Arrived in Antigua at about 1400 courtesy of BA. The usual average of averages of flights. The two stewards were obviously unhappy with their lot and did not manage to break into a smile once on the trip that I saw! Neville Bailey picked me up from the chaos of St John Airport – normally an excellent place but goes into overload if more that two flights arrive at once and we had four on the ground at the same time. It was good to get back to the Catamaran Marina and meet all the old friends. Osprey was in great shape and Alico have done a fantastic job of re-decorating the cabin sole and pilot house. Unfortunately I now have to re-mount all the fittings – from curtain rails and curtains to radios and compasses. About two days flat out is my best guess at present. As usual the freezer has shed its gas charge and I will have to get Absolute refrigeration the refill it and do another test for leaks. Their view is they all leak because of the boat movement but nevertheless it gets annoying. However if it holds up for three months at a time I guess that’s not too bad. Will have another go at it and maybe re plump it altogether when we are in Fort Lauderdale. Phin has moved Lions Whelp across to the yacht club as the Classic Regatta starts tomorrow and he is hoping to improve on his consistent second place. Not likely I guess unless he unloads the spare tones of anchor cable he has in the bows. Not sure I would want to risk the damage of racing millions of dollars of yachts so close to one another – close encounters are not just usual they are par for the course. Once I have the RIB in the water I will head across the harbour for a beer with Phin and his crew. With the yachts parked so tightly here getting the RIB in the water is a work of art but I will get Noel who skippers the Oyster 45 next door to me to give a hand. He is a great guy and has been keeping an eye on Osprey whilst I have been away. Just heard that Gareth’s visa for Australia has been approved so he will be relieved and now clear to fly on the 28^th to take up his new job in Sydney.