Classics in Antigua
Irie
Sat 18 Apr 2009 02:15
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Position 17 00.62N 6146.65W Off Pigeon Beach
Antigua
Friday 17th April
Well, here we are anchored in a very familiar spot
some ten or eleven days after we left Rodney Bay. Irie had a good wash
and a polish while in the marina, courtesy of Charlie who was the first guy
on the boat when we arrived in 2006. Courtesy isn't necessarily the most
appropriate word as he's rather monosylabic and not cheap, but she's shining and
all the salt's gone. On Friday we spent a hot, noisy and eventually rewarding
day at the cricket. We had tickets for the party stand - music, crowd, impromptu
commentary, and all you can eat and drink, though no seats or shade The match
started late, which slowed things a little, but the crowd were well up for it
when England came in to bat, and Straus's early departure set the flags waving
and horns blowing. Mayhem followed each wicket, and lunch was a jolly affair,
though by then a few had succumbed to the heady atmosphere, or maybe it was
something in the water. Unfortunately the Windies never looked like making the
total, and as the required run rate soared, the party went a little limp. Still,
it was a good day with excellent banter and great to see England actually win
here.
We had a night in Martinique en route north
and then spent a pleasant few days in Les Saintes, swimming, and walking. While
there, we visited a boat called Skyelark, owned by Emma and Dan. Emma was the
instructor on my Yachtmaster course in Plymouth in 2004 and in this small
boating world, she recognised Irie in Rodney Bay and said 'Hi'. Skyelark is
a Skye 51, a US brand built in Taiwan in the mid 80's, and the couple run
transatlantic trips, with summers in the UK, and winters out here. She's a
lovely boat, well built and fairly rapid. After a week in the little island
group, on Sunday we completed the forty or so miles to Deshaies at the top of
Guadaloupe,a pretty harbour that we last visited with the Ramseys, and then on
Monday had a cracking sail in beautiful weather and 12 to 15 knots of wind on
the last leg to Antigua. Our time here coincides with Oyster week, Antigua
Classics and then Antigua week, so the place is stuffed with exotic boats. Today
was the first Classic race, and we had a grandstand view on aheadland fifteen
minutes walk from Pireon Beach. Last night we met Pete Green, who's going to
skipper the boat back. First impressions from our meeting in September last year
hold good, and he and his wife Liv, look like they'll be ideal for the trip
back.
Waiting for the umpires
 An easy sail - Guadaloupe hiding under the cloud
behind
 Classics on the way
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