Antigua
31 December 1969
Antigua. A beach for every day of the year or so they say.
We landed in Guadeloupe about 2 pm yesterday with just enough time for a wander ashore around the village of Deshaise. Not much has changed since we were here last three years ago other than it is now the location for "Murder in Paradise"
We didn't see any stars nor indeed any sign of the set. When they are filming they must really do a hollywood on the town.
Guadeloupe is French so we had another pastry and cafe au lait and then twitched all night from the unaccustomed dose of caffeine.
Up with the dawn at 6 we upped anchor and off'd into the wild for the 40 miles to Jolly Harbour on Antigua. 40 miles back in the Atlantic swell in a steady 27-30 knots. Wild and pretty wet but fast.
Back in our "press on" mode we are here for the night before an 04:00 start to make St Barts in time for pastry. 70 miles probay in the same conditions. Not muck looking forward to the way back after the regatta. Seemed like a good idea at the time! 10 miles upwind. Yuck.
The Trade Winds are really blowing this year and every day is over 20 knots. Usually around the 25+ mark. Great fast sailing....as long as you're going downhill.
Anne is just finishing the Monty Python inspired customs and immigration process and then were off for a late lunch/early dinner before an early night ahead of tomorrow's dash.