There's always more.
Winya_wynah
Thu 22 Jan 2009 22:07
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We are in Deep Bay (NW Antigua) parked in the
breeze to keep bugs down and work rate up for the wind generator. Now
called Daisy as evidently that's what she looks like!
There is a wreck in the middle of the bay but
having sneaked past that we are well anchored 100m from the beach. Tried
snorkelling round the edge but pretty dead, over the wreck is more
interesting as it sits in about 18ft and easy to see the steel framework and rig
the masts have broken off and lie across the hull.
So more about our longest journey so far in
Winny. Once out of the shelter of Virgin Gorda the swells ran from 10-12
ft most of the time, we were skipping along at 7 / 8 kn with two reefs in
the main and a postage stamp of a jib. All very exciting but with swell
and wind pushing us west leeway was huge and we couldn't get to windward
well at all. Hence long tacks and revision of passage plans. Our
intention was to slow down and plod through the night, just as well as the moon
came up late and all we could do was reef down and use autopilot most of the
night. 2 hour watches between us seemed to work pretty well, cruise
ships evidently just sit in no-mans sea for long periods at night and with fancy
coloured lights on as well as navigation lights it is impossible to predict
where they are going alot of the time.
We passed close to St Martin, Saba, St Kitts and
Nevis but first sight of Antigua was just the best. A little
confusion nearing the island about which headland Jolly Harbour was
hiding behind and yet another cargo ship sliding close by our stern turned
the approach into a discussion, but a little chat with the friendly
Harbourmaster at Jolly Harbour and we had courtesy and Q flag raised and on
a mooring before dark. The Harbourmaster, we now know is called
William, hovered until we were safely on the mooring waiting I suspect for the
men to appear from below. Same thing the next morning when he came to see
if we had been to Customs and advised us of where and how. Getting very
confident now we went in Winny to the Customs dock and parked up to get signed
in, not many crews bother to take the boat so they suggested we
could leave her there until we were ready to move again. All
very friendly like as they were all watching history with the inauguration and
not bothered about us. Another lesson from
William about mooring posts and lines and we were off to the marina. A
nifty bit of stern-to parking even brought a complement from the salty
old harbourmaster.
Chandlers richer and more jobs done we can now
enjoy Antigua until Monday and English Harbour where we are booked in to
get the liferaft repacked! All go here, Oh give me snow and a downhill
run! |