THE END OF WINTER 2017

London Girls

We did indeed have a fabulous time with the London Girls and their hubbies, notably Amanda, James, Susanne and Peter.

From the moment we met them in Jolly Harbour, excitedly spilling out of a taxi, to the moment we put them back in one in English Harbour we had a ball.

Happy Days

James and Amanda gallantly took the Pullman; I only once heard a comment about the well-known sport of cat swinging! Peter and Susanne stoically put up with the odd bout of seasickness, as the weather was not kind to us. It basically blow a Hooley and escaping to Green Island mid week for some flat water resulted in an anxious night for the crew. Escaping the next day was exciting, the skipper did a marvelous job of putting everyone’s mind at rest but we were nevertheless pleased

to get back into English harbour, where we spent the last two nights of their holiday tied up to the dock. We restricted our boating

trips to using the dingy to ferry everyone to Freemans beach. We had a fabulous last night in Abracadabra dancing our socks off, my only regret being that we decided not to all pile into the cage on the podium which seemed like such a great idea at the time….

Freemans Bay

James, with the help of his photographic assistant Susanne, made a fabulous film of our week so we can relive it all in years to come.

We lingered a few more days in Antigua making a few repairs and then set sail for Dominica. Our designated boat boy duly met us at the entrance, took us to customs and then arranged to pick us up early the next morning for a tour down the Indian River. Up at the crack of dawn we were duly picked up by Providence, infact not our original man, but he turned out to be an excellent and well-informed guide.

The Indian River

Rowing down the river through the shady green waters it felt like we were deep in the jungle. We learnt much about the local vegetation and animals and were sad to leave the peace and quiet, so we consoled ourselves with a simple lunch on the beach.

Eupraxia arrived in the bay later that day and as luck would have it there was room for them and their shipmates to join us on our tour of the island the next day. We charged around the island with our driver who proudly called himself The Love Doctor. He certainly seemed more interested in waving at all the local girls then talking to us but nevertheless we got a good view of Island life. With only seventy thousand inhabitants and very little employment Dominica is a very poor island but definelty the most beautiful one we have seen so far

 

We visited a chocolate factory, which was fascinating, and I was surprised we managed to get Andrew back into the taxi. A very poor lunch on the road, denoting the lack of provisions on the island, several stops to buy local crafts made by the indigenous Carib Indians, and then a trip to Green Emerald Pools in the middle of the jungle. The water was freezing but invigorating and on our walk through the jungle we spotted a huge green parrot with red markings flying across the valley, it was a truly spectacular sight!

Moving on it was time to head to Grenada to meet the Ewart Smith family. We stopped briefly in St Lucia, whilst swimming in Rodney bay we were rudely interrupted and escorted back to our vessel by the Customs boat who felt we were a danger to ourselves and local shipping, they probably had a point! We overnighted to Grenada and then set about exploring our new island.

Compensation

Catherine, Michael, Tom & Polly arrived within a few days and we decided to take a tour around the island. Another taxi ride, but this time with a fifth day Adventist so we learnt much more about the island, Catherine might have preferred the Love Doctor. Although Grenada is much more wealthy than Dominica the island is very similar in appearance, very green and lush with lots of rivers. This time the waterfall we visited had an added attraction in the form of two young local lads performing diving tricks down the fall, I think they more than made up for our taxi driver…

We had fabulous ten days visiting various islands in the

Grenadines, swimming with turtles in the Tobago Keys, which is beautiful. We were disappointed to find that the famous Basel’s bar on Mystique was being rebuilt so Catherine and I gamely set of for an early drink in the Cotton club instead. We were stopped by a security guard and had to be picked up by the hotel taxi as Yachties are not allowed lose on the island due to the number of celebrities in residence. Two very strong rum punches later we were taken back to Basel’s pop up bar to meet the others, the Ginger thought she could keep up with me and had a third… What happens on Hullabaloo stays on Hullabaloo…

All to soon it was time to say goodbye and we sailed back to Petit St. Vincent, put down anchor and started on some long overdue chores.  We had a couple of weeks before our girls were due to visit us. Very sadly I woke one morning to lots of messages on my phone, my lovely mummy had passed away unexpectedly in the night. It was such a shock and the next few days were a blur as we made our way back to Grenada to head home.

