Antigua --English Harbour--10th-20th April

Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Sat 8 May 2010 23:03
Antigua---English Harbour 10th --- 20th  April
 
On 10th April we sailed into Nelsons Dockyard and dropped the anchor going stern to the dock. This fulfilled a wish for Tony. We visited the dockyard in 2004 whilst on holiday after my Atlantic crossing. We looked at the yachts and thought how great it would be to see our boat there but didn't really have plans at that time.
 
Nelsons dockyard has lots of history and has a good atmosphere. On the 11th April we also fulfilled another wish, we went up to an old lookout fort called Shirley Heights where people party and enjoy the view.
It is a really stunning view of both the English and Falmouth Harbours ( or natural inlets ) and traditionally a view point to watch the sunset. We arrived early as the sun sets around 6.30-7pm here at the moment. So at 5pm we sipped our rum punches listened to the great steel band and marveled at the view with little Tioram sitting stern to the dock way below us. I have to say it bought a few tears to my eyes to think how many miles she had sailed through seas and oceans to be there and how many years we had waited for the view.
Our thoughts turned to all our friends who helped us to make it all possible, sharing the sailing of Tioram on her adventures.
We are posting photos on this blog of the view.
 
We have also been privileged to be here whilst some of the remaining Atlantic rowers have arrived in Antigua from La Gomera in the Canaries. Having sailed the Atlantic twice  we cannot comprehend the massive achievement of the rowers both single and twin handed. The rowers have been arriving over the past 2 months.
We watched one day as Leo Rosette one of the oldest single handed rowers rowed into English harbour after just over 100 days at sea. The boats seem so small and insignificant despite being well designed. You can imagine the sight as we watched him make the last strokes, zig zagging across the harbour and a very thin, gaunt man got out of the boat onto shore steadied by on lookers. The other Atlantic rowers were there to meet him as well as a lot of Yachties who ran from boats to greet him. He looked around and saw his wife and the emotion was so special, they hugged and as on lookers we moved away so as not to intrude on a private moment. There were a few tears in fellow rower's eyes which said I know how it feels to be in safely and to have achieved so much. 
He received a great reception from the hotel staff here and was offered a cold drink and the pre requested Hamburger meal.
 
The other great event here is the Antigua Classic Regatta and the Race Regatta. The Classic regatta took place from the 15th- 20th April and was a great spectacle.
One of the things which has really surprised us is the small scale although gem like quality of the event. Nothing like the scale of Cowes week. Probably only 20% of the size of Cowes.
However, the most beautiful and spectacular boats of the gems of the Yachting world were here. The J classes, Velsheda and Ranger and many other smaller J's, sloops and schooners. Some around a hundred years old others almost new but built as replicas or to classic style designs. The beautiful people were crewing them with the New Zealand Americas cup guys in full flow and other top sailors. The small scale of the event means there are few spectators and so walking side by side along the pontoons is possible as well as sitting chatting or just enjoying the boats leaving/returning and of course partying. We walked straight into all the events enjoying free flowing rum punches and live bands---fab !!
 
Photos of Shirley Heights and the Classic Regatta below.
 
Love to all
 
Tina and Tony x x
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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