12:52.73N 61:11.46W
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Fri 8 Jan 2010 16:30
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Mustique..
Hello again,
We hope you have enjoyed the extra photos we added
to the Atlantic blog. As you can see a good time was had by all partying at the
ARC events in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria-----also some more Atlantic crossing
photos and a few more St Lucia arrival shots and ARC party events.
Sailing seems like an interval between
parties-------hmmm although the Atlantic made us earn the treats this
time. Ironically this years ARC is now being muted as one of the fastest.
Traditionally boats head south till the butter melts near to the Cape Verdes and
then due west. The shortest route the rhum line across the Atlantic from east to
west is the straightest and more northerly route. We took the south route on the
Challenge yacht 5 years ago and benefitted from steady winds. This trip we
encountered high winds and confused seas whilst we heard tales on arrival in St
Lucia of people swimming off the back of boats mid Atlantic on the rhum line
north of us. It would have been foolish for any of us to have attempted even a
big toe !!!
Hay ho the joys of sailing----- a more northerly
route would have given us a kinder time and probably a faster time without
dodging squalls. The arrival in St Lucia was still a treat and we had a
good time with everyone until they sadly had to fly home on the 20th
Dec.
We left St Lucia --2 handed again--- and after
a lovely anchored evening in Rodney Bay we headed to the south of the
island to Vieux Fort near the famous Piton mountains. We had a couple of days
there and then sailed 50 miles past St Vincent to a Grenadine island called
Bequia. The sail was a delight and in the warm winds and crystal sea it
felt a million miles away from the distance of a uk channel crossing to
Cherbourg.
We by passed St Vincent as we and other boats were
told that it is not particularly safe to moor there and sadly there have been
some boats broken into.
Bequia however was lovely. A very small island with
one big bay called Admiral bay where we freely anchored--------picture Salcombe
with 200 boats----similar houses although caribbean style but with 28-30c and
turqouise greeny blue clear sea. Heaven.
We had New Years eve on the beach at a bar/ hotel
called Frangipani accompanied by a local steel band--- with a 12 year old lad
who was a complete star--------lots of people dancing bare foot on the
beach around local sleeping dogs who seemed oblivious to the
partying.
Few rum punches and pina coladas to celebratre 'Old
langs' played in steel band fashion.
Interestingly we saw Jude Law getting onto a small
day boat alonside us on a jetty next to our 3m dinghy as we loaded our
groceries--------------- !
We stayed for a week and met up with 2 other
ARC boats, Circus and Mabi Two who have now travelled with us to Mustique. We
are on a bouy now in Britannia bay Mustique. We had a good time on arrival at
Basils Bar frequented by the rich and famous including Mick
Jagger----- well until we arrived that is.
Tomorrow we intend to head off to the Tobago cays
approx 20 miles south of us. They are literally just proteceted anchorages in
reefs and are uninhabited so our blog will be quiet for a
while...........................
love to all
Tina and Tony x x x x
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