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.