Week two in the Caribbean
Antigua sold me on the Caribbean! We anchored in a beautiful (but busy!) little bay with beautiful sandy beaches. Arkyla in the middle:
The marina across is unesco-something. Very quaint! The boats there were not: minimum 5 spreaders to be let in, I think. As we approached Antigua, James got all excited seeing Leopard 3 in front of us (Google her). The next day we hiked over to the next bay and a very posh restaurant for lunch. Some guys walked over to sit at the table next to us, with leopard 3 t-shirts. I of course started talking to them: it was the owners, and they were there preparing for the Nelson cup and then the Caribbean 600. The following day we saw them practice just outside our anchorage, at the same time as their arch rival “V”. We hopped in the dinghy and went out to look closer. So cool to be close to such sailing machines! I loved sailing on USA76, but she sure was old compared to these monsters! (James took photos while I tried to get the dinghy not swamped or run over..)
We also did a couple of hikes: one absolutely gorgeous one with added excitement of wondering where the trail was.
It ended at a look-out bar with steelband. After 40 minutes in line for a beer (it was not the local secret I thought!) we just made it to catch the sunset on stage with the band. A lot of people (James included) got very excited when we saw “the green flash”. The singer and I didn’t see any green…. And you couldn’t see it in the film the woman next to us made…you can draw your own conclusions…
But there is always work to do on a boat. So next day we swam and cleaned the hull. Might be the hardest, grossest thing I’ve done, and I’ve fixed broken toilets. But at least with toilets you are not gulping for air while gross things spray you…(yes I forgot to pack my snorkeling gear 🤦♀️)
We left at dawn the following morning to sail up to Barbuda. I have to confess I got cold feet the night before reading about charts being inaccurate and lots of reefs. And swell. But we went - and so glad we did! Very cool anchorage and little island. It’s being developed like crazy (De Niro!) but right now it still feels real, with donkeys blocking passage on the dirt roads. (While people helicopter into a Nobu on the beach 🙄). Went to super cool bird sanctuary (frigates-did you know they can’t be in water, so they either have to catch the fish as it jumps, or steal from another bird - seems odd choice of profession I must say!!), pink beach, atm and customs. Had drinks with an English guy who is following James and approached as soon as we got in 🤣) and his crew - both full of fun stories . I’ve said it before: you meet such great people sailing! Then lobster dinner at sunset.
Early morning again to sail down to Nevis. Not a lot of wind, which meant … (drum roll) … parasailor! All day!
