Water water

18.03.2010

Stayed in Nonsuch overnight and next morning motored over to visit an old sugar plantation, now an art gallery/resturant. We ended up stranded onboard as the heavens opened and we experience a serious tropical downpour. Turning the delay to our advantage we got out all the bowls. pans etc that were available to catch the rainwater. we reckoned we managed to put about 30 plus litres into the tank in no time at all. It was fun. Our reward was to have a delicious lunch in Harmony Hall. We met a lovely couple and their son. He is planning to do the ARC next year and of course the chat was great for us if a tad alien for Gareth and Catherine. While we were there a tender arrived. It was straight out of James Bond movie and the actual motor launch was something else. Needless to say it left us gasping. The interior of the tender had been designed by Philip Stark and was done out in white leather. Probably cost them about 10K just to get it out of the dock and motor in for lunch.
We headed back to Green island for the night but it was too rough for snorkelling.

Next day we set sail for Jolly Harbour. Another great sail with good winds and 6 – 7 knots under gib. we passed a few treacherous reefs and almost fell foul of one at St Johns. Made it safelt into Jolly Marina where I had my first proper shower in more than 2 weeks. Hadn’t actually twigged that we hadn’t been tied up since Rodney Bay when Jo left. Anyway the showers were wonderful. Gareth and Catherine could get of and go for romantic walks etc. John and I met up with friends from the ARC and enjoyed time with them before we all head of in different directions. It is quite sad really but hopefully we shall see them again sooner rather than later. The biggest bonus of being here is that there is an American supermarket. It has been so much fun restocking the larders with familiar items.

We decided to have another couple of days at anchor with Gareth and Catherine and headed up to a place called Long Island. Turns out it is yet another exclusive island and whilst you can go ashore to the beach you can’t get a drink at any of the beach bars and if you want lunch you have to book well in advance. Quite sad the number of beaches that are exclusive on Antigua. Most have their own private security guards as well!!!

Anyway we have said our farewells to Gareth and Catherine and will have one more night in Jolly before heading back south. Feel a bit like a migrating bird having to head south for the hurricane season. The heat and humidity in the last two weeks has been cranked up to a regular 40 degrees. Not sure if we will survive the heat in Trinidad where it is apparently even hotter. (wouldn’t mind but I’m still a pale shade of white!)