I suppose that I ought to introduce myself if you will be reading my blog - how rude of me!
My name is Simon Hedley, business development manager for Ondeck in the UK and for my sins I look after the Caribbean race charter circuit for the company from the UK working closely with Liz Brookes the manager of our Antigua office. I am 38 years old, have a very understanding wife and two girls aged 10 & 14 … oh and a 10 month old Cocker Spaniel! I love sailing, kayaking and generally being in or on the water & live in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. I commute each day to Gosport near Portsmouth where our UK offices are based.
I am out in Antigua for two weeks helping Liz run our Antigua Sailing Week activities for our charter guests between the seven yachts that we have participating this year. Our charter guests include individuals with all levels of ability from all over the world as well as whole boat charters for racing teams hoping to go home with wheelbarrows full of silverware.
Right that’s me so back to the blog.
A busy day yesterday with more preparations for the arrival of our guests next Wednesday. Liz has most things covered, so I just went to the beach for the day - Yeah right! - not quite, but months of meticulous planning and many previous years of being at this event means that things are calm here at the moment with the last minute logistical issues to sort out. Dave, the photographer goes out on one of the yachts with some day charter guests to catch some of the action from the Classic Sailing Regatta that is currently underway (pictures up on www.lightwaveimages.net ).
The Beneteau 40.7s that are used by our RYA Sea School out here are being made race ready tomorrow, so Dave the snapper and I need to get a few shots for the sea school website and brochures. All the crew are busy prepping boats, so I call on my step-sister to help out who just happens to be out here having just finished a charter (she works on the magnificent Superyacht, Tiarra). She decided to stay on for a week rather than fly back to England straight away as she works 2 months on and two months off. After a great sail with Logan our skipper and Dave snapping away, we head back in the Falmouth Harbour and drop anchor as the sun is setting behind the hills.
Sarah decides that it would be rude not to pop into the Classic Regatta Champagne Party being held at Antigua yacht club just by our offices and drags me along with my arm up behind my back. Sarah seems to know virtually every person at the party having worked in the industry for some time and we get invited to a cocktail party aboard a classic superyacht! Unfortunately, by the time that Sarah manages to speak to virtually everyone at the party (two hours later), we arrive at the yacht in question only to be told that it was all over and they were cleaning up! Nice one Sarah!
A quick bite to eat and a couple of Rum & Tings in the Mad Mongoose and I decide to call it a night having had a pretty long day. Shirley Heights will have to wait until another night... maybe tonight!
