May 24th Position 32:37.24N 64:40.18W
Symatchmaker
Mon 25 May 2009 14:14
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Day 7 Relaxing in Bermuda - At anchor in
Convicts Bay
Guest post by Captain's Mate, Jonathan
After six days at sea, yesterday was our day of
rest, cleaning, preparation and exploration.
In the morning, Matchmaker was given a clean and
polish by the ship's crew Chris, Jon, and Captain Pete. Mel and
Mick whizzed ashore in Mini M (Matchmaker's tender dinghy) to
raid the local supermarket for fresh produce and essentials for the next leg of
our voyage to Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
To celebrate Bermuda Day (it's their national
holiday today), flags were hoisted up Matchmaker's backstay
The view from the harbour master's tower was
something special - even he commented on the local VHF channel 27 and tried to
make us to stay an extra day. Matchmaker was the boat of St George's Harbour;
shiny, colourful and elegant.
A Matchmaker Club Salad (Bermuda style) was
prepared and served by Chris. And whilst the crew relaxed, Jon had his ritual swim and shave off the scoop using the
newly shined davits as his mirror.
After a productive morning and civil lunch, Captain Pete gave the crew a free day to chillax and
explore. Woo hoo!
Mick and Mel went off for a taxi tour of the
island; Jon read and swam; Chris terrorised the locals, zooming up and down the
Town Cut in Mini M; and Captain Pete with photographer aid Chris Dixon,
explored Alexandra Battery, which saw active duty until 1920.
In fact, coastal defense was a major feature and
fact of life in early Bermuda. The British felt compelled to defend themselves
from the French, Spanish and Americans through the century.
The Matchmaker team however had no enemy attacks to
worry about. That evening, they celebrated ashore and shared their findings from
the day, including:
- average property price on the island is $1
million
- the island is home to Michael Douglas and
Catherine Zeta-Jones, and John Travolta
- a loaf of bread is $6 but 0% tax on all income
- private Lear Jets are the main forms of
transportation
- tourism to the island is down by 25 per cent this
season
- Bermuda is Britain's oldest colony and is
self-governing
- The Islands consist of low-lying groups of small
coral islets, joined by causeways and surrounded by reefs
Hope everyone is safe and well, wherever you're
reading this!
S/Y Matchmaker.
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