We are still here in Bequia. We meant to move on today but it never happened. We would like to get to St Vincent for the New Year – perhaps tomorrow.

Today’s blog addresses the connections that pull us together. Our picture was taken last night during a really fun dinner on board Nauplios – a fellow OVNI – hosted by Crawford and Elaine. Also with us were Richard and Rosanna from another OVNI, Mercury.

We first met Richard when – as total strangers - he asked us to help him sail his brand new boat across the Bay of Biscay to Spain in 2016. We have remained friends ever since and were going to do the ARC with Richard in 2016 but he stayed, and we ended up doing it ourselves in 2017. Richard kept his boat in the Med for a bit longer and then sailed across the Atlantic this year. We had promised ourselves that we would celebrate his crossing with Christmas in Bequia together, which we did; and we are very pleased to have been able to fulfil that promise.

And Nauplius: we met Crawford online through the OVNI Owners’ Association Facebook page, so were slightly connected already; they have also just sailed across the Atlantic. Now we have met them in person and have very much enjoyed their company (as well as Elaine’s amazing roast dinner, complete with Yorkshire puddings and crumble!).

The thing that binds us is being part of the OVNI world, and the person who has connected us all is Stephen Johnson at North Sea Maritime – the UK agent for OVNIs (amongst other brands). When someone sells you a boat they are not just selling you a physical asset – they are selling you endless possibilities of places to go, adventures to have, sights to see, people to meet, communities to be part of. Our time in Bequia together is a really good example of these possibilities coming together. So thank you to Stephen and Francine Johnston and North Sea Maritime for the impact you have had on our lives through Barracuda and everything flowing from that.