We arrived here, one of the most famous harbours for British cruisers, yesterday after a rather rough but very fast passage from Deshaies. We knew it would be a bit lively with the GRIB files showing an easterly force 5 all the way. GRIB files always under estimate the wind so we had around thirty knots of wind all the way which equates to a good solid force 7 on the beaufort scale. Still, we did complete 40 miles in something like seven hours which is something of a speed record for us.
It is fascinating to be here in English Harbour though it is not quite the paradise that people make it out to be. It is actually quite small and very popular so it is quite cramped and everything is quite expensive being geared to the yottie rather than cruiser bracket. Still, as it is the classics regatta at the moment, there are a plethora of beautiful yachts to admire. They were out racing as we were approaching no less so we were priveliged to see acres of billowing sail passing reasonably close to us. We are now anchored next to Chaos with whom we had several rather lethal rum cocktails last night.
Clearing in was a pleasant affair and we have collected another stamp in our passports – something we have been missing in the French islands. They do however collect a bit of money from you and apprently you have to pay $EC75 when we leave.. Also, English Harbour is a national park so you have to pay various fees to anchor here which amounted to $EC101 for two days. There are approximately $EC4.50 to one pound!
We have quite a long list of things to achieve while here. As dedicated followers of these ramblings will know, we need to give some serious attention to our batteries. We also need to get some charts, though we do need to decide where we are going first of course. Finally, we need to start planning our return to Blighty.
This is a rather strange time in that sense though as we are now in the closing stages of the cruise and are having to start planning a return to shore based life, at least temporarily. We are definitely in the last stages of the Caribbean stage of the cruise. We still have the Azores to look forward to and will be spending a couple of months there before the final stage. This inevitably has led us to do some reflecting.
As ever, we feel that we have had to move too quickly and skate over too much to feel that we have done justice to this beautiful cruising ground. The next time (we have pencilled in 2019 as a departure year) we will take two years to do the whole thing and spend the hurricane season in somewhere like Trinidad or even northern South America. This would give us a combined total of nearly twelve months down here. Still, we have to get back the to the UK, find jobs and then complete a refit list as long as my arm.
While here, we have managed to see a couple of the Antigua Classics races. The first was taking place as we arrived and we watched a bit of the second from the entrance to English Harbour. There are some truly beautiful wooden boats including two we know. First, Grayhound is here though we have missed our option to crew on her. Secondly, Meriva is here, who we last saw in Tazacorte in La Palma before departing for the Cabo Verde islands. We also had a big surprise when Coromandel turned up having been 22 days out of Tazacorte.
Proof that we actually did make it here I suppose! Dreadful looking person though.
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