Saturday  Nov 19th ……   Barbados 13 05.5N 59 36.52W

Today’s blog by David

Our approach to Barbados fitted into what has become a familiar pattern. We had spent the whole crossing trying to avoid bad weather but as we approached Barbados so too did the weather. We spent the last 48 hours of an uneventful crossing dodging in and out of squalls.  This one seemed to have our name on it:

Finally though, after sailing only 2,079 miles to cover a 2,033 mile rhumb line (not bad given all the zig-zagging we were doing) in just over 12 days, (not exactly a high speed crossing, but a comfortable one!)  we finally made landfall in   Bridgetown :

We actually had to dock in the main harbour, in and among all the cruise-liners – there were four in port. The largest, P&O’s Ventura, had 3,306 people on board! (that might include the crew).

David went ashore to use his customary diplomacy to make peace with the Port Health, Customs and Immigration authorities.  About one and three quarter hours later, he returned triumphant with all the necessary permits and papers for us to stay in Barbados for the weekend. 

As soon as we finished with officialdom, we had outstayed our welcome the Port and had to move out to the anchorage as the sun set:

While we celebrated with a bottle of champagne, the crew were not at all ready to party – we ate a simple meal and were in bed by 21.30! 

The rum punch had to wait until Saturday………….