THE
CARRIBEAN TOUR
9th
Update St Lucia
Right … let's see … that was the "Trans-At". That done we all partied
for a few days, got some boat maintenance done and partied some more.
It's now Thursday (20th Dec), a week later, trying to plan when I leave
here and where to go to next. If my sails and Auto-pilot are repaired
I will leave on Sunday after the final prizegiving which is on Saturday.
I'm thinking Barbados still sounds good for Christmas. Well … that plan
changed … after befriending lots of boats during the festivities, Robin
of yacht "Wizzo" (a Jeanneau Sun Fizz 47) suggested departing St. Lucia
on Saturday morning … destination Antigua … this sounded good to me as
I was getting bored here!!!
10th Update Antigua
Cara and myself set sail and arrived in Antigua on Sunday (23rd
Dec) at about 3pm. The sail there was very nice. We sailed in very close
company with "Wizzo" all the way through the night and the following day.
After sailing the Atlantic, only seeing another yacht every other day
or so, at a great distance, this made a pleasant change … to have another
boat so close by and to see lots of other traffic. Falmouth Harbour Marina
was to be our venue for Christmas. So be it.
Christmas Day was very different from the norm at home. I did call home
and chatted with all the family, feeling lonely for them … but a champagne
breakfast, on deck, in the sun, with shorts only on, did make it a little
easier to bare. Then we all went to "Nelsons dock yard" for the afternoon
where there was a huge party going on.
I think the whole Island was there and a great Reggae band playing open
air. An Irish girl called Jane, who I met on arrival at the marina, introduced
me to a local girl called Libby at the party. This lead to being invited
to Christmas dinner later in the afternoon. What I didn't know was that
dinner was in her father's house with all her family.
It turns out they are a very well-to-do family on the island called the
Nicholsons, who sailed out of Cork in the 1940's and have been here since.
Some great stories were told, excellent carols sang in perfect harmony
by the girls and of course I instigated an Irish style singsong. This
made the day for me as perfect as it could be … while so far from home.
St. Steven's Day was as you'd expect … hungover. A guy called by … Ronnie
Dunphy, from Cork, we chatted for a while, then it looked like he was
coming sailing with us for a couple of weeks (but he became sick next
day so didn't join us). Anyway we then got the outboard on the tender
and headed around the corner to a lovely beach. Lay in the sun for a while
then swam for a while in water temp of 30°C … I couldn't help but remember
our local Rugby Club's sponsored swim, every year on this day, and thought
this is the way to do it. After the swim, lunch was had at the beach bar
… that lead to drinks 'til sunset … beautiful.
Thursday (27th Dec '01)
Time to start moving again. "Wizzo", (Robin, Ally, Harry, Lynn, Loyd and
the latest addition to Robin's gang, Sherry) had planned to go around
to the other side of the Island to Jolly Harbour for the night then head
to Tortola for the New Year. I wasn't ready so decided to skip Jolly Harbour
and catch up later. I felt I needed one more day in Falmouth Harbour.
I was also in touch with Valerie (from home) at this stage … and it turns
out her new job is on a Caribbean cruise ship called "Crystal Harmony"
… which happened to be pulling in at St. Marten (on our way to Tortola)
on New Years Eve. I was curious to see if I could work this into the plan
… and so I did.
Friday (28th Dec '01)
The gang on Wizzo left for Tortola … I informed them of my new plans and
said we will meet later (fairly flexy-plan!!!). Cara and myself departed
Antigua at about 5.30pm as it was approx. a 12 hour sail ahead of us and
that should have us getting in at dawn. I was a little sad leaving Antigua
… I had met a lot of new friends there and felt like I could stay forever.
11th Update St. Marten
Saturday (29th Dec '01)
We arrived in St. Marten early in the morning and tied up at "Bobby's
Marina" in Phillipsburg, which is on the Dutch side of the Island (coincidentally
where the cruise ships pull in). After fuelling up and sorting out the
boat, we attempted to clear through "Customs and Immigration", to find
they had just closed at 12 noon … try again tomorrow! After walking around
a little to see what was around the area it was time for bed … as we didn't
sleep at all the night before.
Sunday (30th Dec '01)
Made it to the "Customs and Immigration" office on time this morning
but still no one there!
Monday (31st Dec '01)
New Year's Eve. Check the office again … still no joy … but at
least the lady for "Clearing Out" was there, so we did that without ever
"Clearing In". Then managed to swindle a special pass to go down the dock
to meet the Cruise ships, got a message to Valerie, to find she only had
a short break in the afternoon. We just about got an hour and a half,
in a bar on the dock, to catch up on each other's stories. Still, it was
good to meet a friend from old, by chance, way over here. Cara and myself
went to the Marina Bar/Restaurant (The Green House) had a nice dinner
and drinks, rang in the new year twice, once for home at 8pm local time
and then again for the Caribbean.
