Bliadhna Mhath Ur
Rhiann Marie - Round the World
Stewart Graham
Wed 6 Jan 2010 23:21
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A very happy new year to all our family,
friends and special wishes to all the team at Gael Force. We wish you all a
happy, healthy and prosperous 2010!
We are now back down in Antigua at 17:01.27N
061:46.55W in the hope that a few of the larger mega yachts that were
here at the charter boat show in December will have left, which avoids us
feeling like a tender to some of
them.
After Christmas on the 27th while still in the
British Virgin Islands we picked up our good friends from the airport in the
rib. You see we were anchored not far from the airport at Marina Cay the
home of Pussers Rum and it was just a short ride to the beach running along
side the airport in the rib. It was a bit of a surprise for our guests to
have a rib directly to the yacht from the airport.
Our cruise took in Norman Island, Sopers Hole,
White Bay, Sandy Cay and Great Harbour in Jost Van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay
before a wild time at the world famous Old Year party at Foxy's which was
great craic. But the anchorage was jam packed and when we found ourselves a good
clear spot in the deeper water further out the bay we thought we had enough
shoulder room and clear water round the boat - however another 4 or 5 boats
proceeded to anchor around us one of which I had to ask to let out all his
chain to drop down out of our swing pattern. However he did not take all my
advice and I was woken up with him swinging into us very early in the morning to
which he promptly go up hauled his anchor and sped off without so much as
engaging eyeball contact with us. Only after he left did I discover the damage
he had done. It was a Sunsail Boat called "Bloggs Farm" chartered by an
American called Ryan, so if any of you know him let me know because he owes us a
few quid.
After Foxy's the incredible Baths at Vigin
Gorda which are amazing and which we have visited many times, but
was great to show our friends. then onto Gorda Sound where the McBrides tought
Craig and I to wakeboard. Our 30HP Honda engine on the rib was enough to
wakeboard off and provided fantastic entertainment particularly watching Amy and
Luke McBride boarding. Luke even got a cat whistle off a supermodel on a
superyacht (and I dont mean his mother).
From there we went off through the reefs south of
Branson's Necker Island, with a night departure at about 2000 and arrived
in St Barts at first light. On entering the channel we first came past Le
Grand Bleu - 300 odd foot of Abramovitch's loose change - then the serious
guys, some who had helicopters on the back of the boat and looked like Stealth
bombers, anchored up near Gustavia. We anchored up in Looserville just on the
edge of the harbour with the normal people. Inside the harbour was the
Norman Foster designed motor yacht and also the mega sailing yacht "Baracuda"
with its enormous purple sails all quite surreal.
After St Barts we made another night passage to
Antigua and here we are!
I have also recieved numerous complaints about the
lack of blogging but there is only so much you want to know about beaches, rum
and palm trees. I will maybe try to return to politics and economics or some
serious business ideas. I'm currently scheming and looking
for some project to run while we are undertaking this
voyage.
First we have to have an 18th Birthday party for
Rhiann who is 18 on the 7th of January and we have to try and get home for a
week or so for some business and a seasonal detox............. sometime.
Speak soon (ish) when we will start planning for
our South American adventure and Panama transit.
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