Well, we were launched at 1.00pm on Monday, they are so expert here that even Chris was not his usual stressed self during the lift!!!
We then spent the rest of the day peacefully at anchor – well apart from the swell kicked up by all the other vessels around: motor boats, fishing boats, large commercial vessels with pilot boats etc
We then spent the rest of the day peacefully at anchor – well apart from the swell kicked up by all the other vessels around: motor boats, fishing boats, large commercial vessels with pilot boats etc
Now all we had to do was haul up the head sail before we could get going.
The sail had been taken down as we had some work done on the roller reefing and also needed a new head-stay. Once down we were not allowed to put it back up in the yard and had to wait until we were back on the water. To get it back up, a calm day is needed and if there is any wind the boat has to be heading in to it. Nearly every morning we have been here it is really calm until at least 8.00 o’clock so we got up around 6.00 on Tuesday to check but oh no! The day WE wanted it calm was the day it was blowy AND the wind was on the beam (side) meaning that it was not a good idea to try! We kept checking but no luck; up early again on Wednesday – no; Thursday at 5.55 am Chris woke me up – no wind!! The head sail was up by 6.30 HURRAY!! Then Chris went back to bed!!!!
Later in the morning, we booked out of Immigration and Customs and shortly before 5.00 pm we set off just after the tide had turned. We had read that the opposing current and winds could be less overnight. Our course was to sail east for about 20/30 miles to take us well away from the oil rigs (were the 2 attacks on yotties had taken place) and then northwards towards St Lucia and Dominica.
The sail had been taken down as we had some work done on the roller reefing and also needed a new head-stay. Once down we were not allowed to put it back up in the yard and had to wait until we were back on the water. To get it back up, a calm day is needed and if there is any wind the boat has to be heading in to it. Nearly every morning we have been here it is really calm until at least 8.00 o’clock so we got up around 6.00 on Tuesday to check but oh no! The day WE wanted it calm was the day it was blowy AND the wind was on the beam (side) meaning that it was not a good idea to try! We kept checking but no luck; up early again on Wednesday – no; Thursday at 5.55 am Chris woke me up – no wind!! The head sail was up by 6.30 HURRAY!! Then Chris went back to bed!!!!
Later in the morning, we booked out of Immigration and Customs and shortly before 5.00 pm we set off just after the tide had turned. We had read that the opposing current and winds could be less overnight. Our course was to sail east for about 20/30 miles to take us well away from the oil rigs (were the 2 attacks on yotties had taken place) and then northwards towards St Lucia and Dominica.
Sounds good – if you get out past the “Boca”. An area were the tide rushes out between the islands and the current rushes in.
Well, the seas were HORRIBLE, short steep swell that Moontide really did not like and I have to say, neither did I!! (We learnt later that the best time is 2 hours before low tide so we were about 4 hours out.) We turned around and anchored up in a nearby bay which was beautiful!
Whilst calmly anchored we discussed our timescale as Chris likes to leave Antigua on or before 1st May to get the best weather across the Atlantic. There was now so little time to explore and enjoy the Caribbean – the main purpose of our trip originally - and the very short timetable could well mean that we would need to sail at times against our better judgement. In fact we had left that day when there was more wind than we really wanted.
So we decided we would go back to Chaguaramas; Chris could do some of the rusty deck work that needs doing and we would store the boat for 6 months, fly back to the UK and return in October/November when we could then have about 6 months enjoyment out here rather than rushing. We booked back in and have been lifted out again by Peake Yacht Services and arranged for Moontide to stay up on the hard until October/November
So we decided we would go back to Chaguaramas; Chris could do some of the rusty deck work that needs doing and we would store the boat for 6 months, fly back to the UK and return in October/November when we could then have about 6 months enjoyment out here rather than rushing. We booked back in and have been lifted out again by Peake Yacht Services and arranged for Moontide to stay up on the hard until October/November
We will go down to Exeter for a couple of weeks to sort out getting a car etc and then make good use of the time to investigate and explore areas we may move to on our final return to the UK. Although we have the flat, ideally we would like something a little bigger and probably can’t afford it in Exeter so are looking for cheaper areas – maybe South Wales. Before moving to a completely new area though, we had planned to spend a bit of time renting a place in the area to see if we liked it and what infrastructure it offered etc hence the time exploring!
We’re booked to fly out the beginning of next week so we’re looking forward to seeing everyone again sooner than we had expected!!
(Just for the record - a map!!)
We’re booked to fly out the beginning of next week so we’re looking forward to seeing everyone again sooner than we had expected!!
(Just for the record - a map!!)