After a very sad time in England we returned with Emma and Georgina in tow for their two-week holiday. It was the best tonic in the world to have our two lovely daughters with us.  We were all obviously in a funny place but we still

managed some special times, we celebrated George’s birthday in the Tobago Keys, Emma caught her first fish and we toasted the B on her birthday during a lovely lunch on Petit St Vincent. We played lots of cards and for the first time since I was about twelve I won the family cup!!

After they left us we had two weeks to put the boat to bed for the summer. We polished the decks, washed down the entire interior in vinegar, vacuum packed all the bedding and clothes and generally got very hot and bothered as the temperature soared. I was almost glad to get on a plane.

We have spent the summer sorting out a multitude of things and are now preparing to go back to the good ship Hullabaloo tomorrow, no doubt to wash it all over again! But I am so ready…

 

A LONG OVERDUE CATCH UP ON THE LAST FEW MONTHS BACK IN THE CARIBBEAN!

A new friend

I have been very remiss at writing the blog so it is time to give a brief update of the last few months. Arriving at Jost Van Dyke the first stop after customs was of course Foxy’s for a well earned rum punch. We must have looked somewhat shaken as the man himself bought us one on the house! With the mammoth task of drying out the inside of the boat we stayed in the bay for a few days and of course had to treat ourselves to dinner and a bop in the above mentioned venue, rude not to!

Virgin Gorda

We moved around the BVI’s for a couple of weeks visiting some of our favorite spots, whilst fighting a battle with the continuous rain, to dry the boat out. I took every cupboard apart and spent much time putting things out to dry and then hastily throwing them down below. However by the time we left Virgin Gorda Sound for St. Marten we were pretty ship shape below decks, now just the spray hood to sort out.

After an overnighter we arrived on the French side of St. Marten and set off to pick up the track for the Spray hood that I had managed to source.  The French islands are definelty the place to go for spare marine parts. It took us two days to

wrestle the track into place. We were very pleased with ourselves to have the boat pretty much sorted, bar a few electric problems that would need a trip back to the UK for parts.

In the middle of all our shopping trips the skipper had the brilliant idea of buying a plastic hook and line to attach the dingy to the back of the boat. I did question its ability to do the job, so was not too surprised to see it floating out to sea mid track repair. I was flabbergasted to watch its second departure! Two long swims for Andrew and much smirking from me, particularly as we then realised we had the answer all along in the form of the towing rope, enough said!

Andrew and Jeremy Laser sailing in Deep Bay

We treated ourselves to lunch at Catherines

We had planned to spend some time in St. Barts but the weather forecast persuaded us to head straight for Antigua stopping there just for a few hours sleep en route.  Arriving the next evening after dark, after a long upwind sail, we made land at Deep Bay feeling comfortable with the lay of the land. We were delighted to find Mary & Jeremy in residence with their friend Sue who all came out to see us before breakfast. We had a very jolly evening with them in their villa, enjoying having company for dinner for the first time in five weeks!

 





We spent a week around the island doing a few jobs and re sealed our two large saloon windows, which was quite a job. It kept raining whilst they were out and I felt a tad silly standing on the sofa with a golfing umbrella protecting my nice dry interior! No idea where the brolly came from.

Laying the boat up in Jolly Harbour for three weeks we went home for Christmas and had an excellent time with family and friends. Returning early January we had time to provision and then set off for Guadeloupe to meet Sally and Kevin, much excitement all round! I will let Sally tell the tale, but suffice to day we had a fabulous time with them both exploring the Island and the Saints which are really beautiful.  Sally taught me how to swim long distance front crawl properly and Kevin did eventually get in the water!

A word from Sally

Sally and Kevin January 2017

Left the Uk on dark freezing January to travel to Guadeloupe to visit Andrew and Julia on Hullaballoo. Kevin and I were like excited teenagers as this was the first holiday together without the children in 14 years. We arrived at Dehaies on the island which is where they film Death in Paradise and it was somewhat surreal to jump out of taxi to see Andrew waiting on the dock to whizz us out to Hullabaloo where Julia was waiting with wine and beers and a made to order sunset!

Birthday bunting

We had a wonderful time sailing around Guadeloupe and the Saintes islands. The sailing was amazing not least because we had some big breeze and some tacking upwind something Andrew tries to avoid! Epic sail to Marie Galante and only shame we could not make it to the rum distillery there. The Saintes were a highlight as the islands are so quaint and like time forgot and we had unforgettable birthday meal overlooking the harbour. Julia and I all got all glammed up to go out only it for to chuck it down as we hit the shore in the rib and we entered the restaurant like two drowned rats.  Some beautiful anchorages and a great fun night at a shack of bar with our local friend “ La Lune La Lune”! We all loved the fact because Guadeloupe and The Saintes are part of France the wine and food was superb.

