Had a reasonable crossing to Antigua although the wind was very variable so lots of sail configuration changes. Arrived in Freeman’s bay English Harbour, spotted Harvey & Rita’s yacht so said hello before finding a spot to anchor. They invited me to dinner and drinks later which was very nice.
Highlights of the next few days were a beach barbecue, a walk up Shirley Heights with Rita & Harvey.
A walk over Middle Ground to swim at Pigeon Beach, a cycle ride to Bethesda (as you may know I lived in Bethesda N Wales for a long time) just had to visit .
There was also the donkey sanctuary there to visit.
A tot and toast at the Naval tot club followed by fish Friday then a long bike ride to Carlisle Bay down and back up Fig Tree Drive, a bit of a beast of a hill in parts and hilly the rest of way too, legs pretty tired after this little excursion.
Time to move on so when the winds eased and the seas were calmer, as it had been unsettled and squally for a few days. I weighed anchor and in two long tacks made for Green Island and then into Nonsuch Bay through the reefs, eyeball navigation this for which the sun very unhelpfully hid behind a cloud, you need good light to see the reefs, but through OK and anchored in Ayres Creek, just had to go there didn’t I?
Very little there but a quiet place, I was the only boat anchored there. When leaving Nonsuch bay there was quite a swell on York Bank built up by the strong winds, so not so much fun but Sea Bear coped well as usual. Then a fast run just under yankee, rolly and with breaking waves past English Harbour, through the Goats head channel between Cadie’s reef and the mainland past Pelican Island and into the lee of the west coast to anchor off Jolly Harbour. I will make my departure from Antigua here.