Where would I rather be right now. At the moment we are sitting in JFK Airport waiting for a connecting flight to Portland Maine. We are on
our way for a 2 week visit to our land home in
New Brunswick. Our son Darryl is graduating from Mechanical Engineering at the University of New Brunwick. A great reason to be celebrating.
It will be a great opportunity to visit with family and friends before returning to Antigua. Once we rejoin Rhiannon, we will be heading south through the Islands so will try to keep you posted.
This photo was taken in March, in Antigua and Rhiannon is the boat beside Pat's elbow.
Take care,
Miriam

Late posting

Thursday April 19th
It’s a great morning for the 15 mile sail from Jolly Harbour to Falmouth Harbour. We are on our way to join our friends on Memory for the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. The festivities start today with 4 days of racing starting tomorrow. Rick was a little anxious that we weren’t going to make it but HEY we are good at making deadlines. Something I thought we were going to leave behind with our work life. Oh well. Life is about commitments no matter what situations you find yourself in. This was a commitment we have been looking forward to since last Labour Day. We first met Rick & Carey in Georgetown in the Bahamas, February 2006. Rick & Carey own a summer cottage in Burnt Coat Harbor, on Swan Island in Maine. We had visited this harbour a couple of times on our summer vacations so when we met we immediately had something in common. Rick had wanted to enter Memory, a Block Island 40’ Yawl, in the Classic Regatta so when we visited them on Swan Island last September the plan was set. We agreed to meet them in Antigua to crew for them.
Today, along with PJ & Tom from Conch’d Out, we are excited about tomorrow. Unfortunately there was no time for PRACTICE/ not only were we late arriving in Falmouth, but Memory’s engine was in a state of “not working” despite the local mechanic’s valiant efforts to get her running.
Tonight we find ourselves at the Mount Gay Rum Party... You buy 3 rum drinks and get a free hat. Guess what? I don’t drink rum but Pat got a hat anyways.

8:30 am Friday morning we find ourselves being towed out to the middle of the harbour by Hutch and Linda in their dinghy. Hey we feel like the America’s Cup boats, they don’t have engines either. Now it’s time for a shakedown sail before a 10:15 start. We blew the start this morning but all we cared about was having FUN. Not only fun, but it was pretty incredible to be out there amongst some of the most beautiful sailing yachts in the world. We really felt it was a privilege to participate in one of the most prestigious yachting events around.

Day 4; Monday morning, April 23rd we find ourselves tired and wondering what are we doing out here. 3 days of racing a 20 mile course each day in light winds and 4 -6 foot waves leave us disillusioned when the forecast is for less than 10 knots of wind. Well never believe a forecast. We HAD AN INCREDIBLE DAY. Wind was 12 – 15 knots with 1-2’ seas. We really came together as a crew and were only 8 seconds after the gun to cross the start line. We really pulled it together and felt we were finally competitive. We couldn’t catch Eddie on Moonshadow, a 40’ Hinckley but were able to stay ahead of Lazy Leg, both local racing boats. I must mention that the 6 of us on board Memory are diehard cruisers not racers but as they say, practice makes perfect and by Monday we all had learned how to make Memory go faster. And we still had fun!

There were a total of 60 boats divided into various classes. We were in the GRP class with 7 other boats. Check out www.photoaction.com for some awesome pictures. Follow the link to Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta 2007, look under boat name Memory, and you’ll see us. Also look under the heading of BEST and you will see a shot that is pretty awesome. Memory looks like she will T-bone Heron, but we’re not really that close. Incredible photography by this guy Tim who goes out there in his inflatable dinghy to take photos... Awesome! Also check out Belle Aventure. She won the Concours d’Elegance award and she certainly was number 1 in my books.
The overall winner was Galatea, a 66’ Yawl, she was first over the line each day, first in class and the oldest boat participating. Built in 1898 & refit in 2003, she was beautiful & sleek and it’s important to mention that her skipper and crew were very friendly, down to earth, average people. (like us)

