11 mile beach, Barbuda
Scott-Free’s blog
Steve & Chris
Sun 27 Mar 2011 03:03
17:37.74N
61:51.115W
Sunday 27th March
2011
Distance run: 35
nmiles
By 0715 on Friday we
were motoring out of Five Island Harbour and very soon had the full main and
genoa up and were sailing nicely towards Barbuda, a small island 30 miles to the
north of Antigua. It is a very low lying island, being a coral reef that
was pushed up out of the ocean - but not very far! Its highest point
measures 125 feet. It isn't visible until about five miles away, and then
it looks like a clump of trees sticking out of the sea!
James & Steve
decided to do some fishing on the way across, and the line had only been out for
10 minutes before there was a bite. James started to pull it in as we
slowed the boat down, and at one point it looked as if it might pull the fishing
rod bracket off the back of the boat! He continued to pull it in
slowly,but about halfway it suddenly became much easier to pull in, and when he
landed it we could see why - only the poor thing's head remained on the
line! Something had taken a liking to it and bitten it clean off just
behind its head.
James putting
the line out prior to
catching...
...a fish head!
Twice more the line
signalled it had a bite, but on both occasions whatever it was got away before
we could pull it in. It seems the fish head was the best we were going to
do that day, and we reeled the line in ready for our approach into the shallow
water that extends 7 miles off the south coast of Barbuda.
We felt our way in
and along the shore line of 11 mile beach, with the depth showing 1.2 metres
below the keel at one point and we held our breath until it slowly started to
get deeper again. The charts are not to be relied upon 100% as the
bottom shifts and coral grows, so a keen eye is needed at all times until deeper
water is reached. We found a beautiful spot well away from the other two
boats anchored off the beach and soon had the anchor down. This is the
most beautiful place we have anchored on our trip so far. There are
literally miles of unspoilt beach. After lunch we took the rib ashore and
went for a walk along the beach and found a jetty where we can get a water taxi
across the lagoon to the only town the next day. We swam and chilled out
on the beach, and kept pinching ourselves to make sure we weren't
dreaming. The only beach bar on the entire stretch of beach had closed up
for the day, so we went back to the boat for sundowners.
11 mile beach,
Barbuda
Yesterday
we went ashore for 10 a.m. to catch the water taxi across to Codrington and to
make enquiries about visiting the frigate bird colony. First we visited
the town, which is a small,sleepy village,where we bought fresh bread at the
'supermarket'. The school sign reads, " A sound education...makes an
intelligent nation". If only it were that easy.....
The school sign
in
Codrington,Barbuda
Codrington - complete with communication masts.
We then set off
across the lagoon in the water taxi to visit the frigate bird colony. Huge
numbers of birds nest in the clumps of mangrove trees that grow out of the
lagoon. They are clearly used to seeing people and don't bat an eyelid when you
get close. Mind you, by the time you do, the adults have taken to the
skies leaving the young to fend for themselves. (Sounds
familiar,kids!)
The water taxis are big, open, fibreglass lined wooden boats
with high bows. Frigate birds in the clumps
of mangroves...
...not in the least bit interested in
us!
Two males show off
their red throats. The white birds are the
young.
We returned to the beach for a drink before lunch of
spiny lobster eaten at the Out Bar, then back to the boat for a siesta followed
by James's first game of Mexican Train, which he very nearly
won!
Today we are spending a quiet day just enjoying the
surroundings before heading back to Antigua tomorrow.