ANTIGUA, ST MARTIN, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Antigua (Falmouth Bay)

Keith on rainy journey

Arrived in Falmouth Bay, Antigua as the rain finally stopped after an 8 hour passage mostly in rain. Antigua turned out to be the social centre of the universe in a week which was to host the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta (also the most hangovers no doubt!) We intended to stay only a week at the most, but the build up to Classic week was great, seeing all the beautiful classic boats arrive and also a lot of people like ourselves we had met along the way led us to extend our stay another week.

There were countless parties and events which involved free alcohol and sometimes free food that it was not to be missed. We socialised with many of the friends we had met along the way, and explored English Harbour which has a fascinating renovated area known as Nelson's dockyard which is a fine example of the dockyard during nelson's time when he was in charge here in the late 17 hundreds.

An 18th Centuary naval building turned into a hotel in Nelson's Dockyard

Old Capstan and cannon in Nelson's dockyard

View over Nelson's Dockyard from Shirley Heights

Some socialising during Classic Week

Sue and John amuse us on board Spruce


Going out to watch the classics on Alleria


On one of the 4 race days we were invited out for a sail on Alleria (Doria and Alex's 58 foot yacht) it was amazing to watch the big J Class yachts (including Velsheda that used to be rotting in Gosport some 20 years ago) now in all their spendour, and smaller classic boats all looking wonderful. One of the smaller boats was Guiding light a 1936 wooden boat skippered by a

single-hander, fellow Scouse called Roy in his 60's whom we had met in St Lucia. He cried when he won several of the trophies whithin his class including one for the best maintained and equipped boat within the class.

Some lovely classic boats

The beautiful J Class yacht Velsheda

We also had an invitation to the Antigua Royal Navy Tot club which is an organisation which commemorates the days of the tot in the Royal Navy. They meet EVERY evening and toast the queen with a tot of rum (1/8 of a pint) at 18.00hrs! Gavin (my friend at home who is a member ) got us an invitation, we had the toast plus mismusters (did it again) as one of the members had become a grandparent. This was followed by much socialising again! Can't see that we could do that every night! (They also help with community projects especially those connected to Nelson's dockyard, so not just a drinking club............well that is the theory!)

St Martin

View over Marigot Bay from Fort Louis

Finally escaped Antigua while our liver's were still alive, though with regret at leaving our friends. We sailed overnight to St Martin, or rather motored as there was no wind at all. The brisk trade winds which are such a characteristic of this area are unusually lacking this year.

We anchored in Marigot Bay on the French side (the island is split between France and Holland) and our stay was mostly a 'get jobs done' stay. We fitted new batteries, shopped for provisions for the coming Atlantic crossing and spent hours scrubbing the bottom of the boat again. We couldn't believe how many families of marine organisms had taken hold of the hull! There were massive colonies of all variety of growth.

British Virgin Islands (BVI's)

Sunset en-route to BVI's

We sailed overnight to the British Virgin Islands arriving in Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda. On the way we caught a very irrate Barracuda about 5lbs weight with the biggest teeth! There is a fish poisoning called ciguatera poisoning here and Barracuda is high on the list of probably suspects for this, so despite its big teeth Keith took his life (or his fingers) in his hands as he tried to get it off the hook and set it free!

The irrate barracuda (note it's teeth!)

Rapau and Spruce at The Baths, Virgin Gorda

Stingray at The Baths

Anagada (BVI's)

Deserted beaches of Anagada

Anagada is a little island in the north of the BVI's with a population of around 250. the beaches were deserted and there were few peoople in the anchorage (it is fringed with death defiying reefs so sailing in takes some concentration!). We were in the anchorage with our freinds Andy and Sue off the yacht Spruce so we hired a jeep together so we could get over to the north part and snorkel Lolbolly Bay renowned for its fish life. We also got to see the wild flamingo's at a salt lake in the centre of the island.

Underwater at Lolbolly Bay

Lovely corals Lolbolly Bay

Us with Andy and Sue from Spruce in Anagada


Tortolla (BVI's)

Road Town is the capital of Tortolla the largest island in the BVI's. We came here to provision for the Atlantic crossing. The original plan was that Pete, with Dan a member of our sailing club, meet us here and we leave for the 2,500 crossing to the Azores at the beginning of May.

Unfortunately Pete cannot make it till early June now which will be too late as it will take us into the hurricane season, so Keith and I will sail the 800 miles north to Bermuda were Pete and Dan will meet us for the rest of the crossing to the Azores. It is then very important that we get out of Bermuda by the end of May or very early June to escape the hurricane belt before the hurricane season begins. This year the hurricane season is predicted to be earlier and fiercer than usual becasuse of the hight sea tempereature which is one of the factors involved in the building of a hurricane.

So our plan was to leave the Caribbean this week but the weather is looking better towards the end of the week. So as I write this the plan is to leave the BVI's for the 800 mile crossing to Bermuda around 14 May so we should reach Bermuda around 8 day later.