Clearing into Jamaica on Friday couldn't have been a more pleasant experience. Three Customs and Immigration Officials met us inside the famous and well-appointed Montego Bay Yacht Club (MBYC). Jamaica is not exactly on the normal cruising route and takes an effort to reach, particularly if you are cruising upwind as we were. From Panama, most cruisers head north towards Costa Rica then hug the Belize and Mexico Coast, round the NW tip of Cuba staying 12 miles off and head to the USA or the Bahamas. Our Aussie friends on the 62 ft Swan "IO" left the day before we did from Red Frog Marina in Panama. They faced an 1800 mile windward passage to Antigua while ours was a 1500 mile windward passage. We both took different strategies as they decided to make as much easting as possible along the coast of South America then turn NE towards their destination of Antigua. The same weather window allowed us to head north in seas which started out at 2 meters then dropped to 1 to 1.5 meters and wind of 10 - 15 knots and gusts to 20 knots during rain squalls. The trade winds have kicked in down south for the season and IO are beating to wind in 30 kn as they head towards Santa Marta, Colombia although they still have a long way to go. We certainly wished that they had been with us in the friendliest Yacht Club we've ever visited while clearing into our 7th country in just over a year.

I think we met every employee in the MBYC; they all seemed to know we were coming in and went out of their way to show us around the Club. We signed the Visitors Book (with entries back to 1993!), and met the Head Chef, Ryan, who sat down with us to say he would cook anything... anything we'd like. We brought our faded RQYS Burgee to the Club and everyone stood around laughing and chatting as they watched it being nailed up beside 123 other Burgees from around the World. We saw the Pineapple Cup trophy behind the bar for the 811 nautical mile race from Florida to Montego Bay. This race has been running biennially for 31 years and was won last year by "Shockwave".

Jamaica has a long and interesting history. Christopher Columbus was believed to be the first European to step foot in Jamaica on 5th May, 1494 and described it as “the fairest isle that eyes have beheld”. We totally agree and I think we need to come back and spend more time here sometime, somehow. They also grow the fabulous Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee and produce Appleton Rum which the bar staff “insisted”  we try. How could we resist? Maynard is also a cricket fanatic and as Jamaica was a British Colony for part of their history until 1964, cricket is a well-established sport. Australia and the West Indies have had many battles on the field over the years. My sister is a well-known International cricket scorer and has probably met almost every famous cricketer around the world. She has even met Sir Viv Richards who was born in Antigua. Currently, Australia are playing against England back home in Australia for a trophy called the Ashes at the Gabba cricket field in Brisbane. She is retiring after 30 years of dedicated work and the newspapers have written the following:

“Australia’s most prolific run scorer will be retiring after the Gabba Test match, with Queensland stalwart Judy Harris to end her stellar scoring career. Harris is the official scorer in her 30th and final Test match in Brisbane. If only Australia’s top order had her composure. She’s handled every dramatic collapse by the Aussies with more poise than any willow-wielding millionaire.”

Sure wish we could be in two places at once. We love Jamaica but we would also love to be in Brisbane with my sister Jude as she scores her final International Test Match.

For more pics see Photo Gallery