Back on the Tilly Mint.
Tillymint.fortescue
Wed 14 Dec 2011 23:11
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Back on the Tilly Mint... again ! Wow ! Looking
even more prisitne than ever and it didn't take long to spot why: 24-hour,
round-the -clock devoted care from Bill and Nathalie, the on-board "crew", a
term that doesn't do them justice. "Captain Bill" and " Chef Nathalie" even
managing to keep the oh-so-demanding Herb happy, something that not many can lay
claim to.... but back to the beginning...
I know it's Wednesday, and I know we landed in
Antigua on Sunday but, when the cold and grey of England's December is suddenly
replaced by the bright humidity of 28 degrees in Antigua, you tend to forget the
presence of the blogging email opportunities.
Twelve years since I was last in Antigua, still as
nice... the Caribbean band welcoming you on the runway ( don't often see that at
Heathrow), and the immigration / passport queue, seemingly still as long as last
time. Luckily, we were off the plane pretty sharpish and got in the middle of
the queue - that saved us 30 minutes - but, unluckily, one slight error on the
forms and we had to go to the back of the queue, which cost us 2 days, or so it
seemed.
A quick hop in the taxi and arrival at Falmouth
Harbour, just after the end of charter week so all the pontoons were laden with
superyachts and cruisers, none so sleek as the Tilly Mint. A warm welcome from
Bill & Nathalie, a push to early beds for Jaz & Herb, about to learn the
effects of a 4-hour time zone change, and a fabulous meal on the warm deck of
the boat. What a start.
Captain Bill's skills were given early testing as a
reverse departure between 3 mega-superyachts saw beads of brow sweat on the
guests but no need to worry.. out into the bay and a lunch / swim combi at
anchor was a fabulous start to the holiday. With no set plans, we took the
crew's advice and moved gently round to anchor overnight in Carlisle Bay, alone,
with one other yacht and 27 million flying ants that seemed ( note to David
Attenborough) to love LED deck lights.
An early -morning departure across the seas to
Barbuda was the next day's plan. The children were keen to swim off the
boat again .. NOW ! but were pacified by the promise that it was only a
short sail " a bit like going to Studland". Jumping fish, turtles in the water
and, just as Bill was explaining how Booby birds would dive and catch a fish to
be robbed in mid-air by the bandit-like Frigate birds, so said Booby caught a
fish and was mugged at 50 feet by the nearest Frigate.
Amazing.
Think of a picture postcard desert island and
you will have a good idea of what Barbuda looks like. Low-lying, about the
height of a palm tree, endless beaches and very little in the way of human
presence. Wow ! Anchored off, no other yachts and the children were
soon getting their debut snorkeling lessons from Cap'n Bill. Christine and
myself , too.. and who put that reef there ? Within 5 minutes, a stingray and a
rare Spotted Eagle ray and , no flying ants, a satisfactory snorkeling
experience if ever there was one.
Looking forward to dinner.......
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