Merry Christmas to you All Sitting on the boat in Rodney Bay marina watching the ARC 2005 boats come in, being greeted by the Arc committee with the rum punch and the basket of tropical fruit, family and friends waiting to greet them. It is hard to realise that we arrived in the Caribbean having sailed across with the ARC 2004 from Las Palmas in the Canaries to St. Lucia 12 months ago. I thought I would reflect on our progress to date. Firstly we were surprised to find we could only sail the islands for a period of 6 months. (November to May). Insurance companies require you to leave and go south as we did to Trinidad, Venezuela or far north into the states during the summer hurricane season. However we managed to island hop from St. Lucia to Antigua in the north and then down to Trinidad in the south. We visited 16 islands. Anchored or picking up mooring buoys at numerous bays. We did a total of 1900nm. Sailing here has been a dream. Islands can usually in sight of one another. Generally a day sail between stops. Winds are generally north east or south east 15 - 25 knots and the seas slight. So you reach up and down. Lovely. But then you do have squalls. Mini storms that appear out of nowhere last only a short period but give you 30 - 35kts. of wind and heavy rain. You do see them in the sky and so are not taken unawares. And the sun is still shinning. The anchorages large bays and small coves are beautiful. Pale blue water over the shallow reefs or blue/green in the mangroves. Warm 29 - 31c. Inviting you to take a dip. The sunsets dramatic as the skies turn in various shades of blue and pinks; something I always thought was artistic licence on paintings. Travel inland you have the rivers and the waterfalls. Green tropical jungle with small villages. Towns tend to be dry and dusty. The islands are all individual. The French islands very European, cheap wine and olive oil. The larger Caribbean islands, commercialized for the tourist. Nicer if you keep out of the ports that the cruise ships call into, with the large Duty Free Malls. Though I must admit a little retail therapy is not to be frowned on. The smaller islands are the best, you do have the coloured wooden boats of vendors wanting to sell you the local fruit, fish and jewellery made of beads and shell. But they can be helpful if you need a back line attached to the shore or have to pick up a mooring in windy anchorages. The locals are friendly and always happy. Maybe something to do with ganja, Marijuana is grown on these islands and is part of the local Rasta religion. There are certain things you miss. There is little change in the seasons. I missed spring flowers and the smell of English gardens and the smell of fresh green grass after a rain shower. A day of retail therapy, strolling down the high street, window shopping then stopping for a scone and a coffee. Chatting for long periods on the phone to friends and family. Which is probably why I ramble on in my e-mails? Something’s you get used to UHT milk, fresh milk is not always available and doesn’t keep fresh with the heat. English Bacon and sausage how our taste buds have change. Small things like not being able to have a soak in a bath. We have a shower on board but usually it a swill on the back of the boat after a dip in the salty sea. Gone are the days of a daily morning shower. Some things you don’ t get used to are mosquitoes, but have learned to use repellent at all times. I use it instead of perfume. Two bits of equipment I have valued during this period of cruising are (a) the Water maker. We don’t have to be too strict on the use of water as we do not have to carry water from the shore to fill the boat tanks. I’m able to clean my teeth with the tap running without getting shouted at. We can also wash clothes and dishes in fresh water instead of washing in salt water and rinsing only in fresh. It’s magic, in goes salt sea water and out come drinkable pure water (b) the Satellite phone. My contact with friends and family and importantly downloading the weather. We can send and receive message on the boat through the Sat. phone on to the on board computer. Just like the postman calling, you listen out for the ring. So keep the e-mails coming. I would say it has been a good year and we have enjoyed the Caribbean. We have met some lovely people on our travels and my list of e-mail contacts have grown. We have luckily stayed healthy though we drink a little too much and don’t get enough exercise. Two is company, but there are times when confined to 40ft.of boat space, it isn’t enough and tempers can get a little frayed. Though on the whole we have learnt to adapt to each others odd habits. As we go into 2006 and look forward to another years sailing. I wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year. Joy

Categories: Travels
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