Barbados May 2015

Tuesday 31st March, sees us motoring round to Cocoa Bay, meandering through said corals and shifting sandbanks (3 hours motoring slowly). After lunch the skies turned grey and another 10 minute burst of rain.  It seems the best snorkelling will be in the mornings.

  Good Friday 3rd April! Sailed to Jolly Harbour 35.8 NM in 5 hours 10 mins an average of 6.8 NM/hour.
4th motored to 5, Islands and then Deep Bay on the 5th Dived on the ‘Wreck of the Andes’ Not good visibility but interesting for our first wreck dive.

7th back to 5 Islands and all alone, brief wifi then to Jolly to check out.
8th Sailed to Deshaies Guadeloupe, 48.8 NM in just under 8 hours averaging 6.3 KN/hour.

  A very wet morning with the main aft hatch slightly open meant that the one BIG wave emptied onto the nav desk and galley plus the saloon cushions too.  Much to dry off then wash in Freshwater when we got in.  Still we saw plenty of turtles and just before we anchored a pod of dolphins too.
We refilled the dive tanks and had French pastries, said hi to S/Y Coromandel (12th) before motor sailing to Pigeon Island to see if we could find Sea horses.  This time the anchorage was calmer than Deshaies. Visibility fair enough to watch a Caribbean Spiny Lobster. There were many new sponges to add to the photo collection.
Monday 13th April sailed from Pigeon to Bourg des Saints.  Just after setting a full Yankee, staysail and 3 reefs of the main we were called by a customs boat, who wanted to board and search.  We put fenders out and two very polite guys hopped aboard.

  One sat in the cockpit with Malcolm taking ‘Piano’s’ particulars, the other came below and poked around in various cupboards.  We were heeling a bit and they became a little nervous that we were away from the coast, however, seemed quite satisfied with their visit and wished us a pleasant onward sail to Guadeloupe.

   Ok it was a bit boisterous, being hard on the wind, plus as we entered the Saints channel there were MANY fishing buoys to avoid.  That said we arrived in time for lunch at Tea time.  We stayed 2 nights and bought sufficient croissants to last the next trip.  Also had a tasty lunch to enable us some wi fi what a bonus!

   Wednesday 15th April, slipped the mooring and sailed for Portsmouth, Dominica—23 Nm in 3 hours 24 minutes, an average of 6.8 Kts.  We were welcomed by Titus who remembered us from last year and took the opportunity to arrange a trip up the Indian River the next morning and a BBQ that evening at which we met a few new yachties.

  Thursday Titus came by at 08.30 to pick us up and take us to the Indian River, here he lifted his outboard and handed us to Leo who rowed us along peacefully explaining the wild-life around us.

   Sometime thereafter we sailed for St Lucia, anchoring overnight in Rodney Bay—while Malcolm went ashore to sign in.  Next we moved into the marina to top-up the water and batteries. A short trip for shopping and to visit Derek and Bridgit.  Here we caught up on the families news and gave them a brief resume of our adventures.

This a snap of the nav computer, how I wish Picassa web albums still worked!

   Another day another Island, this time we had the correct angle to make Barbados on a fine reach, taking 24 hours to make the yacht club to sign in then anchored in Carlisle Bay.  Not much has changed since our landfall back in January 2010, there were still horses being exercised in the sea, and jet skis zooming past at all hours.  Our first trip ashore we noticed that the Port Authority has placed mooring balls in the inner harbour and after finding the office we inquired when we could enter.  This with the help of the new owner of the Pub at the Bridge House.  I just can’t get Trip Advisor to find me their listing! So here is a snap of our view. 

 A day or so later Anton arrived with Cliff and David.  They easily found ‘Piano’ and came for sun-downers.

  Next ensued a fun packed week while they waited for the start of the cricket.  

Tuesday we hiked  a short distance to the racecourse to watch the 'ponies'.   As we arrived the first race was about to start and we had a prime view being at the start line!

  We then went in search of sustenance and found the victualing area where we had lunch of Doubles and hot-dogs with Banks beer.  Then we watched the remainder of the races from the Grandstand and even had a winner!

   Wednesday we took a taxi to The Atlantic Hotel, Tent Bay, in St Josephs parish. Yes lunch was sumptuous and truly Caribbean in flavour.  It was ideal for the three visitors as it gave them the opportunity to savour many different dishes.  Also a perfect day weather wise just a gentle breeze over the water.

  Close by is Bathsheba and the whole of this coast is grazed by the Atlantic Ocean.  Did I mention the fields of Sargasso weed through which we sailed? Apparently it is not unusual, it’s just that in five years we have never seen it so thick.

  So the primary reason for the visitors from England was the third test Cricket at the Oval just outside Bridgetown.  In fact many locals failed to support their side after the first day.  Consequently they returned and trashed the English side!

(The BBC sports site gives a far better coverage than I can with some good snaps too.)

  While the boys were having fun at the Cricket, we arranged for the Yankee sail to be repaired at Doyles and then went to collect it. Our sail had been packed ready for collection but we were given a full tour of the high tech sail loft at Six Crossroads.  What a happy workforce, and what superb working conditions.  With all the doors and windows open and enough shade to make life conjunctive to excellent sail making!

  We had sun-downers at Anton's Hotel followed by dinner at an Italian Restaurant then bade him goodbye until June when we are home again. 

  Our final sail of the year was back to Trinidad and we arrived early on the 7th June.  Richard fitted the air con the next day and work began on getting ‘Piano’ ready to have a holiday.  Malcolm even put a bag around the prop this year to combat the growth of weed.  Fortunately S/Y ‘C Drifters’ came in just before we flew home and relieved us of what was left in the fridge.  We must also say a very big THANK-YOU to Ray & Ireene for bringing Malcolms' laptop and glasses over for us.  How did he forget them ?????