Heavy rain is not something you would associate with Barbados but as we closed  the Island after two weeks at sea, it was in abundance. The visibility was reduced to a few hundred yards and the wind blew in a variety of directions but none of them in the direction we wanted.

Squall management has dominated the last few days of our passage, day and night we searched the sky for the telltale signs of approaching wind, rain and associated crew activity. Radar provides some warning in that the rain is returned on the screen, these showers appear on the display as a “solid “object suggesting bizarre shaped Islands in the middle of the Atlantic. Night encounters provide the additional advance warning of squalls as the heavily laden rain clouds  block out the stars as they approach,  reminiscent of the arrival of the alien mother ship in the movie Independence day .

A call on Channel 16 to the signal station prompts the reply of the unmistakable Barbados accent, a lilting and occasionally high pitched and animated form of language.

We arrive at the Immigration pontoon, the rain has stopped but is replaced by a deluge of administration, form filling and respectful smiles and nods.  

All cleared in and a visit to Town - sounds and smells are almost overwhelming after 14 days out at sea. Hustle and Bustle as locals weave their way past pinked skinned tourists. 

The list of repairs and maintenance items for Stormbreaker has risen with the humidity but these will have to wait until our arrival in St Lucia a mere 120 miles downwind – for the time being we will relax on this coral Island and hope to experience the hospitality of probably the finest hotel in the Caribbean – Sandy Lane , St James .