Sliding on to Tortola to meet HMS Benelux
A year afloat: to the Caribbean and back
Sam and Alex Fortescue
Sun 27 Mar 2011 04:24
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18:25.51N
64:37.01W
After two days of lazing around in the Baths on
Virgin Gorda, we've decamped to Tortola to meet Alexis Rita, Ian and the rest of
the regatta crew. Ian saw his new 54 foot boat for the first time, decked out
completely in Sunsail colours and looking very shiny and new. We're not quite
sure how berthing will work with 19 people involved, but no doubt these things
will become clear in time. There's a shakedown / learn-what-button-does-what
cruise planned for tomorrow to a bay round the corner on the north coast. We're
not sure if Summer Song will be accompanying 'Los Escapados', but it seems
unlikely that she would keep up with a 54 footer. Still, with Frist Mate Biffle
at the helm, it's possible. Meanwhile, Alexis and Rita have brought us team
shirts to wear, so we're all togged up for the actual racing, which
begins on Tuesday. It seems almost inconceivable that we could have met
Alex's dad 4,000 miles from home by travelling at a steady 5 miles an hour in
the wrong direction, while they buzzed over at 500 mph this afternoon. But
that's exactly what we've done, and hellish exciting it all is
too...
View from the cockpit over breakfast
 The Baths, Virgin Gorda
  Some of the best four-point floating ever captured
on camera...
  Turquoise waters...
 The Whale Rock
  Washing day...
 Denizens of Road Town, Tortola
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