Now that the parties are over for the Classic Regatta, the heat pumps up as Antigua gets ready for the Antigua Sailing Week. There are 204 boats registered for 6 days of racing. This is serious racing, not the Gentlemen’s race of the Classics and it is also serious party mode with competition between Mount Gay Rum of Barbados and English Harbour Rum of Antigua. Pat & I were still recovering from our Bermuda trip so did not party as much as a lot of our new friends but we still managed to put in a decent effort. Free rum goes over well with everyone except me. No matter how hard I try, I do not like the taste of rum, so no worries for a designated driver here.

Racing started Sunday April 29th, with the Racing class going one way around the island to Dickenson Bay while the Cruising Class goes the other way. We missed the start
but then we were trying to get ready to leave Falmouth. It is time for some R&R on our own boat. Rhiannon was starting to feel neglected and was complaining that it was time for a change of scenery.

Monday April 30th we cover the 50.2 miles to Barbuda in 8.5 hours. I love sailing in these waters. A beam reach or close reach in 12 -18 knot winds is the order of the day. There’s nothing more enjoyable than that… Barbuda is an island North of Antigua and is considered part of Antigua but it is very very different from any of the other islands in the Eastern Caribbean. She is 14 miles long by 8 miles wide and is very flat, almost featureless and very dry. In comparison, the other islands are very mountainous with rugged coastlines. We visited the west coast which has 11 miles of uninterrupted beach. Nothing but gorgeous white and pink sand. I’ve never seen pink sand before. It is unique. Needless to say we basically did absolutely nothing but relax for 4 days, enjoy the snorkeling, swimming and Bocce Ball on the beach. On the other side of the sand dunes is a mile wide lagoon. On the opposite side of the lagoon is the town of Codrington, which houses the majority of the residents of Barbuda. Wednesday we took a water taxi across the lagoon and needless to say found a very sleepy little town. This is the most laid back place we have visited in a very long time. This area is one of the best kept secrets of the Caribbean and I hope the residents will continue to keep it that way. On the 11 miles of beach, there were 9 boats anchored on one night, but averaged 5 boats a night. Talk about solitude. This is a real paradise, only 1600 people live on the island (which is considered part of Antigua) and they do not allow very much development, so no fancy resorts or marinas to spoil the view. Truly an exception in the Caribbean!

Friday May 4th it is time to be moving on. We have other islands to explore while heading south. There is the endless concern that hurricane season is coming and we need to be out of the hurricane “box” by July 1st. So Friday afternoon we are back in Jolly Harbour. It is beginning to feel like home, but it is a great spot to reprovision and prepare for our next journey.
Fair Winds.
Miriam

Still in Antigua

April 10

This is a copy of an email I sent to some family & friends via Satellite phone while sailing Magique.

It is now Tues April 10th at 1330 hrs. Latitude 27°37 N Longitude 64°06 W Course 180° with light winds right on the nose. Needless to say we are motor sailing.
We left Bermuda, Lat 32° Long 64°48, Sunday April 8 @ 3 pm under cloudy skies, 18 knots of WSW wind and seas 8 to 10 feet. Not bad considering she blew gale force Sat. night.
We had excellent sailing conditions Sunday night, all day Monday & covered 154 nautical miles in 24 hr. Unfortunately, early this morning, the wind turned due South and under 15 knots. On came the engine and she has been purring away at 5.8 k ever since. There is a gentle ocean swell, lots of sunshine and that is all. Pat & Brian are trying their hand at fishing. Hope to have fish for dinner!!!
The weather is supposed to stay like this till Thurs. although the wind is supposed to swing WSW again. Here’s hoping.
Take care everyone,
Miriam

