Dan yells over the vhf radio " Greg, there is a sailboat race straight ahead of you. Are planning to turn anytime soon or just get in the middle of it"
"I am headed straight towards the mark. i have just as much right to be here as they do" I replied.
"I think I will slow down and watch the fun" Dave says laughingly.

This was in response to a story I had told him the day before about my experience with the sailboat racers on Lake Dillon when Mary and I had first purchased our 23' sailboat. We had no idea that there were races going on and no idea how fast or slow in our case our boat would sail. We ended up in the middle of the race and were verbally abused. When we got back to the boat, some of the racers came over to us to continue the abuse again. I told them in no uncertain terms that they did not own the lake and go take a hike. Well maybe not that nicely. I have avoided getting into the middle of any race after that but it has left a bad taste for sailboat racers. At the same time it is very beautiful to see them race and all the colorful spinnakers flying.

As we neared Falmouth harbor our destination for the next few days, there was a race going on with big sailboats. I do not think any were less than 75' and many over a hundred feet in length with 12-20 crew on board. I really could not really see the mark as I told Dan and they were so spread out that maybe they just decided to play. With their huge head sails flying it was quite a site to see. Today Sunday they will be racing again so we will try to watch them from the shore.

Falmouth harbor is right next to English Harbor and we went ashore to check it out. English harbor is a national park with the focal point being Lord Nelson's Dock. This is where the English established a well protected fort where they could fix and repair all of their boats before putting them back to engage pirates or sending them back across the "pond" to England.

This is the sailboat racingmeca of Antigua. Antigua classic race week at the end of April is the end of a month long race festival. The sailboats are beautiful and very big.

While there we met and talked with four women who had just completed rowing across the Atlantic and set a new world record of 40 Day and some odd hours. Rowing for 40 days, that is unbelievable. We also met two guys who had done the same thing and it took them 68 days to row from the Canary islands. I think I will stick with sailing.