Antigua
Moonbeam
David and Lynn Wilkie
Mon 21 Feb 2011 01:43
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17.00.264N
61.45.657W
Wednesday morning we left Deshaies at 06.00 and
headed North hoping that the forecast Easterly winds would hold out long enough.
As we headed North we stayed dry but astern the rain came in from the East and
the wind backed North so despite beating to windward we could not quite lay our
course.
We passed two large whales; one heading north, one
south; both about the same length as Moonbeam and one was only about 20 metres
away! (were we on a whaleway line?) Luckily the wind veered again and we sailed
in the sunshine back on course. After having to alter course to avoid being run
down by an 80' Oyster with nobody on watch we anchored in Freeman's Bay, English
Harbour at 14.00 hrs; we had current against us the whole way and had logged 48
miles when the actual distance is only 42!
It was good to be back anchored here where we have
previously been with "Amadea II" about 16 years ago. Nelson's Dockyard continues
to delight and 'checking in' was much friendlier than in the past.
 Approaching English
Harbour Shirley
Heights from Moonbeam www.shirleyheightslookout.com
  Copper and Lumber Hotel www.copperandlumberhotel.com
Pillars of old sail loft at Admiral's Inn www.admiralsantigua.com
  
 The schooner 'Ellen' built in 2009!
  "Leopard 3 "
At anchor in English Harbour overlooking Montserrat
The position we are anchored in allows us to watch
all going on and the benefit of lovely sunsets to the west. The beach is a short
swim away and in the evening we hear the steel band music coming from Shirley
Heights on the hill above us. One day we had lunch with John and Chris from
"Oriole" RCC who were heading back south.
As usual there were lots of interesting yachts
everywhere and we walked to Falmouth Harbour where the big yachts are over
shadowed by "Maltese Falcon"- which if anybody wants to charter her- costs over
300,000 euros per week!
Monday sees the start of the RORC Caribbean 600
race so there are plenty of hi-tec race boats preparing for the start. www.caribbean600.rorc.org
Friday evening we enjoyed a seafood BBQ ashore in
the dockyard which was a lot of fun and a superb atmosphere.
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