April 2nd -17th

Monday April 2nd
It’s 9 am and we find ourselves at the airport in Antigua. After numerous security checks we are finally in the air flying to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Just as we are approaching Puerto Rico, I realize that we spent our anniversary in P.R. last year. That’s a co-incidence because this year we thought it would be fun to fly to New York City for our anniversary. Happy 30th Anniversary, Pat & Miriam.
In reality, Monday offered the most direct flights to Bermuda, our final destination, even though we had to overnight in New York City. It’s hard to believe, but there are no flights from anywhere in the Caribbean to Bermuda. While in the airport in San Juan, we bought some Champagne at the Duty Free Shop which we enjoyed later that evening in our hotel room.
1:30 pm Tuesday we arrived in Bermuda to be greeted with open arms by Brian & Paula. We are here to help them sail Magique, a 44’ C&C, to the Caribbean. It will be leg 2 of a trip that started October 31, 2006. Magique ran into problems last November on her way to Bermuda, but is now repaired and anxious to continue her voyage. After last minute preparations we were ready to leave on Thursday April 5th however the weather guru Herb says “Don’t Go Today” it may be Monday before the various Low Pressure Systems & Fronts settle down. Now is the waiting game, which Pat & I have played too many times to count, waiting for the right “weather window” to venture out. Then Sunday April 8th it’s a go. By 3 pm we round the outer buoy at the north end of Bermuda and have nothing but 900 miles of ocean before us. For Pat, it is the continuation of a journey he started last year; for me, it is the opportunity to sail offshore and gain the valuable experience that only offshore sailing can bring.

Magique carried us safely all the way to Antigua. We arrived in Jolly Harbour on Tuesday April 17th. It felt really good to be back home on Rhiannon.
Pat wants to write about the voyage, a sequel to his first Magique Story. Unfortunately, the story is a flop at the box office, no storms or scary rescues, but stay tuned anyways.
Fair Winds,
Miriam

I'm a little late posting this entry

Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, West Indies
Wednesday March 21st.
Happy Birthday to our daughter Erin.
Farewell to the Rum & Sun Tour, aka visit from Steve, Gerry & Sean.
Our company is gone, we’ve had a great reunion with Rick & Carey on board Memory, played lots of Bocce Ball on Pidgeon Beach and received updates on other cruising friends from Bev & Ross on board Raft. Now it’s time for a few days of relaxation and a change of scenery.
Sunday March 25th we enjoyed a nice lazy 15 mile downwind sail to Jolly Harbour.
Tuesday we revisited Deep Bay, where we had been previously with the Rum & Sun Tour.
Wednesday morning brought more sunshine and a beautiful beam reach while heading north along the west coast of Antigua, then we turned east into the Boon Channel and the wind was dead on the nose. We were forced to motor sail the 5 miles into 17-20 knots of wind before we could turn south and work our way around the reefs into Parham Sound. By lunch time, we were anchored between Red Head Island and Rabbit Island. All I can say is WOW! FANTASTIC! ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING! A panoramic view of rugged islands in all directions, Antigua to the west, and the Altantic Ocean to the East.
After settling in, we dinghied to Hells Gate, a very interesting island with rock formations that look like a bridge that goes over a small channel that runs through the middle of the rock. There was no place to land, so we anchored the dingy in a patch of sand and swam to shore. It was really neat. It reminded us of the Baths in Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. We climbed over rocks and through caves up to the top of the island and walked across the “bridge” of Hells Gate. Definitely a highlight of the day. This area is a must see on my list of “To Do’s” We accomplished our goal of relaxing with the only regret that we had to leave so soon (due to other commitments). I could have used a full week there to swim, snorkel the numerous reefs, and explore the other islands. It is the only place we’ve been in the Caribbean where we were the only boat. We haven’t experienced that since leaving the Bahamas.
Thursday March 29th
Happy Birthday to our son Darryl.
Before we knew it, Saturday snuck up on us and we’re off again, with good visibility to help pick our way back through the reefs. It is so much easier the second time. Saturday afternoon, we dropped the hook in the outer anchorage at Jolly Harbour (Jolly Harbour is starting to feel like home base). Sunday morning, April 1st, we moved Rhiannon into the dock at the Marina to prepare for our next adventure.
Fair Winds,
Miriam