New Year's Day 2002 Happy New Year to All.
1pm we slipped lines at "Bobby's Marina" with an estimated 18
hour sail ahead of us … another one through the night … to St. Thomas
… Oh, did I mention Valerie's ship would be there on the 2nd Jan? A great
passage with lots of traffic, boats every where including lots of Cruise
ships which were very intimidating. All two of us on "Full Alert" all
the time! The radar looked like it may have been faulty, there were so
many targets all around us! 12th Update The Virgin Islands Wednesday (2nd
Jan '02) We sailed into "Charlotte Amelie", St. Thomas, surrounded by
three cruise ships including the "Crystal Harmony" and the US Coastguard
keeping small boats clear of the ships "Constrained by Draft" as they
navigated the narrow entrance.
One small "Cat" sail boat went right across the bow of one of them, no
response on the VHF and no response from the "Five Blasts" from the fog
horn. Coastguard stepped in promptly and had words … for over an hour!!!
We, on the other hand, were complemented on our cooperation … I play their
game well. That was a bit of fun for 7 o'clock in the morning.
8am now, tied up at "Yacht Haven Marina" and fuelled up. "Customs and
Immigration" eventually sorted … it being a U.S. Island and Cara not having
a Visa, they didn't want to let her in, but a smile and the Irish charm
sorted that out. I then went to meet Val, to find she only had the same
short time, in the afternoon, off … so be it. We met and chatted. She
was leaving the ship in two weeks and flying home, so we would not meet
again in the Caribbean. Still, it was fun chasing a Cruise ship around
the Caribbean for a while.
Thursday (3rd Jan '02)
Back to meet our friends on "Wizzo". A short sail, for a change, was all
that was needed. We left St. Thomas (US VI's) at 3.30pm and arrived "Soper's
Hole" Marina, Tortola (B VI's), at 6.30pm. Robin and Loyd were there to
take our lines … Cheers guys. Ollie and Harry had left Wizzo to deliver
another boat from Antigua (I think).
Friday (4th Jan '02)
Unfortunately it was the end of the holiday for Loyd and Lynn,
they flew home (UK) today, but Robin hosted a champagne breakfast to see
them off first and we were invited. After a Siesta we got together again
and were invited to join Robin's friends there, Bungy and Di, to go to
the local Yacht Club and check out the scene there.
The next week was fairly lazy. Saturday (5th Jan) was resting,
Sunday (6th Jan)
we sailed back to St. Thomas, "Crown Bay Marina", to be there for Monday
(7th Jan) morning to collect my replacement Auto-pilot. During the week
here, with no "Shore Power" I was relying on running the motor to charge
the batteries. It failed to start for me one morning and I killed the
batteries trying.
I got an engineer to check it out, to find, somehow, while I was trying
to start her for a prolonged period of time, water had backed up through
the engine which lead to multiple oil and filter changes in the hope it
wasn't too serious. I think we got lucky … she seems to be fine now! Fingers
crossed!!! As Ollie and Harry are on another boat somewhere … Loyd and
Lynn and Sherry, all gone home … Robin, on his own now, is taking the
ferry over here to visit us today,
Sunday (13th Jan).
Conor Baynes, and his girlfriend Patricia Dundon, flew over to sail the
Virgin Islands for a week with us. Wednesday (16th
Jan)
we set sail for Tortola (B VI's), to meet with Robin again, as Cara was
joining his boat while she searched for a job on a boat there.
Thursday (17th Jan) we sailed to Jost Van
Dyke (B VI's), had lunch and a swim, then went ashore for dinner at the
famous "Foxy's". Friday (18th Jan) to "Marina Cay", which is on the northeast
corner of Tortola. Picked up a mooring there and went ashore for the night
life. Had dinner there and listened to the music of Mike "The Foot" Bean.
Saturday (19th Jan) moved across the bay to "Trellis Bay" and had lunch
at "De Loose Mongoose". Then sailed to "The Bitter End Yacht Club" on
Virgin Gorda. Spent the night there.
Sunday (20th Jan)
we passed down the other side of Tortola to stop at "Village Cay Marina"
in Roadtown, the capitol of the Island.
Monday (21st Jan)
we visited the "East End" of St. Thomas, pulling in to the "American Yacht
Harbour" in Redhook bay. This is where we found "Molly Molones", an Irish
Bar, right there in the marina. A great night was had. The owner, Frank
Brittingham, and his son, Michael, gave us a great welcome.
Tuesday (22nd Jan)
we sailed on back to "Crown Bay Marina" where we had our last night with
Conor and Trish. They flew home the next day (Wednesday 23rd).
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