We ran the obstacle course of ropes, derelict docks and buoys and clambered gingerly onto the cobbled together dinghy dock, which at least is vaguely in one piece these days, and headed into the only restaurant in Wallillaboubou Pirates Tavern.  We claimed a table, it was heaving, and chose from the Caribbean specialities on the menu.  Fran went for callaloo soup (deemed horrible to look at but delicious), Pop and I for the samosas (conch and chicken both very tasty, with a good after burn) and Bob for his fave prawn cocktail, the sauce served on the side in a rustic pot.  Our main course was creole fish all round with a selection of local veg, although Bob had actually ordered the grilled fish.  He manfully ate his way through it and we gobbled ours up, yum yum.  We were too full for pud but checked out the Pirates of the Caribbean video that was playing in a “cinema”, looked at the piratey artefacts and admired the tiny, tiny baby tortoises that for an unaccountable reason were in an open cardboard box just behind the main speaker that was blasting out reggae versions of Christmas favourites.

We planned to leave early so took to our rolly bunks and slept peacefully in the serenity of that lovely little bay.  The girls claimed they were going to take an early swim but it was a bit chilly when they awoke (relatively speaking).  We were the first out of the traps, most surprisingly, and headed off into the blue yonder which very soon turned grey.  It rained in an Englishy sort of way and while the others huddled under the pram I borrowed Fran’s super poncho which made me look like a red Bat out of Hell.  The bonus was the most superb double rainbow like a dome across the giant Caribbean sky.  Out of the lee of St Vincent the wind picked up, the mainsail was taken in a notch, both foresails went up and the wind got up Windy’s tail, with a toss of the mane and spurted forward.  We cantered over the waves, the wind gusting from 20 up to a peak of 30 knots, a tiny tiny triangle of mainsail and we still had to let out the main sheet to try and balance the wind and the waves.  It was fantastic.  Pop looked very comfortable on the sun deck and we had a lovely, lovely cobweb blasting sail.  Pop suddenly looked up and said “we are here already!” and indeed we were, it didn’t take long. 

We were greeted by Didi, a girl! She took us to her buoy and had us tidily tied up efficiently, with good grace before 11 am.  Didi was immediately in Bob’s good books when she asked “Is this a Swan?” a mistake that he loves people to make. 

After our arrival beer (it doesn’t matter what time we arrive), we headed ashore to grab some lunch having forgotten to have breakfast as we were enjoying the sail so much.  Pop found a lovely little cafe up a side street called Sweety Bird where we had the most delicious, perfectly spiced roti and refreshing guava juice.  We then headed for the ATM (not just for Bob’s benefit), popped into Doris’s foodie emporium where I spent all the money extracted from the ATM on delicious yummy things.  The girls then headed off to visit Princess Margaret on her beach (apparently she visited the beach once a million years ago) and Bob and I went and checked us in.  He also tried to check us out but blew it by owning up that we were staying two nights meaning we have to go back, darn it.  We then stocked up on Hairoun and water from a local supermarket out of the ark with a shuffling Mrs Overall serving us who staggered to and from the other counter at least four times rather than moving us to be closer to her station, and proved to be as deaf as Bob.  We then retreated to the boat and took a delivery of fuel from Daffodil, very efficient (although the operator was also deaf from the sound of his pump creating great hilarity for me as he and Bob shouted “what?” at each other to no avail), took delivery of the laundry that arrived a day earlier than schedule, got rid of the garbage and then sat around in the sun doing nothing at all until the taxi service was summoned to collect the girls.  They returned very sandy, washed off under the deck shower before being allowed below (by “I hate sand” Mr Bob) and are now preparing ourselves for a night at Jack’s Bar.  They are having an eat all you can barbeque and dancing on the beach.  We are looking forward to it.