Still in Antigua

Latitude 17°00.98’N
Longitude 061°46.39’W

We are having a blast!!!
Our friends Syd & Liz joined us March 2nd for a week. We were in Jolly Harbour, Antigua when they arrived. It was really windy the whole week but not a drop of rain. There was lots of time for swimming, snorkeling and enjoying the scenery and time for a little excitement as well. While sailing from Jolly Harbour to Falmouth Harbour on March 4th, the fitting at the foot of the Genny disintegrated and the head sail blew out of the furling track. Our first instinct was that the forestay had let go and we were all looking to see if the mast was next. Fortunately, the forestay was intact, the sail was still attached at the mast head and we were able to haul it all in on the deck, with no harm done, except a few missed heartbeats.
Falmouth Harbour is a big, protected bay full of Mega Yachts, both sail & power and just a short walk to English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard. (We will have to learn how to post pictures on the Blog). The Antigua Yacht Club is based here and home to The Antigua Classic Yacht Race mid April as well as the gigantic Antigua Race Week the last week of April. We are planning to crew for our friends Rick & Carey on their yawl Memory in the Classic Boat Races.
Sunday night we took a taxi to Shirley Heights for a Bar-B-Q and some great music with a local Steel Drum Band. Probably the best we had ever heard. The panoramic views from the top of Shirley Heights were breathtaking, looking out across the open water of the Atlantic Ocean in one direction, then looking down into a very picturesque English Harbour with Falmouth in the background, then looking across the mountainous island. WOW! Shirley Heights was used as a signal station to warn the navy of the enemy approaching. This whole area is a national park, filled with forts and ruins from the days when the English and French were at war. Lord Nelson was based here. The history is quite interesting.
From Falmouth, we beat to windward up the East Coast to Green Island and Nonsuch Bay. We anchored in a tiny cove protected from the waves by a network of coral reefs.
On Friday, we enjoyed an afternoon at Harmony Hall in Brown Bay, a restored Sugar Mill now housing a restaurant, art gallery and gift shop. After ordering drinks, we climbed to the top of the old sugar mill and enjoyed the view, including watching a race around the buoys by the local yacht club. As all good things come to an end, we said goodbye to Syd and Liz on Saturday morning.
It was great to have company but then we needed to relax. Green Island was the place for that (it is uninhabited). We read, snorkeled and generally did nothing for a couple of days. Sunday night was perfect as we enjoyed home made pizza and a movie in the cockpit. Life does not get any better than that.
Monday morning came & it was time to move on, as we were expecting more guests on Wed. (the 14th) We wanted to return to Jolly Harbour Marina as it is a great place to reprovision and meet quests. We had an incredible 4 hour downwind sail to cover the 20 miles. It was so much better than the beat to windward of the week before.
The 14th arrived and so did Steve, Gerry & Sean. More fun in store. Jolly Harbour is on the West coast of Antigua, and we decided to head north. We spent a night in Deep Cove, and then went into St. John’s for the afternoon before moving to an anchorage in Dickenson Bay. Saturday we beat to windward, again, to head east. We covered 49 miles before arriving in Green Island. I think we gave the guys a real good idea of what ocean sailing is about. Now Pat & I can say we have circumnavigated the island of Antigua. Today we arrived in Falmouth after a nice short 9 mile run. Pat, Steve, Gerry & Sean went up to Shirley Heights tonight to enjoy the Bar-B-Q and the steel band. I decided to stay home for some quiet time and to get caught up on the blog.
We are able to pick up Wi Fi on the boat, so it is a real treat to sit at the nav station and enjoy the benefits of the internet instead of sitting in some café or bar.
Take care everyone and please keep in touch.
Fair Winds,
Miriam