Pillars of Hercules

May 31

It's sometimes easy to get caught up in the logistics of moving a boat from place to place under varying conditions, getting fuel, washing laundry, finding the best bar in all the Caribbean, that the esthetic gets lost. All five senses are constantly being caressed or pummeled to produce an experience that is sometimes good, sometimes good in retrospect, but always an important part of making this the grand adventure that it is.

After winding through Little Bird Island Channel into open water at 1000, an ENE wind allowed sailing from close reach to broad, then jibe to broad all the way to English Harbour in 12 - 17 knots and easy 4 foot swell. A good experience. Anchored in Falmouth Harbour after motoring in and out of English Harbour between the Pillars of Hercules and Fort Berkeley, then past Nelson's Dockyard. (Nelson, who served here in his twenties from 1784 to 1787, hated the place.)

Can't get fuel or laundry done today or tomorrow (*Alert! The following may be offensive* Whitsunday is a religious event. Is Whitmonday a fabrication to allow people to feel pious screwing off?), so decided to pack it in and head to Guadeloupe as conditions are forecast to become more challenging as the week progresses. Rushed to arrive at customs and immigration with 53 seconds to spare. Departure tax and harbour fee $9.

Ate cheap dinner at Nelson's Dockyard fishing tournament party then came home, showered and went to bed (this remains an assumption) in anticipation of 0500 departure for someplace French.

Jack