I guess that this blog probably needs to start off with an apology for taking so long to update our site.

 

As planned (and with about 10 other yachts) we left Deshaies (Guadeloupe) at dawn, and sailed into a brisk wind and large sea which stuck with us all the way to the entrance of English Harbour.

 

We moored up stern-to the restored 18th century harbour wall, alongside a German and an Austrian yacht.  HM Antigua Naval Yard was built in English Harbour from 1725 onwards, as the major base for the English fleet in the Caribbean.  Chosen because of its shelter from hurricanes.  It was a major working dockyard until the end of the 19th Century, when it was abandoned by the British. It fell into decline until taken over by an Englishman in the 1950s, who restored, and developed it as a base for yachting, and a national park - calling it Nelson's Dockyard - as Nelson served their as a Captain in his 20s.  It is, today, one of the centres for Caribbean yachting, and over the next few days we met several friends from the ARC, including the British Army racing yacht - British Soldier (who's crew we had to dinner one night).

 

The downside of being moored in such a historic place was the bus loads of cruise ship passangers, who inspected us everyday, watching our every move; and also the incredible price tag that was attached to everything - including removal of rubbish.

 

We spent the next few days recovering and preparing for the arrival of Tom and Carol (cleaning/shopping), getting our washing done, exploring St Johns (the capital of Antigua), and enjoying being alongside, for the first time since Martinique.  We are still on Antigua - more to follow.....

 

Ross, Alastair, Alex