Wow the long days and the hard work (just to make sure the office don’t think that I am on holiday!) seem to have got to me.
Liz has taken the early shift, so I take the opportunity to sleep in till 8am!! as I have a late night at Fort James tonight so have a couple of hours off. After a quick breakfast, I take Dave to the press boat in Catamaran Harbour and slope off to the Dive shop to hire some snorkeling gear. Having stopped by our temporary HQ in Nelson’s Dockyard, I pick up Neil our rigger who is persuaded to come along and take a dip. Pidgeon beach is my destination and I throw my clothes into the back of the truck and make my way across the white sand to the water. A whole year since I have made my way into the sea without all manner of parts of my anatomy shrinking! I love the Solent in the UK, but the water is a slightly different shade of blue and a thousand degrees lower!
We make our way up to Windward Bay and at first I wonder where the fish are. The water starts getting clearer a little way from the shore and a school of minno type fish (excuse my vague knowledge) engulf me darting hither and thither. Before long, I see Trumpet Fish, Star Fish, Blue Tangs, Clown Fish and tens of colourful fish that I need to research the name of. I surface and clear my mask, clear my snorkel and look straight down onto a Hawksbill Turtle!!! I saw two last year from the chase boat surfacing for air, but never less that 3 metres away. I call over to Neil and spook the turtle who had disappeared by the time I look down again.. damn!
I look at my watch and realize that I have to be back in the Dockyard ready for a trip to Fort James in the North of the Island where the Division B yachts finish there ½ round the Island Race by mid afternoon and anchor up ready to come ashore to party the night away on the beach. Only in the Caribbean would you only complete a Round the Island race in two days.. on the Isle of Wight (a similar distance race) we start early and get the job done in 1 day. Oh, and by the way, Ondeck still have limited individual and whole boat spaces for this 1800 yacht plus race on 20th June this year to get the plug in - click here for full details.
The bay seems quieter than last year due to the fact that the Division A (Faster boats) boats do a whole round the Island for the first time due to the new race format provided by GWM Racing. Several boats dock in the neighbouring Dickinson Bay but the beach starts to come alive with sailors, tourists and locals. We have the official Antigua Sailing Week merchandise stand on the beach and I help Jenny run this for the afternoon whist promoting Ondeck’s global activities. We are placed right next to the main stage where the band pump out great music for the visiting revelers. Food stands sell locally caught fish, BBQ Ribs, Chicken and all manner of local specialities and bars fuel the party goers with cold beer and English Harbour Rum. I spot a lobster being BBQ’d and decide that this is dinner (or lunch in actual fact seeing as I have not eaten since breakfast!).
The sun goes down and we decide to pack up and head back to the South Side of the Island. A quick trip up to Shirley heights where Itchy Feet are playing.. just one rum and back to the Hotel as it has been a long day.
Spirit of Minerva manages a 6th in class, Spirit of Juno 11th and Spirit of Minerva a 17th (come on guys… too much Rum last night?).. see me….must try harder! I’ll quiz the guys on what went wrong tomorrow!
Tired looking at this screen in this low light so signing off……
