Land Ahoy
30 January 2019 | Gatwick
Well, we got to Antigua on 23rd Jan. That’s 16 days from Cape Verde which is not particularly fast but we chose to sail comfortably rather than racing, especially with just the two of us covering the watches. Apologies for not registering our position from the sat phone to show we had arrived – apparently it looked like we were stuck off the coast for days on end. We landed at English Harbour which is the old naval base for Nelson’s fleet. It is very atmospheric with all the old buildings of the dockyard now converted to bars and hotels while still retaining the sense of history. I think we were the smallest boat in the harbour surrounded as we were by super yachts. I do not really understand the point of super yachts. In the main the only people on board were the crew. Apart from the one next to us which seemed to have just one elderly gent as owner/guest and a few much younger girls. I assume they must have been his nieces. We arrived during the finishing stages of the Talisker Atlantic Challenge which has some 30 boats row across the Atlantic from the Canary Isles. ROW!! Utter madness. Soon after our arrival we saw a boat row in to great reception and hooting from all the super yachts. They had been at sea for 42 days and they were probably around the middle of the pack. The winners took 32 days and I believe the stragglers would be well over 50 days
After a couple of days of good food, drink and reggae music we moved the boat on to Jolly Harbour on the East side of the Island. We are staying in an AirBnB owned by a lady called Anne (highly recommended to any prospective visitor) and have hired a car for a few days. I am departing today (29th) for UK but Ian will stay on for more punishment in the form of watching the second cricket Test match here on Antigua. Should be interesting after the annihilation handed out by the West Indies in the first Test. .
There was a rowing team of girls from Antigua that landed on 28th Jan and were major celebrities on the Island. Schools finished at midday and the Prime Minister turned up to great them on arrival. We were at their hotel for lunch today and saw them. They were still struggling to walk. Major Respect.
Talking of rowing (arguing) and Prime Ministers I saw the TV in Antigua Airport and see nothing much has changed in the great Brexit debacle. Maybe Michel Barnier, Theresa May and the others should form teams and row across the Atlantic. Winner takes all.
So, feelings after the trip – would I do it again? Probably not but it was a unique experience being so far away from anywhere and having no choice but to continue through to the end. Antigua is a nice place with generally friendly people and great beaches. Am I looking forward to going back home – yes definitely.