Pirate in the Caribbean

  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 th...

  Good Friends and Fun in the Sun Roger, Pirate and I had a leisurely 😉 5 hour sail north from Guadelope in relatively light 15 to 18 knot winds.  Upon arriving in Antigua, you quickly realize you have landed in a new and different world when you are greeted in English instead of French.  We were welcomed at Customs and Immigration in English Harbour by our favourite officer, Detrissia, who was very happy to see Pirate again.  As in the past, the official check in for Pirate happened a couple of days later, but nobody seemed very concerned that the vet was not available, so neither were we. We docked in Falmouth Harbour next to all of the super yachts so that we could prepare for the arrival of our friends Al and Pierina.  The smiles on the faces said it all as we enjoyed some sushi together at the Antigua Yacht Club before heading on a dock walk to check out the Super Yachts. The next day we headed to Shirley Heights to enjoy some steel drum music and the spec...

Time to Move On - Headed to Guadeloupe Maybe it was the Pirate Ship coming through the mist.   Maybe it was the day of rain in St. Pierre with Mt Pelee, which erupted in 1902, nowhere to be seen through the low lying clouds.   Either way, we knew it was time to move on.    We went to bed early knowing that it would be a 3:30 a.m. start in order to get to Guadeloupe in time to get a mooring ball in Les Saintes.  Unfortunately, neither of us got much sleep as the anchorage was quite rolly.  It did mean however, that we were happy to get going.  Roger, Pirate and I donned our safety gear, and put on the My Team Talks "the marriage saver" headsets.  We put the main up while on the mooring ball as it is often a chore to get the back of the main to clear the lazy jacks.  Then I headed to the bow to let the last remaining line off the mooring.  Unfortunately it had embedded itself underneath the iron ring through which we tie the line. ...