Back in the Atlantic
ALICE'S ADVENTURES
ANDREW AND CELIA SHARPE
Sun 1 May 2011 09:48
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After a quick walk up Guys Trail at Bitter End which has
great views of Saba Rock and Necker, we fuelled up and went back over to Trellis
Bay. A lovely sail back and Emma, Charlie and James all tried their hand
at helming and did very well. Charlie and Emma left that afternoon to go
back to Antigua. George then met up with Chiara and went over to Nanny Cay
and James stayed to keep us company! George and James had a 7am flight to
Antigua so we were all at the airport on Beef Island, Tortola at 05.30. As
they checked in we saw there was a television with live CNN showing the Royal
Wedding. We have escaped all the hype and build up (although I did enjoy reading
the papers that George brought out last week). We said goodbye to George
and James who went on through immigration and we sat down to watch the wedding
from the point that the Queen arrived at Westminster Abbey until they all got
back to Buckingham Palace. What a wonderful spectacle and Kate looked
radiant.
We went for a walk and were still back on the boat by 8
o clock. 7 loads of laundry later Alice looked as though Widow Twanky had
gone to sea! Martin and Elizabeth had no trouble finding us in the bay
later in the morning!! We had planned to leave the BVI to head for Bermuda
alongside them on 1st May. However weather patterns further north
suggested that it may be better to get on our way sooner. So the washing
was put away (it dries very quickly in this sun and wind) and we made our way
over to Spanish Town to check out, buy gas and go to the supermarket.
Martin and I went to do the customs clearance only to be told by a Port
Authority Officer that they were shut today as it was Prince William"s
wedding. Now what? The officer was extremely helpful and rang
a few people for us. Within half an hour someone came who could do the
clearances for us very quickly and the cost was still just 5 US$ per boat
(strange then that it is 20US$ per person when you fly out!). Andrew and
Elizabeth went to get the gas which involved getting a taxi to a remote place in
hillbilly land where the chap had to be woken up to come and fill our
cylinders from his tank. By the time they got back to the marina,
Martin and I were at the Bath and Turtle outside bar watching the highlights of
the wedding on the TV. So they joined us for a drink there too. The
supermarket was depleted but as we havent been very hungry so far I'm sure we
have enough. On the way back to the boat we saw Bonobo and caught up
really briefly with David, great to see him again.
We left at 6pm. Sails were up straight away,
supper eaten and then it was dark. Our first night at sea without
crew. It is 835 miles from the BVI to Bermuda. For the first 36
hours we have had a great sail. The wind has been on the beam so we have
been on a starboard tack with full main and genoa up most of the time and
averaging 8 knots. The trade winds have appeared at last! The
winds are due to ease and then may go round on the nose (I hope not) so we are
making the most of it now. Caduceus is about a mile away from us and we
speak to them every 3 hours. Rainmaker left a bit before us and we have
been speaking to them too and all pooling our different weather
information. Looking forward to seeing Bermuda having heard so much about
it. The sea has calmed down a lot now and I might even have some breakfast
today! Not sure coming north is such a good idea - last night I wore a
fleece and tonight I have a jacket on too. These things have not been worn
for ages!
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