17:04N 061:53W Jolly Harbour
Wind Charger
Bob and Elizabeth Frearson
Wed 2 Jan 2013 01:04
We slept reasonably well last night despite the Atlantic style roll, I
thought that it was too much rum, and arose in good spirits to set off for
Antigua. Can you believe it, the wind had shifted around and was once
again smack on our nose. Why does this always happen to us? We zig
zagged across, riding a choppy sea with 18 knot winds blowing us along nicely at
a steady 6 knots. Breakfast was served on cook’s favourite tack but lunch
was abandoned on the basis that no one really wanted anything other than to
nibble at to quell the rising nausea. It was Stuart’s turn to win the chunder
challenge today. Pop was very reluctant to drink any water because it
would inevitably mean a nauseous visit below. As a medic she should know
better!
We arrived at Jolly Harbour, anchored in the outlying bays,at 3pm where
cook cracked open all the eggs for a giant scramble, served with smoked salmon
because Antigua is after all rather sophisticated after our previous
islands. The four “children” then pottered ashore to choose a restaurant
for dinner while Bob and I chilled peacefully with our Kindles and admired the
beautiful view from behind closing eyelids.
We were getting a bit concerned as to what the four children were up to as
we had expected them back in daylight when suddenly a pitiful Francesca
clambered up the steps to announce that the dinghy had deflated itself on their
return journey and she and her escort, Stuart, had only just made it back as it
had gradually sank from under them, they had left Katie and Pop ashore to cut
down on the number of rather long haul journeys, the bay was rather more
outlying than we had realised. Bob the hero immediately diagnosed
the problem by the light of a torch and got the puncture repair outfit out
again.
This conundrum, on a bank holiday where there were no water taxis and no
one official to help, was resolved by Pop and Katie buying a ride with a very
kind and helpful (and loud) American couple for the price of a gin and tonic
having turned down the offer of overnight accommodation from the ever so helpful
barmen.
Rather than the planned fancy restaurant we are now sitting down to Fray
Bentos steak and ale pies, a relic from the Atlantic crossing that need using
up, but they do make very good comfort food.
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