. There are always friends old and new in the bars and
coffee shops and around the place in general to chat with, so in that respect it
is little different from home. The invitation for sundowners on another
yacht or on Oriole is a regular occurrence. At the risk of
upsetting those at home we would point out that on most days the weather
here is idyllic, with clear or partly cloudy skies, a brisk cooling tradewind
and an occasional short rain squall. Visits to the beach for a refreshing
swim or off the boat are of course obligatory. On the dark side there
is always some boat maintenance to be done or something to repair or replace. We
are not idle!
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