In a classic episode of ‘Harry Enfield and Chums’ Wayne and Waynetta Slob with their kids Frogmella and Spud-u-Lika, get to the final of a gameshow. To win their dream prize, probably something pizza based, they just need to name anything beginning with the letter ‘B’. As you’d expect they blew the chance by coming up with the world ‘Ba-tato’. In that game show we’d have no problem as we’re in beautiful Barbuda, where the big blue breaks blissfully onto boundless beaches which are baked below a blazing sun.

Continuing the theme of the letter ‘B’ we blasted our way north from Antigua with the fishing line bouncing along behind us. In no time the line was bar tight and we could see flashes of brilliance as our banquet to be came to the surface and battled to survive. As he neared the boat we realised we’d bagged ourselves our first ever Wahoo. Finally we could boast that we’d bagged the big 3.

With victory a mere grasp away the Wahoo gave one final death defying thrash and he was off. No photos, no proof, no fish. Bugger, bugger, bugger, bugger. The big 3 would have to wait for another day but we are sure that with Mr Blue as bait another bad boy Wahoo will be boned on the boat before long.

Although the bounty of the sea was not bestowed on Ruffian other boats in the anchorage had had better luck. Just as we were contemplating which sort of tinned based dinner to have, Cavu’s tender buzzed over to us brimming with gifts. They had bags and bags of Mahi of which some were bestowed on Ruffian. Within a heartbeat our dinner based dilemma disappeared.

As the day broke over Barbuda the beach was beckoning. We made depressions in the sand with the bottoms of our feet and the only sounds were from the bashing of breakers and the bending of the palm trees in the breeze. The breaking waves and blue sea were not the only big draws; there was also the deserted K Club resort, of Princess Diana fame, that drew our attention.

When the legendary K Club closed its doors to the public, that is exactly what the management did, they just closed the doors. Inside the boarded up apartments we could still see bamboo furniture and paintings on the walls. Even wine glasses sat on tables and coffee pots on stoves; it was like the scene from a horror movie. Had we broken in through the barricades we are sure we would have found Egyptian cotton sheets on the beds with chocolate based treats resting on bolsters.

Back on Ruffian the concept of buffing the boat up to a brilliant shine took over. Out came the blasted polish and we practised like the Kirate Kid. Wax went on and wax went off. Slowly, under the blazing sun, the glass fibre that had been lovingly bought back to life in Antigua started to brighten. We could almost see our reflections of our beaming brown faces and we slowly went blind as the sun beat down on us.

Bestest buddies Rosie and Nick with their not so tiny bouncing baby girl are bound for Antigua. We are therefore bidding a big bawling bye-bye to beautiful Barbuda and we will, once again, be bearing south in an abnormally broken Caribbean breeze.

You’ve got to love a double rainbow.


The magic metal box.


Morning morning. Time for a romp.


You my friend are not supposed to be land based.


This critter is however.


It doesn’t get much better than this


This is a far cry from the brown waters of the north.


Wax on, wax off.


Cliffs of sand.


Who knew that decks could feel so big?


Iain is so easily amused.


The K Club. So glamour it has its own drain covers.


That’ll be what the Americans call ‘rewilding’.


Nice white shiny polished decks.


All the B’s in Barbuda. Bright, blue, beautiful, blissful, boundless.