Kevin in command

 Highlights include being part of the support and coaching staff to prepare for Julia’s Olympic trials for Tokyo in the open water swimming category. Loved training with her every morning and promise I will be ready to take up my role again when you are back in UK. Even more impressive was Kevin’s wish to get into the water at every opportunity. Not a moment went by when he was not badgering me incessantly to go for another swim and in the end Andrew had to have words and suggest that he enjoyed more time on deck reading his book!!!! 

Kevin loved every minute not least in the many hours spent chatting to Andrew about everything under the sun and of course sailing! I can only apologise Andrew but he was in seventh heaven.

Andrew and Julia were the most amazing hosts and nothing was too much trouble and they made us feel so welcome. To take some time out of the humdrum of normal life, the pressures of juggling children and work and to spend time together with such great friends on their beautiful boat was truly special. Thank you.

Proof that Kevin did get in the water

Tom and Rachel

We lingered in Guadeloupe for a few more days missing our shipmates before returning to Antigua, servicing the primary winches before we left. Delighted to find Tom and Rachel with their friends Roger and Jan in residence in their usual spot on Galleon beach. We took them all out for a very enjoyable day to Nonsuch Bay. We even managed to catch a Tuna to order for lunch.

A successful trip to the local hairdressers for us both, a re provision in Jolly and we were ready to welcome Louise and Nigel onboard. Much fun and frolics followed as we toured the Island, a couple of large hangovers, Petrol gate, Spice gate, Kettle gate and Watergate to add some drama and daily swimming with Louise to improve our front crawl. Very pleased with ourselves to have reached one hundred and twenty breaths in one go, that’s two hundred and forty strokes, we were thwarted of our goal on their last day of one hundred and fifty breathes by a large hangover. We had enjoyed an excellent lunch at Catherine’s, a party with the residents of Galleon beach and then several more rums in Falmouth. Fab to have the Bro and his wife onboard again, sad to see them go!

Spice gate

We didn’t have long to rest our livers before we welcomed Cindy onboard. Andrew’s parents Keith and Syggs were staying on the island as well so the next day they came onboard, despite my best efforts to tip Keith into the water out of the dinghy whilst transferring them on to Hullabaloo. Funnily enough no one seemed keen for me to drop them off on their beach later that day!

Giles and Jeremy at my birthday party

We had a lovely ten days with Cindy onboard and really enjoyed spending time with her. Moving down to English harbour to be near Keith and Syggs when they transferred to the Inn, there was also the added pleasure of the RORC 600 in town. I had an excellent birthday, Cindy had been so lovely and bought balloons and banners and I was very spoilt with lots of lovely presents. We had lunch in the beach bar with Sue and Eddie and then went to the opening party of the RORC 600, so nice of them to throw me a birthday party! Much rum, lots of dancing with my mates from the UK and a burger from Mumsy on the side of the road on the way home, marvelous stuff!

Pyjama day

After watching the start of the race and spending a lovely evening with the in laws at the Inn we scooped Mary up hoping to go to Barbuda for a couple of days, Jeremy was racing with Giles on his new boat Pata Negra. Unfortunately the weather had turned overnight and Anguilla no longer looked possible so we spent a fab two days in Non Such Bay. The same unheard of Westerlies played havoc with the race crews.  Day one we had a Pyjama day playing cards and games all afternoon, Day two the sunshine returned so water sports resumed, five hundred and ten breaths on the last swim of the day!

Keith and his offspring

We took Keith and Syggs back to Nonsuch the next day for another great day out and then said a sad goodbye to them. Another fun evening ensued at the RORC 600 finishing party, more sore feet the next day! Keen to have a quiet evening we sailed down to Willoughby Bay, only to be asked to a pop up on the beach by a very jolly South African called John, we couldn’t say no. Then on Cindy’s last day we had lunch with La, an old family friend who she hadn’t seen in over thirty years. All in all an excellent time was had by the Dallas family on tour!

We are now sitting in Jolly Harbour awaiting the arrival of James, Amanda, Susanne and Peter. I know they are on their way as there have been many excited whatsapps whilst I have been asleep! More happy days ahead…