We thought that we would not cross from Guadeloupe to Antigua until 2^nd January as the weather was not really good enough.   It was still not the best weather when we did make the crossing, with waves from a 4 metre sea breaking over us on 3 occasions, and the wind often at 35 knots in the early part of the passage.   However, the sun was shining and we were well reefed so we carried on.  It was not one of the best Caribbean sails!  We arrived in English Harbour, Antigua just after lunch and dropped an anchor just of the beach – and the Calabash beach bar!   We cleaned the boat, as best we could, and hoped for another rain shower that would wash a lot of the dried sea-salt off the decks and rigging.

 

John and Sue, some good friends of ours had sailed up to Antigua ahead of us on their boat Swagman, and we ended up having a late evening on board Talulah where we swopped stories of the miserable crossing of the gap between Guadeloupe and Antigua.    But the miserable bits were soon forgotten and we laughed and joked about it all!

 

Next day in Antigua see us doing a little tour of Nelson’s dockyard, buying some spares for the boat, and preparing her for the haul-out of the water and onto the ‘Hard’ at Antigua Slipway, where she will spend the next couple of months until we see her again and put her back in the water.   It’s kind of sad to be leaving her again.  She is a good boat, kind to us in rough weather, and fast when we want her to be.   Comfortable either sailing or lying at anchor, and businesslike when we being sailed and handled.

 

We leave her ashore chocked up on blocks of wood on the 5^th Jan.   Anette and I go for our last meal ashore in English Harbour – at “Catherines Café” – a great French restaurant right on the water, and only about 25 metres from where Talulah is parked.   The get a taxi to the airport.

 

What next….? Not sure yet.   We have tickets to come back to Antigua to put Talulah back in the water again, and we hope that we will use them soon.   There are 3 plans at the moment.  Plan A is to bring her back to Europe in late May or early June.   Plan B is to go out and sail her more in May, and then leave her in Antigua for the Hurricane season, and Plan C is to sail her south in May, and again leave her in Grenada for the Hurricane season.    The location of Talulah really depends on what we want to do at the end of the year if we leave her in the Caribbean.   Sail further west or sail to Cuba and Hispaniola……..not sure yet……..

 

 

The anchorage just off Deshais in Guadeloupe…..a very sleepy place, but good protections from the easterly winds!

 

 

Looking into the anchorage at Deshais, Guadaloupe

 

 

Beach Bar at Guadeloupe

 

 

Terrible photo of the Green Gecko that’s been our ‘Buddy’ since Grenada.   We caught him, took him ashore then let him free…!

 

 

Nelsons Dockyard at English Harbour, Antigua

 

 

Talulah ‘parked up’ ashore at Antigua Slipway…..just 25 metres from a Chandlers and two restaurants!....how great is that…?

 

 

The last view over the Coach-Roof of Talulah across to Nelsons Dockyard

 

 

The Marina at Nelsons Dockyard in Antigua