We have had a great social time in Antigua - there are a number of boats in the bay who  have been here sometime too.  There first people we met were Tom and Abbi from the USA, in their yacht, Bloom, both retired and travelling for the next few years and we have had enjoyable evenings both here on Persephone and Bloom.    We have spent evenings on the beach barbecuing with the various  Americans who took control (sic) and built a stone fire place and invited as many people to join them on the beach an hour or so before sundown.     We have also had a great evening in a local restaurant where crew members could turn up with their instruments and entertain the rest of the clientele.  (Nigel did not have his bass guitar with him!)  We had the pleasure of a great set of musicians, American and Canadian, accompanied by Joanna, also Canadian, who seems to be working her way around the world singing!  We were again in the minority and were sat with mostly Americans.  Karen was sat next to a lady who, coincidentally she had met on the beach a few days earlier, and  caused us  a little amusement as her name was the same as a previous name held by Persephone - ' Bonnie Blue'.   

One of the highlights of our 'Entertainment Fest' was the long walk up the rocky pathway to the top of the bluff known as Shirley Heights.    We had decided to walk to the top with Nicola and Stevie,  'The Scots' anchored  nearby  - who are enroute to Australia.   After a fairly hot and steamy climb to the top we were rewarded with the most fantastic views over the two harbours of English Harbour and Falmouth.  It was definitely worth the 1 mile  scramble.      As were enjoying a well earned beer or two, the steel band struck up adding to the magical atmosphere.    They played magnificently for an hour or so  until sundown and  as we stood on the edge of the bluff, rum cocktails in hand, in awe of the magnificent sunset, we thought how lucky we were to be there.     After the steel band had finished we were treated to a great performance from a reggae band and we were delighted to see that Joanna was there too, playing her flute along with them, it really worked too!      We also met and chatted to a BBC news reader who was on holiday with her family…….

We also had the pleasure of meeting up with Rob Denning, another Sigma sailor, who happens to be over here at the same time on business.  He has a beautiful house in the hills which  is designed like a traditional sugar mill with fantastic views over the valley. We had visited him for 'sundowners' earlier on in the week.    We also met up with Rob at his home again in order to try and do a Skype link up with the Sigma 38 Prize Giving Dinner.   However, despite the previous dry runs which were successful, on the night was a different story.   We could see them and they could see us but we couldn't hear them.  Never mind it was fun anyway.   Rob Lee, the Class  Chairman, had wanted to bring us on line so we could be part of their special night - especially as we had just found out that day that we were in fact 3rd in our class in the ARC race  and not 4th as originally advised!  We ended the evening with a great supper down in Falmouth where Rob's daughter Bridget joined us.

We have enjoyed spending time in English Harbour and time on the beach (and Karen has finally managed to master snorkelling!) but we are now looking forward to moving on…….     We at least now have a tracking number for our solar panels so hopefully any day soon they will arrive.  We have really found it a chore trying to keep the batteries charged enough whilst at anchor without them.  Having to run the engine for an hour or so each day.   We do have a wind gen but of course, its not always windy when you need it!    However, Stevie and Nicola happened to have a spare panel and has lent it to us until our new ones arrive and this is indeed helping our power management.

Hopefully our next blog will be from either another part of Antigua or indeed another Island.