It’s now Thursday 24^th April and we are motoring down the west coast of Dominica, there being not a breath of wind. We’re on our way back to St. Lucia to pick up the motley racing crew of ‘Smokey Bear’ who join us on the 27^th.

We raced on the Alden schooner ‘Heart’s Desire’ on each of the four races. The last one being abandoned as there was no wind. What a super experience it was. ‘Heart’s Desire’ has been owned by Glen for four years but has never been set up for racing. The ‘Topsail’ and ’Fisherman’ had never been up in Glen’s ownership and he wasn’t sure what shape they were in. Glen said that she didn’t beat to windward at all and preferred to run off on a reach. Step in Nick of Wylo II who is an expert in gaffers, his own boat being one. The practice day went well with numerous adjustments and tweaks having to be done to the rig to get her to go. The main one was moving the mainsheet right to the back of the boom to stop it from flexing like a fishing rod (the boom- not long replaced after a previous breakage). There were also adjustments to be made to the top of the foresail (not the jib) and to the staysail. Bev also got out the trusty sailmakers sewing machine and carried out some repairs to a new but poorly made jib. We performed better and better every day until the last race when we had her flying and going upwind rapidly and in the process soundly beating all of our competition. We finished 38^th overall but that is only half the story.

To be overtaken at fifteen knots by the big ‘J’ class boats ‘Velsheda’ and ‘Ranger’ is quite amazing and something that very few people will ever see. There were also huge 200’ topsail schooners at 2000 tons come flashing past at a turning mark leaving all the smaller boats without wind and in a washing machine like sea. The most photographed boat in this stunning line up of supermodels was ‘Old Bob’ the rattiest old ferro Colin Archer that you have ever seen, but with a super fun loving crew who when last in the fleet were cheered on by all the others as they sped past. We being one of the boats holding up a sign saying ‘Come on Old Bob’

The event was the friendliest sailing event I have ever attended and was like West Highland Week in the sun. John, who as on mainsheet at the back of the boat took some tremendous photographs which will be included in the next photo blog. Enjoy the photo’s For more Antigua Classics Week photo's look up     photoaction.com

Douglas.