Antigua 2017

2/15/17 We left Montserrat and motor-sailed to the north coast of the island to head east to Antigua. We had ignored the maxim to never give up easting (in the Caribbean) by going from Marie Galante to Guadeloupe and then Montserrat and then back east to Antigua. We should have gone to Antigua after Marie Galante or at least from Pointe-a-Pitre. But we had the weather for Montserrat without too much rolling so we took it and then had to beat back east to Antigua. We could not lay Jolly Harbour and even though we went 15 degrees above course, we could only make 2.5 knots speed over ground. So we started the engine and headed into the wind, directly for Jolly Harbour with the mainsail up to steady us. We made it there in about 6 1/2 hours and friends, Tom and Barbara on Kalani welcomed us and took Greg in to customs so we didn’t have to get the dinghy in the water right away. The next day we met Phil and Judie on Rum Runner and had dinner with them and Kalani at a fancy resort restaurant called Shear Rocks at Coco Bay.

Sunset at Shear Rocks

The beautiful Adella anchored in Jolly Harbour. They came in just behind us.

2/17/2017 We motor-sailed from Jolly Harbour over to Carlisle Bay, going outside of Cades reef and the Goat head channel as Liz Ann was at the helm and wasn’t comfortable with the narrow passage. We anchored in Carlisle Bay for the night and played Farkle (a dice game) on Rum Runner.

Playing Farkle with Judie, Charlie, the dog, Paul and Barbara

2/18/2017 We motored over to Falmouth Harbour and the engine was still running warm. We saw Baidarka there and had sundowners on their boat.


Sundowners and supper on Baidarka with Bill and Joanna

Boat lights in the harbour

The next day Greg cleaned the heat exchanger and adjusted the belt as it was squealing. On the 20th we hiked up the hill in English Harbour and watched the start of the Caribbean 600 regatta from near the start line. It was really exciting to see the boats vying for position and almost running into the shore before tacking.

Our vantage point for the race: we were up on the hill next to the officials’ white tent.

The boat with our favorite sail


Lots of near misses and interesting tactics at the start.
They raced 600 nautical miles around several islands in the Caribbean. The first boat finished
We had the bottom cleaned by Maurice divers while we were in Falmouth so now we should be speedy through the water now.
2/22/2017 Motor-sailed with all 3 sails up over to Nonsuch Bay. the wind varied from 4 to 10 knots so we used the engine to help. We took a (free) mooring near Bird Island. Kalani, Rum Runner, Pandora and Kalunamoo were all there and we had sundowners and appetizers on Kalunamooo night and on Pandora another night. We snorkeled the reef twice and ran the generator to make water one day. The fridge quit on us one night but came back on the next day.

Eric Clapton’s house on a hill between Falmouth and Nonsuch Bay


Beautiful sunset in Nonsuch Bay, Antigua


Snorkeling in Nonsuch.

Pot luck on Pandora.

Watching the evening sky is our “movie night.”

2/26/2017 We sailed back to Falmouth on a broad reach. We had to keep heading up to stay off of a run and the waves were hitting us on the quarter, causing us to roll a lot. Liz Ann’s LEAST favorite point of sail. We gybed when we were near English Harbour and the waves were more on the stern and we were much more comfortable. We anchored in Falmouth near Pigeon Beach. A few days later we started getting some swell in the harbour and we re-anchored farther up into the harbour to get out of the swells.
We hiked from Falmouth to Fort George in English Harbour. It was a really nice hike with great views  but we forgot the camera that day.

Judie and Phil had gone back to the states for a few days and kindly let us have parts for our water maker shipped to them and brought them back to us. Greg repaired the high pressure pump with new seals and it is now running great.


Charter schooner all lit up in Falmouth Harbour

Dinner with friends at Hot Hot Hot Spot Cafe in English Harbour

The Royal Tot Club was there having their Mardi Gras celebration and they kindly included us in their King Cake desert. It’s not Randazzo’s or Haydel’s but it was a fun reminder of home.

3/2/2017 We hiked to Fort George with Carol and Bob Gaiman (Oasis) and Judie Levenson (Rum Runner).

Falmouth Harbour

Remains of fort George

Looking down at Falmouth Harbour from Ft. George

Judie, Greg, Liz Ann, Carol and Bob
Pretty home on our walk back.
We did another hike to Rendezvous Beach on March 5 and then to Shirley Heights on the 7th. One more hike on the 10th to Rendezvous (a different way) and then we headed back to Jolly Harbour.
First hike to Rendezvous Beach:

A boat passing way out on the horizon

Liz Ann, Judie, Carol, Robin, and Barbara

On Rendezvous Beach

Our whole hiking group: Liz Ann, Greg, Barbara, Bob, Carol, Robin, Judie

An old sugar windmill converted into a home

Beautiful rock garden outside of a home
Hike to Shirley Heights:

We had a large hiking crew that day led by Haken and Anna from Sweden (S/V Unicorn)

Anna, Anina and Judie

Judie








Hiking up from the point

Shirley Heights ruins

English Harbour in foreground, Falmouth Harbour beyond



English Harbour

Hiking back down from Shirley Heights
Our second hike to Rendezvous



Our crew climbing out of a gully

Barbara, Carol, Anna, Greg, Judie, Charley and Liz Ann

The whole crew stopped for lunch at Sweet T’s: Robin, Bob, Carol, Judie, Greg, Barbara, Liz Ann, Dave (S/V Jammin), Anina, Charley, Anna and Haken
3/11/2017 We sailed on a broad reach to a run from Falmouth back to Jolly Harbour and passed inside of Cades reef  through Goat Head channel to lessen the swell effect. The winds were 12 to 20 knots and we had a great sail. We provisioned at Epicurean in Jolly Harbour and had sundowners on Baidarka again.
Time to head farther north.