Antigua --English Harbour--10th-20th April
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Sat 8 May 2010 23:03
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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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