We are in the middle of Antigua race week here and the place is heaving – I can’t recall ever seeing so many yachts in one place, including Cowes. There are some wonderful combinations – there is one yacht called sisterhood manned by 7 women – probably in their late 20’s (not that I’m any real judge) and their berthing and unberthing antics keeps us all entertained twice a day as they leave and return from the races. It’s difficult to identify the skipper at these times and there seems to be a general meeting to decide each move! However they do seem to be doing rather well in the actual races. Today I finally finished cleaning up the boat after the smoke damage. It wasn’t until I got down in the dinghy and looked at the sides of Osprey that I realized how hazed the paintwork was from the smoke. It took a round of T cut followed by three coats of wax to get it back to normal. Had to elbow the adjacent boats out of the way the get it done. The sections nearest the waterline will have to wait until the boat is next hauled, however luckily this is the area least affected. The divers will be around next week to clean up the growth and replace the prop anodes. Patriot has now moved in on our Starboard side. She is a beautiful Maine boat with more varnish work than I care to think about. She is an old friend having been in Bermuda with us on the way South. Anita has now decided to join Geoff and I in the Turks and Caicos island so will have a great cruised through there and the Bahamas.