Port St Charles, Barbados

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Tue 20 Jan 2009 10:01
13:15.601N 59:38.741W
Arrived at 2030UTC yesterday. No room to go alongside, so we were directed to anchor & dingy in to clear customs (once anybody bothered to answer their radio!). After anchoring, we inflated the dingy but couldn't get the outboard started, then it got dark. I cooked a mega-curry onboard and we all had a few drinks (not that many, actually). Today I'll go in and clear so we can all get ashore. Moonshiner was alongside the refuelling pontoon but for some reason we couldn't go alongside them. We're all still speaking to each other so the trip must have been OK!
Speaking of the trip, I haven't worked out the final mileage travelled, but it was around 2735nm, not too far off the planned route of 2691. It took 20 days and 6 hours, which was a bit slow, an approximate average of 135nm per day or 5.6kts. We had a few minor problems, but apart from the water-maker not working nothing major. The plan, such as it is, is to clear in this morning, see if we can take on some water then have a walk. Tomorrow (21st) is a public holiday so maybe a good day to sail down the coast to Carlisle Bay (about 12 miles or so) where we can get our laundry done, buy various 'bits' to replace the breakages and have a look around the island. 'Da Boyz' need to organise their tickets home.
Oh yes, it's been raining for a couple of hours, just for a change.