17 01 N 61 47 W
A most enjoyable Caribbean
winter has long ended and spring is well underway as the shower/rain activity
picks up a little. We are beginning the countdown to our Northbound passage to
Bermuda the end of this month of May as we chase the summer sun to the USA northeast
and the Canadian Maritimes. Our last cruising destinations are planned to be
Antigua > Barbuda > Nevis > Statia > St Maartens….where we
will provision and otherwise prepare for the 6 day passage to Bermuda
when the right weather window presents itself.
Since our last update, we took in some
great diving sites and wonderful anchorages from within the myriad of choices
in the British Virgin Islands….we think
we could have just stayed there indefinitely…so many lovely beaches and
over 60 dive sites! But, plans called for us to get back to the SouthEast to Antigua for the Oyster Regatta in mid-April. A terrific
time was had by all 6 of the race crew on-board….and Sea
Mist performed very well! After we blew a clew on the headsail ¾ of the way
through the first race…which knocked us out of that race and Race 2 later
the same day…..we effected sail repairs quickly that afternoon at the
sail loft in Nelson’s Dockyard and were back in the hunt the following
morning. Over the 3 remaining races, we placed 2nd in our class in
tow fo the races and came in first in the final race. VERY EXCITING…VERY
COMPETITIVE….perhaps a bit too much as an Oyster 72 T-Boned an Oyster 53
causing several hundred thousand dollars in Race 1; another Oyster 72 went
aground on a reef at a turning point in Race 2 with diabling damage to its
propeller shaft, prop etc; an Oyster 54 went agound briefly on the same reef
with minor underwater damage; some broken arms, serious rope burns and a fair
number of of equipment breakages like Sea Mist with a clew and others with
failed sheets, clews, etc. Definitely demanding racing and not for the weak of
heart.
Looking forward to a summer in the Northeast……hopefully
without too much fog!
Will check in again before the Bermuda passage.
