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…