Antigua - a Sailor's Paradise

We were fortunate to spend a week of down time in Antigua before we set out on our 200 mile journey North to the BVI to meet up with family and friends. 

We enjoyed a lovely Valentine's dinner in Jolly Harbour Antigua, before heading back to Falmouth Harbour to pick up some boat cushions we were having modified.  

Back in Falmouth Harbour some maxi sailboats and other racing sail boats were gathering at the Antigua Yacht Club in preparation for the Nelson's Cup, followed by the RORC Caribbean 600, the Royal Ocean Racing Club's non stop 600 nm race around 11 Caribbean Islands.  

The latter race attracts more than 60 boats and 550 sailors from 30 different countries.  The fastest boats finish in less than 2 days while the smaller boats will take 5 days.  While wind conditions are an important element, it was interesting to hear that many of the boats encounter the same problems as cruisers, getting tangled up in fishing pots that impede their progress.  The fishing pots are particularly predominant around Guadelope, and unfortunately it is impossible to see them at night.

The boats range from 32 to 107ft in length, and are divided into several classes.    

Here is Galateia, which is 30.48 meters in length.

Look at all the crew that are needed just to lift the sails onto one of the boats.

We were fortunate to have Tom, the manager of the Antigua Yacht Club, take us up to Shirley Heights to watch the Nelson's Cup.  All that carbon and kevlar - what an unbelievable sight.  

And look at all the crew on the rail. It looks like a crew of 24 in total.

Some pretty tight racing too. 

While we were in Antigua, we also took part in a sailor tradition, a tot of rum.  A tot was a daily ration of rum given to sailors in the British Royal Navy.  A tot is 2.5 ounces of neat rum, although in the early days of rations it was laced with lime juice to help keep scurvy at bay.  Fortunately for me, a smaller size tot was also on offer to the woman attending.

The Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua and Barbuda was established to welcome sailors to English and Falmouth harbours.  The group gathers in various establishments in the vicinity of the harbours every evening at 6pm.  There are more than 500 members,  and an aspiring member must be sponsored by an existing member.  The members and guests stand in a circle.  The guests are introduced and a reading is made from the Royal Navy history pertinent to that day.  The reading is followed by a toast to the King.  

Here is Roger with Bob, a Salty Dawg that invited us to join him and his wife for the evening toast.   As a son of a son of a sailor, Roger was very honored to participate in this tradition.

We will be back Antigua, but now it is time to set sail to the BVI.