21st April

Osprey
John Bowering
Mon 21 Apr 2008 22:57
The reassembly of the interior is now complete although there is still a fair amount of smoke damage - staining to clean up on deck which I will get to shortly. Have now moved into servicing all the equipment so we are ready to move off at any time. Mainly zincs and fuel filters left. Have been in contact with Charles who is now planning to arrive in Antigua on the 10th May when we will head off north for the BVI and thence Turcs and Caicos Islands. Charles has nine day so rather than go for a fast run all the way to the Bahamas he will leave at the Turcs and Caicos Isl. This will enable a much more liesurely passage and the ability to stop overnight and sample to local delights. We will have the local divers give the boats waterline and bottom a scrub in about a week so we have a clean bum for the trip. Will leave it as late as possible as with the temperature here climbing towards the summer highs the growth comes back quit quickly. Went to the Maine party with Phin Sprague last evening and had a lot of fun. He had been racing Lions Whelp all day and unfortunatly his brother who was with them got his hand trapped in a winch and was medivaced out ending up with eight stiches in his hand. In his usual style Phin had brought in Lobsters and lobster soup from Maine so we all fed well. I also met up with a couple of old acquaintances - the Coopers - from Australia who now live on Nevis. They were en route to the UK and we decamped from the Maine party early for a quiet meal at the Captains Club. It was bucketting with rain this morning and with no wind it hung around. The racing started and was cancelled in short order for lack of motive power. Completed a minor stores shop whilst the rain was on having failed to do anything constructive over the weekend - a quick trip to Jolly Harbour which is the nearest supermarket - was competed in just over an hour by which time the rain had eased off but the humidity was skyrocketing. It has remained hot and humid all day and this evening I have the airconditioning running.