Antigua--English Harbour 21st April -- Ist May
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Sat 8 May 2010 23:29
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Well life at English harbour has been work and
play.
We have been here longer than intended having our genoa
checked and strengthened for the return Atlantic trip, the same with the spray
hood, new batteries ordered from the US which arrived on 'Caribbean ' time and
finding good experienced crew for the traditionally more difficult
return voyage .
Staying here for longer has sadly meant we haven't seen
Antigua's beautiful bays and anchorages but with every negative comes a
positive. Our pleasure has been meeting and getting to know a few of the local
people here in Nelsons Dockyard. A guy called Sherwin is the main dock master.
He is in his early twenties and despite only having the job for 3 years is
excellent at mooring boats and organising things---including Eric Clapton's
lovely motor yacht. Eric has been regularly cycling around the dockyard with a
child, possibly his daughter.
Another great character that all the sailing visitors here
would know is Mrs. Baultimore. A lady in her 80's who sits on a bench like
the Queen mother in bright elegant dresses and hats---busy watching new boats
arrive and 'hustling (local saying) for laundry---usually before your
lines are fixed to the dock. Poor Sherwin is trying to talk to people on channel
68 to guide them to a mooring whilst Mrs. Baultimore listens in ,waiting to make
another business transaction. Poor Sherwin suffers major feedback through
his and her radio as she stands behind him calling to the yachts---- could
only happen in the Caribbean!!
She reminds me of Mrs Doubtfire-- and so the story of our
arrival here in Antigua earlier this year in immigration comes full
circle.
There are many other characters here,too many to
mention---- including a lovely guy called Franklin who owns and runs the
sail loft and did an excellent job with our sails--- and races too with the
Prime minister of Antigua.
The high light of our last week has been the Antigua race
week and a weekend visit from our friend Alisdair. Race week has been fun
but again a lot smaller than we anticipated. Probably approx 120 boats at a
guess large and small taking part and lots of crew flying in to charter
yachts--- all having a great time seeing the island and competing in a nice
event. It is a great holiday experience for people to sail in the sunshine in a
regatta where you sail around the island and various courses, stopping at
different resorts and parties each evening.
We had a lovely time with Alisdair, showing him the
sights, grazing through restaurants and punches culminating in a great evening
at Shirley Heights where we enjoyed the 'jump up' and met and chatted to Peter
Harrison the gentleman who was responsible for the huge funding and
motivation of the last GBR challenge for the Americas cup.
The atmosphere has been good and the prize giving last
night bought to a close the last day. Lots of crews are flying home today and
boats beginning to leave plus others setting off for the Atlantic. A local lady
told me that the Antigua Classic and Race weeks feel as if 'a tap is
turned on and then the plug pulled out'. Crowds arrive and then disappear
and local life resumes.
Today Saturday we have a carnival in the dock yard,
glorious steel bands, carnival girls on stilts, clowns and great simple 'village
fayte' qualities. We are enjoying our last few days and savouring the visual
sights, sweet earthy vegetation smells, colour, music, sunshine and atmosphere
of the Caribbean.
We have had such a great time----- it has exceeded all
expectation and we will be sad to leave.
One thing has changed, I will be sailing home with Tony.
We were short of experienced crew, however I am now looking forward to the
challenge and the pleasure of sailing into the Azores and back to Mazarron,
Spain. It will be good to do the full circle.
We are really pleased with our crew, we have
Tony, and our friend John, myself , a really nice German guy and we are
priviledged to have a single handed Atlantic rower as our 5th crew
member.
Bye for now, we are off to join the carnival.
Photos of Alisdair and ourselves, our friend Sherwin and
the carnival
love to all
Tina and Tony x x
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