We head back to "Manx Mist" again in early January 2008, and join John and AnneMarie Yeo, who have been enjoying a sailing vacation over Christmas and the New Year. John has done a superb job looking after the boat - and she is probably in better shape than when I left her.
we have an excellent week cruising around Antigua, and we started on what was to be the first of many touring trips, anti-clockwise, around the island - Carlisle Bay; Falmouth, English Harbour and Sunday drinks and steel band music at Shirley Hts; Mamora Bay and the St James Club; the lovely anchorage of Ricketts Harbour, Green Island; Great Bird Island; Jumby Bay, Long Island.
Annemarie and John head home to France, and Hil and I have a few days chilling, and getting the boat organized and provisioned - we have a series of friends arriving over the next few weeks.
First, at the end of January, it's Alison Young and daughter Emma.
Graeme deciding he is not a salty scotish sea-faring dog, and entrusting his ladies to Capt Kerry.
The weekend of A & E's arrival is also a World Cup bob race in Cesana, Italy for daughter, Helen - and she captures another Gold for Canada. We're doing our best keeping track of Helen's races, and usually find a way to watch them live over the internet.
It's Alison and Emma's first real experience of the "cheese baguette" cruising life. But for rookie sailors, they do superbly well, and are fun and a pleasure to have aboard. We start with the anti-clockwise direction around Antigua. First stop Falmouth, and the place is packed with big yachts, both sailing and power - it's the charter boat weekend. The ladies do the Sunday night steelband at Shirley Hts, and consume a few rum punches. It's a rainy night, but it doesn't spoil the fun.
Still stormy in the morning, and we're woken to the not-so-pleasant sight of a large sailboat burning over at the Cat Club Marina, after it was hit by lightning. Big bangs as the fuel tanks and propane blow up.
After another day at Falmouth, exploring Nelsons Dockyard and beaching, we return to Jolly Harbour for a reprovisioning and prep break.
With the weather somewhat settling, we head out to Barbuda. It's still windy and the seas are still over 10', but the ladies handle it well and pass the 7 hour passage time with word games. We stop at Coco Pt for a couple of nights - the ground swell looking a little high at Low Bay. But it settles, and we move around and anchor at the N end of Low Bay. Alison and Emma have left their pink hue behind them, and are looking tanned, and they are loving Barbuda's beaches.After Barbuda we head back to Antigua, have a somewhat less bumpy return trip, and come through the Prickly Pear Island passage to anchor at Jumby Bay. "Bessie" - the ship's inflatable figurehead is rediscovered and provides much entertainment over a long cocktail hour. It's also here that we are entertained by a large 50' charter boat running aground just inshore of us.
After Jumby we move on to Great Bird Island. We have a lovely sunny day there, but overnight it's a different story and the wind picks up big time - probably blowing 30 to 35 kts. Capt Kerry lets out more anchor, and we're ok for the night.
Time to return to Jolly for Alison's birthday, a good meal at Melini's, and enjoy a few more cocktails.It was an eventful couple of weeks for A & E - rough weather sailing; lots of rain; burning/exploding boats; boats aground; stormy nights - and they still enjoyed themselves!
With Alison and Emma leaving, Hil and I have a day to do the laundry,cleanup the boat, restock it again and then our next visiting crew arrive - Steve and Sari Paterson, friends from Calgary.
The weather continues to improve - less rain, more sunshine - but the waves are still big.
Then, another trip out to Barbuda. We head through the Prickly Pear channel and straight into big seas - again. the Captain is tempted to turnaround, but we bash through them and another 5 hours later, we anchor off Coco Pt.
The ground swell is running, and Low Bay is not an option, so we stay put at Coco. We take a tour of the island with local taxi driver Lawrence, visiting the Highlands and the west coast, and ending up at Uncle Roddys Bar on the way back to Coco.
Now time to head back to Jolly Harbour - our next crew is arriving - good friend Lesley, coming in from Florida.
We have a last couple of days with Steve and Sari still aboard, and we all sail around to Falmouth to enjoy the Sunday evening Shirley Hts bash and a tour of Nelsons dockyard.Steve and Sari are staying on at a hotel close to St Johns, and Steve and I will hook up once more to go and watch a cricket match at the Viv Richards stadium, before they return to Calgary.
Lesley has brought an unwelcome stowaway aboard - a nasty cold bug - she's not feeling great, and Hil also picks it up. We stay around Jolly Harbour for a few days, taking it easy at the beach and pool.This break also gives us an opportunity to watch (via the internet) Helen compete in the Bob World Championships in Altenberg, Germany. It's arguably the toughest track in the World, and Helen pilots Canada#1 into yet another 4th place finish, behind the 3 German sleds who make a clean sweep of the podium on their home turf.
Can't stay in harbour for all of Lesley's visit - we head out to Barbuda again. Another bumpy, but fast, passage which we make in 4 hours. The northerly swell has gone and we anchor off Low Bay - walking, swimming and snorkeling time. Shift around to Coco Pt and same pursuits. Then time to return to Antigua, yet another bumpy ride, and a stay at Jolly harbour to restock with water, fuel and food.
We fit in a couple more days of sailing with Lesley - around to Carlyle bay for snorkeling, and on to Falmouth for a night out at the Mad Mongoose.Then back to Jolly Harbour. Lesley's 2 week visit is up, and she returns to Florida
And the sun sets on the busiest month, visitor-wise, that we've had on the boat.
Hil and I will catch our breath, and then go cruising south.
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