158 HAULING OUT IN ANTIGUA скачать в хорошем качестве

158 HAULING OUT IN ANTIGUA

After our sail from St Barth’s we finally arrived in a lush green Antigua earlier than we expected. We immediately had an impromptu catch-up with our sailing friends Utè and Russ on S/Y Tairua who were ready to fly back home later that day which just happened to coincide with our wedding anniversary. After a couple of days in Jolly Harbour and enough time to stock up with the last few provisions, we sailed onto Deep Bay where we were joined by Louise and Joseph on S/Y Tangoroa ll and this being an ideal opportunity to celebrate the end of the sailing season with one of our famous chicken curries onboard Twenty Twenty before each of us flew back to our home countries. No sooner had we prepared for our guests arrival with the smell of Chicken Tikka drifting out across the anchorage than the skies blackened and opened up with a thunderous deluge. Sheets of lightning cracking across the horizon lit up the sky, a proper Caribbean greeting! But once the storm had passed by the following morning, we were left with calm waters, blue skies, cool air and a surprisingly empty island and dinghies full of water! Early May and Antigua felt more like a ghost town as the buzz of the high season had already moved on leaving behind quiet anchorages and empty moorings, not that we were complaining. It was the perfect time to get stuck into some much needed work without the chaos of peak crowds. Top of the to-do list was to finally install the upgraded course computer for the auto-pilot. After putting this job off for longer than I care to admit, it turned out to be far simpler than expected and one of those rare boat projects that just falls in to place. The difference it made to our sail up to English Harbour was absolutely astonishing, smooth, responsive and surprisingly efficient……. We may never have to hand-steer again! With that ticked off, we prepped for the next task, hauling out. As this was our first time hauling out in Antigua we were unsure of what to expect. Slipway Marina is one of the few places where boats are still hauled using the old-school ‘bogie’ on underwater rail tracks, a bit of maritime history still in use. It’s a strange sight watching your home roll up out of the sea on steel tracks, but the process was very smooth and easy. So now the boat’s out on dry land, chocked and settled and getting ready for a well-earned rest. It was now time to put her to bed and for ourselves, a land break with family and friends back home in the UK.