Sunday 18th December - Anse La Barque Guadeloupe  16 05.3N 61 26.2W

Today's Blog by David

It has been a long three weeks in Antigua.  We have spent loads of dosh trying to keep everyone amused.  A Nissan Pathfinder car hire (seats seven), umpteen Pina Coladas (Happy Hour  17-19.00  5 days a week) and various beach trips, massages etc. We now feel we know Antigua REALLY WELL!  So it was with not a little relief that the crane came back yesterday hoisted the mast and a gang of about seven guys worked all day to put the boat back together.

They only work half days on Saturday but had agreed to work as long as necessary. And so it was that by about 15.00 they approached completion.  Now, in contrast to the street language in the UK (Innit?), the “F” word is a rarity in Antigua. In fact I don’t think I have heard it , save for the moment  I pointed out that the roof lining didn’t fit because the mast – as now replaced -  was about three inches further forward than it should have been.

The crane by this time had already packed up for the weekend and so they needed to  re-site the mast manually.  It was a process that it was best I didn’t watch, I was advised, and so I took the opportunity to go to English Harbour to “check out” of the country with the Customs and Immigration.

I have so far checked into and out of several ports. Simply checking out if this one (without harbour dues)  cost a total of US$270, including an Embarkation Tax of $15  per person for anyone arriving by plane and leaving by ship.  The Authorities in Antigua (including the National Park) have taken nearly $1,000 off us in the last three weeks.

Anyway- the rig was back in and we were ready to go, so this morning we were off!

Tonite – we are anchored in Guadeloupe on passage to the Iles Des Saintes.